Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Occupational Therapy overview
Graduate certificates and diplomas in this field are well-suited to people who already have experience and education in the field looking for knowledge on cutting-edge developments. Certificates offered by Curtin University are an example of this, providing state of the art methodology in addition to advanced theoretical approaches to the craft in the space of six months. Graduate diplomas offer a more extensive array of these skills; programs like those offered by Australian Catholic University offer a higher level of general knowledge in the field.
Employment options
Occupational therapists already have access to the extensive list of specialisations described here. What these qualifications provide is the ability to engage with them on a higher level; having access to improved techniques based on the latest science is an avenue to greater career success.
Geriatric occupational therapists working for companies like Gold Age will find themselves in a position to better aid the elderly, whereas Occupational Therapy Australia employees engaged with the Better Access to Mental Health initiative will find new approaches to dealing with their clients in a sensitive and respectful manner.
Scholarships and funding
Scholarships directed specifically at occupational therapy are rare, but general scholarships are readily available to those who meet their esoteric requirements. Funds like the Vice-Chancellor International Scholarship are an example of this, requiring students to be international students studying specifically at Port Macquarie. Others like the ECIG Scholarship Program or Gallipoli Scholarship Fund are always available, but they too have their own specific requirements applicants ought to examine carefully.
Prerequisites and selection process
Graduate certificates in occupational therapy normally require a Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) or a similar line of study from an accredited institution. The content of graduate diplomas might be more general, but the requirements are similar; applicants to programs like those hosted by ACU require a prior bachelor level degree in occupational therapy with a minimum level GPA (4.0).