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Course Outline

OCC222 Neurological Causes of Occupational Dysfunction

Course Coordinator:Sarah Davies (sdavies4@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Occupational Therapy

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course is designed for you to consolidate and apply neuroscience and occupational science knowledge to a variety of clinical conditions. Applying this knowledge will support you to understand how neurological conditions can impact body structure and function and influence occupational performance.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – online interactive workshop (recorded) 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – on-campus interactive workshop (not recorded) 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Structures and systems:
    • The brain and cortical areas
    • Brain stem and cerebellum
    • The nervous system
    • The spinal cord and peripheral nerves
    • Autonomic nervous system, neural pathways
    • Sensation and the limbic system
    • Motor control
  • Conditions:
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Cerebrovascular accident
    • Spinal cord injury
    • Traumatic brain injury
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Motor Neurone Disease
    • Cerebral palsy
    • Spina bifida
    • Neurocognitive disorders
    • Substance addiction.

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd
1 Demonstrates knowledge of neuroscience. Knowledgeable 
2.1, 2.6
2 Demonstrates knowledge of key neurological conditions. Knowledgeable 
2.1, 2.6
3 Demonstrates knowledge of the impact of neurological conditions on occupational performance. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2
4 Identifies client-centred occupational goals Knowledgeable
Empowered 
3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.10
5 Explains the role of the occupational therapist in enhancing occupational performance. Knowledgeable
Empowered 
1.3, 1.7, 1.10, 2.2, 3.1, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd
1.3 Maintains professional boundaries in all client and professional relationships
1.7 Collaborates and consults ethically and responsibly for effective client-centred and interprofessional practice.
1.10 Practices within limits of her/his own level of competence and expertise.
2.1 Applies current and evidence informed knowledge of occupational therapy and other appropriate and relevant theory in practice.
2.2 Applies theory and frameworks of occupation to professional practice and decision-making.
2.6 Maintains and improves currency of knowledge, skills and new evidence for practice by adhering to the requirements for continuing professional development.
3.1 Addresses occupational performance and participation of clients, identifying the enablers and barriers to engagement.
3.2 Performs appropriate information gathering and assessment while identifying a client’s status and functioning, strengths, occupational performance and goals.
3.3 Collaborates with the client and relevant others to determine the priorities and occupational therapy goals.
3.4 Develops a plan with the client and relevant others to meet identified occupational therapy goals.
3.5 Selects and implements culturally responsive and safe practice strategies to suit occupational therapy goals and environment of the client.
3.7 Reflects on practice to inform and communicate professional reasoning and decision-making.
3.10 Reviews, evaluates and modifies plans, goals and interventions with the client and relevant others to enhance or achieve client outcomes.
4.1 Communicates openly, respectfully and effectively.
4.2 Adapts written, verbal and non-verbal communication appropriate to the client and practice context.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

OCC102 and PSY203 and LFS103 and LFS112 and LFS122 and SPX201 and enrolled in Program SC440

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

You will undertake weekly formative Kahoot-style quizzes (from weeks 1-8 and 10-12) in order to determine your knowledge of neuroscience and the impact of conditions on occupational performance. Each week that you do the quiz will provide you with immediate feedback to reflect on your current understanding of the Course topics which in turn may be used to enhance the outcomes of subsequent assessment tasks, your short answer and oral exams.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 0% 
15 minutes
 Refer to Format In Class
All 2 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 50% 
90 minutes
 Week 9 Online Submission
All 3 Oral Individual 50% 
15-minutes
 Exam Period Exam Venue
All - Assessment Task 1:Quizzes
Goal: 
Demonstrate your knowledge of neuroscience and the impact of conditions on occupational performance.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Weekly Kahoot-style quizzes (from weeks 1-8 and 10-12) in class time
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrates knowledge of neuroscience.
 1 2
2 
Demonstrates the impact of neurological conditions on occupational performance.
 3
Generic Skills: 
Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Short Answer Exam
Goal: 
Demonstrate your knowledge of neuroscience and the impact of neurological conditions on occupational performance.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Short answer questions, held during class time.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate your knowledge of the impact of neurological conditions on occupational performance.
 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Viva
Goal: 
Demonstrate your knowledge of neuroscience, the occupational impact of neurological conditions, and the role of occupational therapy.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Oral exam answering short answer questions. See Canvas for details and schedule.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrates knowledge of the impact of health conditions on occupational performance.
 1 2 3
2 
Demonstrates knowledge of the role of occupational therapy in working with clients with neurological conditions.
 4 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Atchison & Dirette 2022 Conditions in Occupat Therapy 6th edition LWW
Required Gutman 2016 Quick Reference Neuroscience for Rehabilitation Professionals 3rd edition Slack

Specific requirements

Students should access Canvas for all course requirements. Queries regarding assessment will be addressed on Canvas discussion pages instead of email. Other issues can be discussed with your course coordinator via appointment during designated contact hours as specified on Canvas. Students will be expected to wear their UniSC Occupational Therapy uniform for in-class presentations and practice education activities throughout their degree.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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