Outline

Overview

This unit includes an extended fieldwork placement and on-campus workshops to provide students with an opportunity to consolidate, apply and extend their knowledge of occupational therapy practice, with a focus on the range of competencies identified by OT Board of Australia needed to become a novice practitioner. This final fieldwork placement experience is focused on students developing independence and autonomy demonstrating the ability to manage a caseload approximating up to 80% of that expected of a new graduate in that specific position. Students will incorporate their fieldwork experiences into an exploration of reflexivity as a core capability in professional practice. This unit enables students to continue to build on learning gained through OCCP5237, OCCP5238, OCCP5239 and OCCP5240 through the participation in a eight-week, supervised 40hr/week placement in a professional service setting.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Participation Sciences
Credit points	9
Prerequisites ?	OCCP5237 and OCCP5238 and OCCP5239 and OCCP5208 and OCCP5218 and OCCP5219
Corequisites ?	OCCP5240
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Sumei Wrigley, sumei.wrigley@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 7 November 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
In-person practical or creative task	Student Practice Evaluation Form Form with 8 competencies, each with several behavioural items. Due in Week 4 and week 8	0%	Multiple weeks	Form with 8 competencies	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Attendance - accreditation or faculty requirement	Placement Attendance Placement Attendance; 3 days on campus and full-time at the placement site	0%	Multiple weeks	8 weeks	Not applicable
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Learning Plan Learning Plan; Submission of a learning plan implemented on placement.	0%	Week 02 Due date: 17 Oct 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Dec 2025	Completed template	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Peer or expert observation or supervision	Activity Summary Form Activity Summary Form; Accurate recording of placement and related hours.	0%	Week 09 Due date: 05 Dec 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Sep 2025	Completed forms on Sonia	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Clinical Placement Reflection Clinical Placement Reflection	0%	Week 09 Due date: 05 Dec 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Sep 2025	1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Student Placement Evaluation Form - Revised Second Edutuon (SPEF-R2):
(Pass/Fail) – The Student Practice Evaluation Form – Revised (Second Edition) (SPEF-R2©): This evidence based assessment tool has been designed for use placements of longer duration. In this unit of study, the SPEF-R2© will be administered twice, with placement educators adding to students’ self-assessments on each occasion, consulting with and moderated by academic staff as needed. The first administration midway through the placement will provide students with formative feedback against the expected standards of performance. The second administration, at the end of the placement, will provide summative assessment. Placement educators will recommend a final outcome, with the final grade determined by academic staff.
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.
Clinical Placement Reflection: 1000 word - at end of placement, by Week 9
Learning Plan: By week 2 of placement

Additional required tasks to satisfy unit requirements

This placement unit has additional required tasks contributing to the requirement for satisfactory professional and learner behaviours in the unit of study. These include:

-participation in pre-placement briefing and post-placement debriefing activities (both hurdle tasks)

-completion of a letter of introduction,

-completion of pre-placement student to placement site contact,

-completion of WHS inductions at their placement sites and

-timely maintenance of an accurate timesheet on SONIA addressing the required attendance requirements.

Students must complete all unit requirements to be awarded a Satisfied Requirements grade.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021. In this unit, no marks are issued, but rather a Satisfied Requirements (SR) or Failed Requirements (FR) grade. These results are defined as:

Satisfied Requirements (SR): To be awarded in units of study where student achievement is measured as a pass or fail only without a mark to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Failed Requirements (FR): To be awarded in units of study where student achievement is measured either as Satisfied Requirements or Failed Requirements only, without a mark to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, fail to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard established by the faculty.

To receive a ‘Satisfied Requirements’ (SR) grade in this unit of study, students must complete all hurdle tasks to the appropriate standard and achieve a pass grade on the SPEF-R2. As this unit includes placement, students are reminded that the FMH Sydney School of Health Sciences Placement Provisions and FMH Professionalism Provisions 2019 will apply.

Irrespective of other performance in the unit, ‘Failed Requirements’ (FR) grade for the unit of study will be issued where a student breaches client/patient privacy or for other serious breaches of professional standards.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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 University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Ongoing	Full-time placement	Placement (320 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

This unit has minimum attendance requirements that include on-campus mandatory classes, placement attendance and self-directed learning. Attendance records may be taken for mandatory classes and attendance at placement reported. Students are required to maintain an accurate log of their attendance for all categories of activity in Sonia timesheets according to the guidelines provided on the WIL Canvas site Occupational Therapy page. Failure to meet and accurately log minimum attendance requirements will prevent students satisfactorily completing the unit of study (grade of RI or AF).

Mandatory classes: Preparation and debriefing sessions

Attendance at preplacement and post placement seminars is mandatory. Students are responsible for following up appropriate actions when absence is absolutely unavoidable to ensure that minimum requirements to complete the unit of study are met.

Note: These are interactive workshop and tutorial classes. Flexible attendance rules do not apply to these classes and due to the interactive and sometimes confidential nature of fieldwork-related discussions, recordings of an acceptable quality will not always be made.

