The current third year cohort of the Occupational Therapy course.
Edith Cowan University's (ECU's) Occupational Therapy program has achieved a significant milestone, celebrating 20 years of continuous training, producing hundreds of graduates, and positively influencing the health and wellbeing of our community.
From the graduation of the first cohort in 2009 to the present, 646 occupational therapists and a further 41 Honours graduates have completed their studies through this program. These alumni now practice across Australia and internationally, representing ECU's enduring contribution to workforce capacity, access to services and community wellbeing.
The origin of occupational therapy at ECU dates back to 2004, when the Commonwealth Government increased funding to universities, at a time when ECU was expanding its offerings into health areas and developing its Joondalup campus.
Dr Jeannine Millsteed, appointed as Inaugural Program Coordinator of Occupational Therapy at ECU, developed the undergraduate curriculum. She had recognised a significant skills shortage in Western Australia, and seized the opportunity to expand occupational therapy education to meet the growing needs of the community. At this time, occupational therapy education in Australia was limited, with only five courses nationally.
The program admitted its first students in 2006. Dr Millsteed focused on recruiting a diverse student cohort, creating a learning environment characterised by mutual respect and a culture of inclusion from the very beginning. It was designed to welcome mature age students, culturally and linguistically diverse students, people with lived experience of disability and men in a traditionally female dominated profession.
As the course became established, the small cohort size and relational learning environment also attracted students from other disciplines within the University, further strengthening its reputation as accessible, personal and professionally connected. In addition, its reputation for quality teaching and exceptional graduates extends to community partners and is reflected in the high employment rate of graduates.
The current second and fourth years cohort.
Word of mouth from graduates and industry demonstrates the program's success: in the 2026 First Year Student Survey, 43% of respondents (38 of the 88 who responded) selected "I heard good things" as a key reason for choosing to study occupational therapy at ECU.
Today, the course is ranked first in national undergraduate student ratings of overall educational experience for rehabilitation sciences, according to the Student Experience Survey 2024-25.
Community-engaged and values-led, the program from its very beginning emphasised a wide range of occupational therapy career paths. Graduates practice across hospitals, disability services, aged care, schools, in mental health settings, private practice, and rural and remote communities. Each graduate represents not only workforce capacity but also improved access to participation, health and wellbeing for countless individuals and families.
One outstanding student of the current cohort is Elissa Oakey, who recently won a Carers WA Milestone Award at the WA Youth Awards. Elissa is a final-year Occupational Therapy Honours student who, while undertaking full-time study and providing ongoing support to her mother during the palliative phase of cancer, has devoted hundreds of volunteer hours, supporting initiatives that improve health literacy, challenge stigma, and create opportunities for more equitable healthcare access. Her contributions extend far beyond the expectations of academic study and demonstrate exceptional leadership, courage and community impact.
In its 20 years of operation, the Occupational Therapy program has been, and continues to be, a shining example of ECU's strong industry-connected learning approach, providing real-world experience that directly feeds into industry capability. ECU's occupational therapy graduates are making a difference in the world, producing tangible benefits to Western Australians and beyond.
