The University of Tasmania (UTAS) will welcome its first cohort of occupational therapy (OT) students in July 2025, offering local students the opportunity to train, live and work in their home state.
Until now, Tasmania was the only state or territory in Australia without a pathway to becoming an OT, forcing aspiring OTs to move to the mainland, many of whom never returned. With Australia currently facing a national skills shortage in the OT profession, this marks a significant turning point for Tasmania’s ability to grow and retain its allied health workforce.
“By launching this new OT course, UTAS is making a significant contribution to improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations across the state,” Occupational Therapy Australia chief occupational therapist Michelle Oliver said.”
The two-year Master of Occupational Therapy (entry-to-practice) program will initially take around 30 students per year. Graduates must first complete an undergraduate degree in a relevant field before commencing the intensive program.
UTAS Professor of Occupational Therapy and Academic Lead, Angela Berndt said the course has already received strong interest from mature-age students and career changers.
“We have to build and retain the workforce,” she said. “Our goal is to increase numbers of OTs and their reach across the island as well as retaining them on the island.”
For new student Eve White, the UTAS course has been a life-changing option.
“Studying on the mainland just isn’t feasible for me,” she said. “I seriously considered doing a Bachelor of Nursing to work in the aged care sector. There is a desperate need for nurses with more in-depth knowledge of dementia care. However, I must follow my passion, and that leads to OT.”
Nationally there is an investment in training and supporting an OT workforce with four other OT courses set to come online this year.
Photo: From left, Professor Angela Berndt, Eve White and Professor Nuala Byrne, UTAS Head of School Sciences.