Outline

Overview

Understanding people's occupations in context and the importance of occupation to their health and well-being is fundamental to all areas of occupational therapy practice. In this unit, students will develop the skills and knowledge needed to collect and organise information about individuals' engagement in occupations within their various contexts from their perspectives. They will use a client-centred perspective to explore participation in day-to-day activities, investigate various theoretical perspectives of human occupations, develop the therapeutic communication skills to discover where, when, how and why people engage in occupations, and examine the contextual and personal factors that affect occupational choices and participation in occupations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	OCCP1096
Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Celine Serrano-Diaz, celine.serranodiaz@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Tutorial attendance See "Attendance and Class Requirements" in the unit of study outline	0%	Multiple weeks	Weeks 1 to 12
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Understanding client experiences through research and reflection: viva Oral examination	30%	Multiple weeks	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Hand-in tasks Total of 7 hand-in tasks must all be completed. 2 of those 7 are marked	20%	Multiple weeks	1 page
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Academic honesty module (AHEM1001) Online task, to be completed before first marked assignment submission	0%	Week -05	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Accelerating communication excellence Online module	0%	Week 05	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Understanding occupations though client-centred interview and model-based analysis Video and critique due 7/4/2020; Analysis report due 12/04/2020	50%	Week 07 Due date: 07 Apr 2020 at 23:59	15-30 minutes; 3500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Understanding occupations though client-centred interview and model-based analysis: video interview and report: Interview a person you know to find out about their occupations. Submit a video of the interview, and a report containing an assessment and critique of your interviewing skills, and an analysis of what you learned from your interviewee using an OT model and other OT concepts.
Understanding client experiences through research and reflection: viva: For allocated case study, research environmental and personal factors that may influence the person’s occupations and your interactions with them, and reflect on how these might influence the person’s occupations and your interactions with them. You will need to demonstrate what you have learned through your research in an oral prsentation. An examiner will ask you a series of questions related to your case study, which you will answer verbally.
Weekly hand-in tasks: Students complete a short hand-in task each week related to weekly readings. Two hand-in tasks will be marked.
Accelerating Communication Excellence: The ACE Program is an online module designed to accelerate the development of your professional communication skills in listening, reading, writing, speaking, and reasoning. For each of these professional areas you will learn how to accelerate your skills, followed by the opportunity to self-assess your skills and confidence. ACE aims to better prepare you for your first clinic placement by helping you bridge the gap from your classroom studies to working with clients in real-life settings.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	Unit of study orientation; Why occupation? Meaning and occupation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Meaning and occupation	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Introduction to OT models OPM(A) constructs and structure	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Interviewing skills: structuring and questioning	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Client-centredness and taking a strengths-based approach; Using the OPMA to structure thinking	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Interviewing skills: attending	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Structured assessment of occupations; Using the OPMA to assess occupational performance; Preparing an occupation focused interview guide; Feedback/discussion re: hand-in task	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Power dynamics, family systems, and the therapeutic alliance; Information gathering from families and other sources	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	OT assessment: using COPM	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Interviewing; Empathy & Responding to feelings; Observing and interpreting observations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Interviewing skills: responding to feelings and interpreting behaviours	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Disability and health; Health conditions in context with guest lecturer	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Thinking about disability	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Health conditions in context with guest lecturer; Using background sources to understand clients	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Considering personal and contextual factors 1: health conditions	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Culture and cultural competency; Rights, social inequality, justice and decolonization	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Considering personal and contextual factors 2: culture	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Occupational development across the lifespan; Impact of other personal and contextual factors	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Considering personal and contextual factors 3: life stage	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	1. OCCP1096 in therapy; 2. Bringing it all together USSs	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance at all lectures is expected and attendance at tutorials is compulsory. Failure to attend 90% of tutorials will automatically result in a Fail grade unless extenuating circumstances are demonstrated.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Recommended texts:

Schell, B. A. B. and G. Gillen, Eds. (2019). Willard & Spackman's Occupational Therapy. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer.

Turpin, M., & Iwama, M. K. (2011). Using occupational therapy models in practice: A field guide. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston Elsevier.

Egan, G. (2014). The skilled helper : a problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping (10th ed.). Belmont, Calif: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.

O’Toole, G. (2016). Communication : core interpersonal skills for health professionals (3rd edition.). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier.

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain the importance of occupation to health and well-being as a core knowledge base of occupational therapy
LO2. Explain how environmental and personal factors (including illness and disability) can affect occupational choices and participation and performance in occupations
LO3. Demonstrate the ability to explore people’s occupations in context by applying client-centred perspective, interviewing skills, information gathering skills, and theoretical models of occupation people context and function.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Australian occupational therapy competency standards 2018 -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
1.1		Complies with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s standards, guidelines and Code of conduct
1.10		Practises within limits of her/his own level of competence and expertise
1.2		Adheres to legislation relevant to practice
1.3		Maintains professional boundaries in all client and professional relationships
1.4		Recognises and manages conflicts of interest in all client and professional relationships
1.5		Practises in a culturally responsive and culturally safe manner, with particular respect to culturally diverse client groups
1.7		Collaborates and consults ethically and responsibly for effective client-centred and interprofessional practice
1.9		Identifies and manages the influence of her/his values and culture on practice
2.1		Applies current and evidence-informed knowledge of occupational therapy and other appropriate and relevant theory in practice
2.2		Applies theory and frameworks of occupation to professional practice and decision-making
2.3		Identifies and applies best available evidence in professional practice and decision-making
2.5		Maintains current knowledge for cultural responsiveness to all groups in the practice setting
2.8		Reflects on practice to inform current and future reasoning and decision-making and the integration of theory and evidence into practice
3.1		Addresses occupational performance and participation of clients, identifying the enablers and barriers to engagement
3.2		Performs appropriate information gathering and assessment when identifying a client’s status and functioning, strengths, occupational performance and goals
3.7		Reflects on practice to inform and communicate professional reasoning and decision-making
3.8		Identifies and uses practice guidelines and protocols suitable to the practice setting or work environment
4.1		Communicates openly, respectfully and effectively
4.2		Adapts written, verbal and non-verbal communication appropriate to the client and practice context
4.4		Uses culturally responsive, safe and relevant communication tools and strategies
4.7		Obtains informed consent for practice and information-sharing from the client or legal guardian
4.9		Uses effective communication skills to initiate and end relationships with clients and relevant others

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Some changes that have been made in response to student feedback include lessening content on interviewing in the tutorials. Another change is making assignment requirements and rubrics clearer and easier to interpret.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

OCCP1096: Understanding Occupation-People-Context

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect