In a major milestone for Tasmania’s healthcare and education sectors, the University of Tasmania (UTAS) will welcome its first-ever cohort of occupational therapy (OT) students in July 2025, finally 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 occupational therapist, 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.

“The industry is facing a critical skills shortage that requires immediate attention from both educational institutions and government bodies to ensure a future-proof workforce,” said Michelle Oliver, Chief Occupational Therapist at Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA). “By launching this new OT course, UTAS is making a significant contribution to improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations across the state.”

The two-year Master of Occupational Therapy (entry-to-practice) program, hosted at the university’s Launceston campus, is part of the Allied Health Expansion Program and will initially take around 30 students per year. Graduates must first complete an undergraduate degree in a relevant field before commencing the intensive program.

Angela Berndt, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Academic Lead at UTAS, said the course has already received strong interest from mature-age students and career changers.

Currently, Tasmania has the lowest OT-to-population ratio in the country, with approximately 500 registered occupational therapists across the state. All of them trained interstate.

“We have to build the workforce and retain the workforce,” continued Berndt. “Our goal is to increase numbers of OTs and their reach across the island as well as retaining them on the island.”

OTA is also calling on the Federal Government to extend the Commonwealth Prac payment to OT students', recognising that financial barriers can prevent students from entering and completing these essential programs.

“Occupational Therapy plays a vital role across all stages of life, from supporting children with disabilities to improving aged care and mental health outcomes,” said OTA’s Michelle Oliver. “If we want a strong future workforce, we need to ensure students can afford to get there.”

For new student Evie 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. I’m grateful that UTAS now offers the course so I can study right here, in the Apple Isle.”

Across the Nation there is an investment in training and supporting a much needed OT workforce with four other OT courses set to come online this year.

These include: The University of Notre Dame - Fremantle / Perth ACU Bachelor - ACT ACU Bachelor Honours - ACT University of Southern Qld (Toowoomba) Honours