Occupational therapists help people gain the skills necessary to participate in everyday life activities and adjust their environment accordingly. An occupational therapy assistant plays a vital role in supporting occupational therapists to ensure their clients live a full, happy and productive life.
Certificate of Occupational Therapy Assistance is an online professional development program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to assist with therapy programs.
Throughout this allied health assistance course, you will learn how to assist with movement and promote independence and physical, social, emotional, and psychological well-being.
You will also learn how to prepare for a therapy session, use, clean and store equipment correctly and safely, assist in designing therapy materials, complete administrative tasks and understand workplace health and safety.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Assist with movement
- Requirements to assist a person with movement
- Risk factors / assessment
- Assessment of patient care environment
- Risks for workers
- Postural positions and repetitive movements
- Safe workplaces
- Preparing and adjusting equipment
- Equipment used to assist clients with movement
- Client handling devices
- Preparing the environment
- Consent and client cooperation
- Cultural considerations
- Preparation procedures
- Infection hazards
- Reporting diseases to relevant health authorities
- No lifting policies
- Safe working practices
- Lift equipment
- Body structure
- Spinal cord, discs and nerves
- Vertebral column
- Back muscle structure
- Principles of body mechanics
- Using a mechanical lifter
- One to one transfers
- Chair to toilet
- Wheelchair to chair/toilet
- Comfort and safety
- Skin damage
- Explanation and communication
- Using words client can understand
- Equipment cleaning and faults
- Returning equipment
Unit 2 - Support independence and wellbeing
- Respecting differences
- Cultural expectations and groups
- Differences between people and culture
- Respect and cultural diversity
- Buddhism and Hinduism
- Islam and key festivals
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Conflicting values
- Sexuality and identity
- Client rights
- Needs, development and strengths
- Decision making
- Increased participation for persons with a disability
- Actively listening to clients
- Community presence
- Work and normal living conditions
- Employment for people with disabilities
- Normal conditions of everyday life
- Expressions of identity and sexuality
- Intellectual or psychiatric disabilities
- Promoting / facilitating social activities
- Identifying strengths and self-care
- Clients directing their own care
- Using available support
- Access to services
- Primary and secondary sources
- Records management
- Signs of providing inaccurate obsolete or irrelevant information
- Legislation and code of conduct
- Difficulties meeting client needs
- Maintaining independence
- Recognition of client’s skills and competence
- Health and emotional well being
- Daily living habits
- Support and developing a communication plan
- Identifying and reporting hazards
- Aids from independent living centres
- Variations to clients’ physical conditions
- Weight loss and causes
- Weight gain and changed to skin tone
- Sleep patterns
- The Abbey Pain Scale
- Aches and pains
- Goals and action plans
- Client referrals and support
- Risk management
- Emotional and psychological needs
- Self-esteem, confidence and security
- Erikson’s eight stages
- Disability legislation
- Social and cultural festivals
- Support for wellbeing
- Reporting abuse and neglect
- Depression
- Domestic violence
Unit 3 - Assist with an allied health program
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Providing accurate information to clients
- Therapy treatment plans
- Physiotherapists, dieticians, podiatrists
- Speech pathologists and chiropractors
- Audiologists
- Structures and philosophies of organisation
- Equipment needed for therapy program
- Prepare client for therapy
- Therapy procedural requirements
- Common law, duty of care
- Assist with therapy tasks
- Action plans
- Ensure the comfort safety and privacy of clients
- Reinforce, clarify and explain therapy goals
- Support clients to achieve goals
- Follow up
- Dal with accidents and incidents appropriately
- Health and safety – issue resolution flow chart
- Use equipment safely
- Pass on document information
- Regulations and legislation
- Designing simple therapy materials and equipment
- Identify gaps in therapy materials
- Develop solutions
- Construct aids and adaptations
- Maintain stock levels
- Book client appointments
- Planning provision of services
- Involving the client
- Determinants of health
- Client-centred approach
- Decisions involving minors
- Clients who do not have capacity to make decisions
- Involving client in decision-making
- Promoting good health
- Surveys, questionnaires, interviews and feedback
- Access and equity in health services
- Evidence based individual decision-making
Unit 4 - Assist with the development and maintenance of client functional status
- Daily living skills program
- Informing client
- Consulting allied health professionals
- Program requirements and outcomes
- Functional assessment tools (screening)
- Client requirements and suitability of services
- Client care plans
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy
- Recording appointments and using electronic appointment systems
- Cultural diversity and spiritual issues
- Religious affiliations
- Assessing living conditions
- Risk and safety issues
- Rate potential severity
- Hierarchy of control
- Identify client skills and abilities
- Improving client skills and abilities
- Life domains and client goals
- Skills development opportunities
- Positive expectations
- Maslow’s theory
- Empowering clients
- Prioritising needs
- Referrals
- Tools, strategies and goal setting
- Clients strengths and goals and abilities
- Equipment and materials required
- Mobility devices, aids and adaptations
- Equipment safety checks
- Supporting client to carry out activities
- Supporting client to be involved and confident
- Principles and practices of active support
- Respect and encouragement
- Providing choices
- Communicating with client’s family
- Risk management
- Progress reports
- Constructive feedback to client
- Pain management and assessment
- Health and safety legislation and flow chart
- Performance indicators and review
- Evaluation of participation
- Progress and outcomes
- Cause and effect diagram
- Independence
- Adapting environment
- Client strengths
- Physical self-care
- Promoting independence
- Emergencies and client difficulties
- Duty of care
- Reporting client injuries or difficulties
- Clinical supervision
- Supervisory relationships
- Equipment maintenance and cleaning
- Feeding techniques
- Infection control
- Policies and procedures
- Equipment maintenance, storage and stock levels
- Documenting program
- AHA terminology
Unit 5 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work
- Identify return-to-work requirements
- Legislative requirements for return to work
- Facilitating an injured worker returning to work
- Worker’s compensation schemes
- Rights, roles, duties and responsibilities (worker, schemes and employer)
- Employer’s responsibilities
- Injured workers supervisor’s responsibilities
- Return to work coordinator’s responsibilities
- Insurer’s roles, rights and responsibilities
- Health providers duties and responsibilities
- Injury management coordinator’s duties and responsibilities
- Organisational requirements for return to work
- Assist and preparing for injured worker to return to work
- Identify suitable return-to-work duties
- Involving all parties to confirm duties
- Identifying barriers to a worker returning to work
- Preparing and designing a return to work program
- Identify and manage health and safety risks to other team members
- Establish a return to work agreement
- Other information to include in agreement
- Assist with implementing return to work
- Identify hazards in the work environment for injured worker
- Risk management
- Changes and modifications to work environment
- Consulting with rehabilitation coordinator
- Monitor and evaluating return to work
- Gather feedback from all parties
- Facilitate communication between parties
- Monitor return to work plan
- Identify and address any non-compliance
- Address any hazards
- Hierarchy of controls model
- Evaluate program
- Evaluate case manager’s and rehab providers performance
- Were the organisations policies and procedures effective?
Study Hours
Estimated duration 75 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Enrol Now (Credit Card) or Enrol Now (Internet Banking/BPAY)
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Professional development for:
- Therapy Assistant
- Physiotherapy Assistant
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
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