Pathway to be an occupational therapist
OCCUPATIONAL therapy is an exciting field in the healthcare sector and plays an important role in the rehabilitation of a person.
An occupational therapist evaluates and improves a person’s functional abilities besides just treating their physical injury.
They are specifically trained to identify ways environments can be modified.
They would also know how to use assistive equipment to help patients achieve greater independence and accomplish daily chores like dressing, grooming and self-feeding hindered by physical injury.
Some of the common affected areas include memory or cognitive loss following an accident or illness and they are also managed by occupational therapists and the future in that profession looks bright in Malaysia.
According to an article in The Star dated Sept 18 last year, there is a shortage of registered occupational therapists in Malaysia, with only around 1,800 occupational therapists to serve a population of about 32 million. That is a ratio of 1:17,777.
This rate is three times below the global average of occupational therapist-to-population ratio of 1:5,000.
The employment opportunities can be far beyond in the public and private healthcare sectors due to acute shortage.
Graduates can choose to work in a variety of fields, including public hospitals, or non-governmental organisations and even industries that focus on paediatric, orthopaedics, medical and neurological, geriatric or in the area of mental health.
The starting grade for occupational therapists in public service is Grade U41, which is a graduate-entry scale.
Perdana University is the only private institution in Malaysia to offer the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Occupational Therapy.
It is a four-year full-time degree programme managed by the School of Occupational Therapy (PUScOT).
Programme graduates will obtain the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Occupational Therapy from Perdana University, which is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
It is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and enables them to practise occupational therapy locally and anywhere in the world with the respective countries’ entry-level qualification examination.
The World Federation of Occupational Therapists is the official international organisation that supports and promotes occupational therapy around the world.
It is recognised as a non-governmental organisation by the United Nations.
Currently there are more than 90 member countries in World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Malaysia is a full member of World Federation of Occupational Therapists through the Malaysian Occupational Therapists Association (MOTA) since 1990.
Perdana University student in PUScOT Wong Mun Lok found it satisfying in gaining knowledge to assist patients of all ages.
He said the practical aspects involve using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and making orthopedic splints, in addition to studying and understanding medical and neurological cases.
“It is the practical aspect of the programme that really brings all the theories into reality,” he said.
Perdana University operates from an interim campus that is well-equipped and conducive at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
■ For more information, call toll-free 1300 888 078, or 03-8941 8646, e-mail to enquiry@perdanauniversity.edu.my or visit www.perdanauniversity.edu.my.