Placement Attendance (40 hours/week for 8 weeks)

Students must attend placement every working day, five days per week, from the start date to the finish date of the placement notified in Sonia. Attendance is not required on public holidays.

Students are not entitled to accrue days off (i.e., ADO/RDO/SDO) or other time off when their supervisor is absent. Students must not arrange alternate placement dates without approval of their placement academic, including that students must notify their academic if working on a weekend day in lieu of a weekday.

Sites will advise students of the expected daily start and finish times, and students are to attend as requested, up to 40 working hours spread across five days per week (i.e., excluding breaks). Students attending slightly less than 40 working hours per week (e.g., a 35-hour working week) need to complete placement-related self-directed learning to attain the minimum hours, noting that with the permission of the site students are able to attend different (more) hours than their supervisors. Students with any concerns regarding their working roster should contact their placement academic.

Students are responsible for timely follow-up of appropriate actions when absences are absolutely unavoidable in order to ensure that minimum requirements to complete the unit of study are met.

Self-directed learning (including required, site-specific, preparation for placement)

It is expected that students will complete self-directed learning in specific preparation for the placement they have been allocated, which may or may not be directed by the site. Further guidelines for what is suggested and should be entered in this category in timesheets are noted in the timesheet guidelines on the WIL Canvas site Occupational Therapy page.

Missed hours, special arrangements and special considerations

- ALL absences must be notified to the placement academic (classes and placement) and supervisor (placement). Notification must be timely and should include the nature of the leave and the expected return. Students may be required to undertake alternative learning tasks within specific timeframes to demonstrate the attainment of learning outcomes.

- Absences greater than 8 hours cumulative (including classes and placement) across the duration of the subject must be notified to the unit of study coordinator and accompanied by supporting documentation.

- Absences greater than 24 hours cumulative (including classes and placement) across the duration of the subject must be notified to the unit of study coordinator AND accompanied by supporting documentation in an application for special arrangements (contact the unit of study coordinator for details).

- Absences of greater than 40 hours cumulative (including classes and placement) across the duration of the subject will require a formal application for special consideration. Applications for special consideration for missed hours must be entered as “In-class assessment; Attendance”. The nature of fieldwork means that such circumstances are likely to require withdrawal from the subject to complete the entire subject at another time.

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 9 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 180-225 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There is no required text, however please refer to the WIL Canvas Site (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/9121/pages/conduct-and-professionalism?module_item_id=231694 ) for useful references and resources including codes of conduct and ethics with which you are expected to be familiar and comply, competency standards relating to your assessments, and continuing professional development guidelines. Additional resources will be highlighted throughout the unit of study.

Revision of key topics from all of your previous units of study in this degree, as well as content relevant to your allocated placement, is expected for this unit of study.

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Demonstrate professional behaviours appropriate to that expected of a registered practitioner.
LO2. Generalise self-management skills to enable achievement of entry level competency and identify ongoing professional development needs.
LO3. Implement evidence-based occupational therapy process, with appropriate supervision, for an agreed workload.
LO4. Critically reflect on your ability to manage the transition from occupational therapy student to registered practitioner.
LO5. Reflect on the intersection between personal and professional lenses and how this influences professional reasoning in relation to service delivery.

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

Responding to student feedback

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

Feedback from the USS and Placement Quality Survey are integrated into continuous improvement across WIL units of study.

Additional information

This unit of study outline must be read in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Handbook: https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/medicine_health_PG/

The handbook also includes specific Clinical Education information on your course. https://www.sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/pc/master-of-occupational-therapy.html

All students are required to familiarise themselves with their academic responsibilities, and the academic policies governing their enrolment and progression. The handbook provides a direct link to the University of Sydney’s Coursework policy and Faculty provisions. When considering applications and appeals relating to these matters, it will be assumed that students understand their academic responsibilities and are familiar with these key policies and procedures.

The Work Integrated Learning Canvas site (https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/9121/modules) also provides information specific to Sydney School of Health Sciences placements such as essential preparation, forms and policies.

Additional costs

Additional costs may be incurred for accommodation, transport and leave from usual employment. Students should prepare to cover these costs and can refer to the University website for financial assistance opportunities. https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/financial-support.html

Work, health and safety

Students must meet all pre-placement requirements as outlined on the University of Sydney Clinical placements checks and clearances https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/clinical-placement-checks/vaccinations.html. Students who are not verified will not be able to attend placement or may have placement activities restricted or cancelled, which may prevent their successful completion of the unit of study.

Consistent with New South Wales WHS legislation, you are required to complete a WHS induction within the first few days of your placement, and if relevant, at any time you attend to work in another setting. This is an essential legal requirement to ensure that all risks are minimised for yourself and others that you are responsible for. The university has a duty of care to you to ensure you have been inducted appropriately and similarly you are responsible for demonstrating that you are aware of, and know how to manage risk appropriately. You should complete the WHS Checklist in Sonia.

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

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

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

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

OCCP5242: Reflexivity and OT Professional Practice

Intensive October - November, 2025 [Professional practice] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

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

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links