                         |
Hong Kong Occupational Therapy AssociationHong Kong Occupational Therapy Association (HKOTA), formerly known as the Hong Kong Association of Occupational Therapists (HKAOT), is a professional association for all occupational therapists and the public in Hong Kong. It was registered with the Hong Kong Registrar of Societies in 1978, and being accepted as a full member by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) in 1984. HKOTA is currently managed by a group of voluntary occupational therapists assisted by an Executive Officer and an Administrative Assistant. The executive committee of HKOTA consists of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, Membership & Public Relation Secretary, Strategic Development & Publicity Secretary, Publication Secretary, and Continuing Education Secretaries. In addition, a number of Sub-committees have been established to promote and achieve the objectives of the association, such as the Strategic Development Sub-committee, and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Sub-committee, etc. Definition of Occupational Therapy (OT)Occupational Therapy is a kind of rehabilitative therapy for people with temporary, permanent or developmental disabilities. Occupational therapists enhance both physical and psychological functions, prevent illnesses, facilitate independent living, improve quality of life of people with disabilities or special needs, and promote their reintegration into home, work and society, through carefully designed activities and therapeutic processes. Clientele (Examples)Physical Dysfunctions 1. Orthopedics : Fracture, Nerve, Tendon and Ligament Injuries, Arthritis, etc. 2. Surgical : Burn, Deep Vein Thrombosis, etc. 3. Medical : Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Heart Diseases, etc. 4. Neurological : Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, etc. 5. Pediatrics : Physical Handicap, Congenital Diseases, etc. 6. Oncology : Brain Tumor, Breast Cancer, Nasal Pharyngeal Carcinoma, etc. Psychiatric Dysfunctions 1. Psychosis : Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Personality Disorder, Dementia, Early Psychosis, etc. 2. Neurosis : Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Substance Abuse, Dysthymia, etc. Developmental Dysfunctions 1. Mental Handicap 2. Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3. Specific Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder, etc. Service Areas (Examples)1. Enhance clients' independence by providing Activities of Daily Living (ADL) skills assessment, training and consultation services. 2. Assess home environment, recommend appropriate home modification and adaptive devices through community and home visits. 3. Provide adaptive aids and teach clients how to use them to enhance independence. 4. Enhance clients' work skills by assessing and training their eye-hand coordination and work ability through simulated work tasks, and facilitate clients' return to work through Functional or Work Capacity Evaluation (FCE/ WCE), work hardening and work resettlement service. 5. Design and fabricate splints to facilitate recovery of affected limbs. 6. Control scar development and alleviate itchiness and pain through pressure therapy. 7. Teach caretakers special caring techniques to facilitate better reintegration of clients into their home lives. 8. Reduce incidence of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and enhance work efficiency by using ergonomic principles and techniques to recommend appropriate work environment. 9. Facilitate ex-mentally ill clients to locate appropriate jobs and reintegrate into society through Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of Supported Employment (SE). 10. Help mentally ill clients to handle emotions, learn appropriate social skills, and reintegrate into society through individual or group activities. 11. Improve Quality of Life (QOL) of mentally handicapped adults or dementia clients through recreational activities or Reality Orientation (RO) therapy. 12. Enhance children's functional performance in self-care, play and learning through the use of therapeutic activities in areas of sensory motor, Sensory Integration (SI), hand function and handwriting skills training and parental education. Working Profile of OT in Hong Kong Language In general, occupational therapists working in Hong Kong are required to be capable of speaking in Cantonese & English, as well as writing in Traditional Chinese & English. Ability to speak in Mandarin would be an advantage. However, jobs are also available for overseas English-speaking occupational therapists to apply in some private hospitals and private practices. Clinical Placement Overseas OT students who are interested in seeking clinical placement opportunities in Hong Kong may contact the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University directly for enquiries. Registration All occupational therapists working in Hong Kong are required to be registered with the Occupational Therapists Board, Hong Kong. For registration requirements and procedures, please contact the Occupational Therapists Board directly. Employers The major employers of occupational therapists in Hong Kong include: Salary Ranges The salary of an occupational therapist varies from employer to employer and from time to time. Currently the salary of a basic grade Occupational Therapist II ranges from 29 to 47K US dollars per annum, whereas the salary of other promotional grades such as Occupational Therapist I, Senior Occupational Therapist, Department Manager or Service Unit In-charge ranges from 49 to 128K US dollars per annum. Workplaces The major workplaces of occupational therapists in Hong Kong include: The History of OT in Hong KongBy 2008, occupational therapy already has a history of 59 years in Hong Kong , and the total number of registered occupational therapists is about 1,200. In the following article, the author traced the history of OT in Hong Kong , from the late 1940's up to 1988. The History and Development of Occupational Therapy in Hong Kong
|
 |
|