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What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy is a profession that is concerned with enabling people to live their life to the fullest. To occupational therapists, a "full" life means being able to engage in the activities that a person finds meaningful regardless of his/her injury, illness, disability or environment. These everyday human activities are what occupational therapists referred to as "meaningful occupations" which are the crucial building blocks of an individual's physical, psychological, emotional and spritual health.

A qualified Occupational Therapist possesses clinical and theoretical knowledge in both the medical and social sciences. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages across the entire lifespan, from newborn infants to elderly.

Occupational Therapy Services

Core functions of Occupational Therapy comprise of:

  • Assessments to determine a person's level of function which may include a range of examination covering bodily physiological and psychological function as well as social and environmental factors.
     

  • Occupational Therapy interventions directed towards enabling a person to be engaged in their meaningful activity i.e. development of skills and capacities, environmental modification, etc.

 At present there are 23 Occupational Therapists working under the Ministry of Health. In Brunei Darussalam, Occupational Therapy is hospital and community based.

A. In Hospitals

  • Burn and Scar Management
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
  • Driving Assessment for the Disabled
  • Hand & Upper Limb Rehabilitation
  • Manual Lymphoedema Management
  • Neuro-Medical Rehabilitation
  • Neuro-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Post-Mastectomy Management
  • Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
  • Paediatric Rehabilitation

  • Psychiatric Rehabilitation

B. Community Based

  • Kiarong Child Development Centre (CDC)
  • Kiarong Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre
  • Subok Pusat Amal Cerah Sejahtera (PACS) Centre
  • Rimba Health Centre

Is Occupational Therapy the career for you?
Prospective students can pursue this career by completing a Bachelor's Degree course in Occupational Therapy (3, 4 or 5 years full time depending on the country of institution). Courses are offered in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia, United States of America and Canada.

Entry requirements vary depending on the Universities but most will require:

  • 5 GCE 'O' Level passes at grade C or better including Mathematics and English
  • 3 GCE 'A' Level passes at grade B or better including Biology

With the advancement of the medical and social sciences, the Occupational Therapists are required to consistently update their knowledge and skills. Qualified Occupational Therapists with working experience can enroll in the further postgraduate studies to obtain higher qualification in Master's Degree (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Futher enquiries
For further enquiries, please contact:

Occupational Therapy Unit

RIPAS Hospital

Tel: +673 2242424 ext 5724/5729