What is occupational therapy?
According to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists' definition of Occupational Therapists in Chinese: "Occupational therapy is to improve the quality of life by helping clients choose, arrange, and perform daily functional activities. Occupational therapy targets include causes Physical, psychological, and social dysfunction, developmental delay, learning disabilities, aging, or social and cultural environment, and other factors that lead to limited ability to perform personal activities or participate in society. Occupational therapy professionals apply functional science and theory and activity analysis, Understand the reasons that affect the case’s functional performance, train and improve the case’s physical, psychological, and social functions, and use environmental modification, auxiliary wood and auxiliary equipment, work simplification, and work enhancement to help the case perform meaningful daily routines Activities to maintain their physical and mental functions and prevent the degradation of their functions, so that everyone can lead a quality life."
Common occupational therapy targets include helping special children who cannot participate fully in school and social conditions, helping people recover life skills from trauma, and providing rehabilitation services for the elderly who have undergone physical and cognitive changes.
For example, occupational therapists can help patients who have undergone amputations to improve the quality of life of patients by educating patients about amputation rehabilitation and prosthetic selection, answering questions, wound care, and ensuring that there are no complications during postoperative recovery.
Prospects of becoming an occupational therapist
According to the "Review Report on Medical Manpower Planning and Professional Development Strategies" issued by the Food and Health Bureau, until 2030, there is still a shortage of medical professionals in Hong Kong. Graduates of occupational therapy will not worry about finding jobs in Hong Kong.
The remuneration of becoming an occupational therapist under the government structure is also very attractive. For the first time to become a second-level occupational therapist, the starting salary can reach $30,235. If it is promoted to a senior occupational therapist, the maximum salary can reach $89,845.
The promotion ladder for occupational therapists hired by the government
At present, only the Polytechnic University and Tung Wah College offer occupational therapy courses in Hong Kong. PolyU requires a score of 37.8 in the best 6 subjects of the DSE. It can be said that a degree is hard to find.
Low admission requirements in Australia
In contrast, Australian universities have lower admission requirements than Hong Kong universities.
Even in Monash University, which is ranked 60th in the world, its direct admission to the Department of Occupational Therapy requires only 20 points in the best 5 subjects of HKDSE, and Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia and Deakin University in Melbourne only require 18 points. Points can be admitted.
Admission requirements for the Department of Occupational Therapy of Australian Universities:
Admission requirements for occupational therapy departments in UK universities:
Re-entry certification
As for the registration application of occupational therapists, the Hong Kong Occupational Therapist Management Committee requires applicants to complete courses approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, including at least 1,000 completions under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapist. Hours of clinical training, plus language proficiency certification can be certified.
(Information and photos provided by the customer)