Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Content

Topics will include:

Ageing:

·      Health promotion, participation and wellbeing in older age

·      Theories of ageing

·      Consumer experiences and impact of ageing

·      Cultural perspectives of ageing

·      First People’s perspectives of ageing

·      Pathophysiological and psychosocial aspects of ageing

·      Ethical and medico-legal considerations

Legislative and Policy context:

·      World Health Organisation Guidelines and Frameworks

·      Australian Aged Care Act 2025

·      Australian Government Policies

Occupational therapy with older people in diverse contexts:

·      Mental health and cognition: dementia, delirium and depression

·      Falls: prevention and management

·      Home modifications and enabling environments

·      Advance care planning and end of life care

·      Assistive technologies

·      Driving, transportation and community access

·      Caregiving responsibilities and caring for older adults

·      Sexuality, intimacy and relationships in older age

·      Ageing in the workforce and transition to retirement

·      Residential aged care

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit utilises a blended approach to learning. Lectures will be used to provide essential knowledge that will be applied in tutorials. Self-directed online learning will complement these approaches. Adopting a blended learning strategy supports students to meet the learning requirements, including completion of assessment tasks, in this intensive block-taught unit.

Learning is guided by real-world scenarios presented to students reflecting various contexts an occupational therapist may encounter with older people. Students engage in five (5) hours of professional practice in relation to Assessment 3. This involves students interviewing an older person about their experience of ageing, providing a person-centred understanding of ageing in Australian society. Students draw on their professional reasoning skills to identify ways to support an older person’s occupational participation, health and wellbeing. Learning and Teaching approaches included in this unit were developed in collaboration with First Peoples’ cultural advisors.

Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards (AOTCS) 2018

In connection to the learning outcomes, Australian occupational therapy competency standards (AOTCS) 2018 developed within this unit are:

• AOTCS Standard 1

  Relating to

  Professionalism

  An occupational therapist practises in an ethical, safe, lawful and accountable manner, supporting client health and wellbeing through occupation and consideration of the person and their environment.

  An occupational therapist:

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.1

  Relating to

  Complies with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s standards, guidelines and Code of conduct

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.2

  Relating to

  Adheres to legislation relevant to practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.3

  Relating to

  Maintains professional boundaries in all client and professional relationships

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.4

  Relating to

  Recognises and manages conflicts of interest in all client and professional relationships

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.6

  Relating to

  Incorporates and responds to historical, political, cultural, societal, environmental and economic factors influencing health, wellbeing and occupations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.7

  Relating to

  Collaborates and consults ethically and responsibly for effective client-centred and interprofessional practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.9

  Relating to

  Identifies and manages the influence of her/his values and culture on practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.10

  Relating to

  Practises within limits of her/his own level of competence and expertise

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.11

  Relating to

  Maintains professional competence and adapts to change in practice contexts

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.12

  Relating to

  Identifies and uses relevant professional and operational support and supervision

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.15

  Relating to

  Addresses issues of occupational justice in practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 1.17

  Relating to

  Recognises and manages any inherent power imbalance in relationships with clients.

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 2

  Relating to

  Knowledge and learning

  An occupational therapist’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in practice are informed by relevant and contemporary theory, practice knowledge and evidence, and are maintained and developed by ongoing professional development and learning.

  An occupational therapist:

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 2.1

  Relating to

  Applies current and evidence-informed knowledge of occupational therapy and other appropriate and relevant theory in practice 

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 2.2

  Relating to

  Applies theory and frameworks of occupation to professional practice and decision-making

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 2.6

  Relating to

  Maintains and improves currency of knowledge, skills and new evidence for practice by adhering to the requirements for continuing professional development

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 2.7

  Relating to

  Implements a specific learning and development plan when moving to a new area of practice or returning to practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 2.9

  Relating to

  Maintains knowledge of relevant resources and technologies, and

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3

  Relating to

  Occupational therapy process and practice

  An occupational therapist’s practice acknowledges the relationship between health, wellbeing and human occupation, and their practice is client-centred for individuals, groups, communities and populations.

  An occupational therapist:

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.1

  Relating to

  Addresses occupational performance and participation of clients, identifying the enablers and barriers to engagement

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.2

  Relating to

  Performs appropriate information gathering and assessment when identifying a client’s status and functioning, strengths, occupational performance and goals

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.3

  Relating to

  Collaborates with the client and relevant others to determine the priorities and occupational therapy goals

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.4

  Relating to

  Develops a plan with the client and relevant others to meet identified occupational therapy goals

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.5

  Relating to

  Selects and implements culturally responsive and safe practice strategies to suit the occupational therapy goals and environment of the client 

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.6

  Relating to

  Seeks to understand and incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ experiences of health, wellbeing and occupations encompassing cultural connections

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.7

  Relating to

  Reflects on practice to inform and communicate professional reasoning and decision-making

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.8

  Relating to

  Identifies and uses practice guidelines and protocols suitable to the practice setting or work environment

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.9

  Relating to

  Implements an effective and accountable process for delegation, referral and handover 

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.10

  Relating to

  Reviews, evaluates and modifies plans, goals and interventions with the client and relevant others to enhance or achieve client outcomes 

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.11

  Relating to

  Evaluates client and service outcomes to inform future practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.12

  Relating to

  Uses effective collaborative, multidisciplinary and interprofessional approaches for decision-making and planning

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.13

  Relating to

  Uses appropriate assistive technology, devices and/or environmental modifications to achieve client occupational performance outcomes, and

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 3.14

  Relating to

  Contributes to quality improvement and service development.

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4

  Relating to

  Communication

  Occupational therapists practise with open, responsive and appropriate communication to maximise the occupational performance and engagement of clients and relevant others.

  An occupational therapist:

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.1

  Relating to

  Communicates openly, respectfully and effectively

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.2

  Relating to

  Adapts written, verbal and non-verbal communication appropriate to the client and practice context

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.4

  Relating to

  Uses culturally responsive, safe and relevant communication tools and strategies 

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.5

  Relating to

  Complies with legal and procedural requirements for the responsible and accurate documentation, sharing and storage of professional information and records of practice 

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.6

  Relating to

  Maintains contemporaneous, accurate and complete records of practice

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.7

  Relating to

  Obtains informed consent for practice and information-sharing from the client or legal guardian

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.8

  Relating to

  Maintains collaborative professional relationships with clients, health professionals and relevant others

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.9

  Relating to

  Uses effective communication skills to initiate and end relationships with clients and relevant others

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.10

  Relating to

  Seeks and responds to feedback, modifying communication and/or practice accordingly, and

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4

• AOTCS Standard 4.11

  Relating to

  Identifies and articulates the rationale for practice to clients and relevant others.

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO4