Professional Doctorate Of Occupational Therapy

Bond University’s innovative Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program offers a unique opportunity for eligible students to obtain a doctoral qualification in occupational therapy in four years of study. This includes the two-year, accelerated Master of Occupational Therapy program which leads to a professional registration as an occupational therapist in just two years. This internationally accredited program enables graduates to develop advanced clinical research and professional skills, enhancing career opportunities for leadership and management roles, locally and globally across health, education, and social care settings. The Bond OTD is the highest level of academic qualification in the field (AQF Level 10), which enables the application of evidence-based occupational therapy research and practice to address real-world issues in collaboration with industry partners. Through engagement in an industry-based doctoral capstone internship experience, students will build upon the comprehensive clinical, business, and research skills developed during the Master of Occupational Therapy program to design and implement an innovative and applied response to a current practice issue through doctoral-level research, contributing to the development of new knowledge in the field. Graduates of Bond’s OTD are eligible to apply to register to practice as occupational therapists in both Australia and North America and the program is recognised by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). The Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Bond University offers the opportunity for advanced application of evidence-based occupational therapy research and practice in the industry. Through engagement in a doctoral capstone experience, students will build upon the comprehensive clinical, business, and research skills developed during the Master of Occupational Therapy program to design and implement an innovative and applied response to a current practice issue through doctoral-level research, contributing to the development of new knowledge in the field. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate and engage meaningfully with industry partners and experienced academic mentors to develop advanced skills and in-depth knowledge in their individual topic of interest in one or more areas, including clinical practice, research administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education or theory development. The Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy is a higher degree by research program awarded for a combination of coursework, clinical placement, and internship followed by a doctoral thesis. The thesis represents a significant contribution to the knowledge or understanding of an aspect of occupational therapy and demonstrates the capacity of the student to carry out independent research at a doctoral level and generate new knowledge. Where will your degree take you? The Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program has been designed to prepare graduates with the research, leadership and professional capabilities to collaborate with industry to address current and future practice issues, locally and globally. According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, future growth in the demand for occupational therapists is very strong. The roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia, has increased the demand for occupational therapists in recent years while globally, the focus on helping people to stay at home longer (‘ageing in place’) continues to drive demand for professionally qualified occupational therapists. The global demand for occupational therapists has also been accentuated by the pandemic.