The Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Occupational Therapy) is a 54-unit program offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation has topics in common with the Masters program and students who hold the Graduate Certificate receive credit for related topics.

Admission requirements

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation must normally hold an approved Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and have not less than two years' professional experience in a relevant clinical area. In addition, applicants must be currently registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority as a Occupational Therapist, and maintain this registration for the duration of the course.

Course aims

The Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Occupational Therapy) has two pathways:

Pathway 1 - aims to enable Occupational Therapists to deepen their knowledge base and skills in neurological occupational therapy practice. In addition, students will have the opportunity to develop research or practice expertise in an area of neurological occupational therapy and to apply this to a specific research or evidence-based practice project.

Pathway 2 - aims to enable Occupational Therapists to deepen their knowledge base and improve skills in neurological occupational therary practice and then focus their study on a particular area of clinical practice by undertaking a significant research project.

Specifically, the course aims to:

  • review the principles and practice of clinical rehabilitation and apply these to contemporary practice;
  • model a team approach to problem solving, assessment and management within rehabilitation;
  • enable practitioners to analyse and apply evidence-based practice in neurological rehabilitation;
  • enable students to study rehabilitation approaches and/or interventions across a number of practice areas.
  • review the principles and practice of neurological rehabilitation, with a focus on neurological occupational therapy, and apply these to contemporary practice;
  • enable practitioners to analyse and apply evidence-based practice in neurological occupational therapy;
  • enable students to research rehabilitation approaches and/or interventions with regard to neurological occupational therapy.

Learning outcomes

Students can expect to graduate with:

  • the ability to describe and apply the principles, processes and practice of clinical rehabilitation;
  • the ability to describe and apply teamwork principles and concepts in clinical rehabilitation;
  • advanced skills to plan, implement and evaluate rehabilitation plans in a client-centred framework for people that present in the neurological rehabilitation setting;
  • the ability to appraise a rehabilitation program or service
  • advanced skills in the assessment and management of a variety of neurological conditions in the area of neurological occupational therapy;
  • the ability to identify, critically analyse and apply evidence for neurological rehabilitation approaches and techniques; and
  • the ability to plan and conduct a research or evidence-based project in the area of neurological occupational therapy.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Occupational Therapy), a student must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to one of the pathways of study.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

  • the coursework component must be completed before the research component commences
  • no topic may be taken more than twice
  • the program must be completed full-time within three consecutive semesters or part-time within ten consecutive semesters; a lesser period may be set for students granted credit for previous studies.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 18 units or more may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

REHB8019  Essential Tools for Rehabilitation Practice  (4.5 units)
REHB8027  Rehabilitation of Degenerative Neurological Disorders  (4.5 units)
REHB8033  Stroke Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
REHB9034  Rehabilitation Research Methods  (4.5 units)
REHB8040  Clinical Neuroscience and Motor Control  (4.5 units)
REHB9043  Neurological Occupational Therapy Advanced Practice  (9 units)
REHB9101  Clinical Rehabilitation Project Design  (4.5 units)

plus either

REHB9102 Clinical Rehabilitation Research Project Implementation and Evaluation (13.5 units)

or 

REHB9103 Advanced Rehabilitation Project Implementation and Evaluation (9 units)

Option - Year 1 & 2 topics

Select 4.5 units or 9 units (to make a total of 54 units) from the following topics:

REHB8014  Using Virtual Reality and Robotics in Neuro-rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
REHB8015  Applied Exercise Therapy in Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
REHB8020  Principles of Clinical Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
REHB8025  Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury  (4.5 units)
REHB8026  Early Rehabilitation Following Stroke  (4.5 units)
REHB8031  Rehabilitation Following Spinal Cord Injury  (4.5 units)