17th SAOT SC Newsletter

THE OT TIMES A newsletter brought to you by the 17th SAOT SC

CONTENTS Editor's Note

02

Message from the 17th SAOT SC President

03

Message from the SAOT President

05

Message from our Programme Leader

07

Our Committee

11

Full Council Events Annual General Meeting 2020 OT Day

13 15

Special Events Gradline 2021

17

Community Outreach Zoom Seated Tai Chi

19

Professional Development Specialised Field Sharing Language and Dialect Classes

22 24

Noticing Your Dragons Learning Journey

27 29

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EDITOR'S NOTE Foo Yu Xuan Renee, Head of Publicity, 17th SAOT SC

Going into the academic year, our committee was well aware of the pandemic and the difficulties that were sure to come. The constant, rapid changes in social distancing measures and the policies put forward by the Government made it extremely difficult for us to arrange and organise events. We would prepare for an event and send out an announcement only to have to cancel it the next week because of a change in policy.

As we end the academic year 20/21, the publicity team has created this newsletter to summarise the events of the year. Zoom became a fast friend of ours as we shifted events online. Despite the monotony of attending online activities or events, we hope that our SAOT student members had a fulfilling experience.

I would like to extend my thanks to our SAOT SC advisors who stayed up at night with us to provide us with guidance, the OT faculty, the SAOT main council, guest lecturers, organisations and people who partnered with us, clinicians, and the student body. The support provided by everyone has made this past year one to remember.

It has been a pleasure to serve the student body this past year. I look forward to the 18th SAOT SC's term, which I am sure will be eventful and engaging. I hope that the student body will continue to provide the new committee with support and look forward to what they have in store for us.

Foo Yu Xuan Renee Editor-in-Chief Head of Publicity, 17th SAOT SC Assistant Editors: Gwendolyn Lee Sheng Yi, Ong Yanning, Gabrielle Tan Kai Qi Publicity Officers, 17th SAOT SC

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A MESSAGE FROM THE 17TH SAOTSC PRESIDENT Mohamed Nazirul Mubin Bin Rohani, 17th SAOT SC President

Dear fellow OT Students, A new academic year awaits and with the blink of an eye, AY 20/21 is over.

We thank you for your continued support and we are delighted to know that you have enjoyed the events that we organised. AY 20/21 was a trying year for all, and it was equally difficult for SAOT SC as well. With big shoes to fill from the 16th SAOT SC Committee, my committee had the privilege to serve you once more, and for that, we thank you again.

The Covid-19 pandemic is a hot topic for all in these unpredictable and difficult times. Most of us are heavily affected by it, and SAOT SC was no exception. Change was inevitable, as we tried to adapt and keep up with the ever-evolving virus. Despite this, our heart to serve remains unchanged.

In a nutshell, the 17th SAOT SC organised a total of 11 events. In June 2021, I spoke at SAOT’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) to give OTs in Singapore an update on the student body and the student committee. I spoke about the importance of fulfilling our promise, which is to add value to every students’ life beyond what academics can offer, despite the volatile situation we are in. I elaborated on how my committee had to be creative to ensure that we achieve this aim while adhering to the various government and school policies.

A big thank you goes out to A/Prof Lim Hua Beng and A/Prof Tan Bhing Leet for always supporting SAOT SC as well. Lastly, I would like to specially mention our advisors as well, Asst Prof Yeh-Ling, Millicent Poh and Gabriel Kwek who guided us and imparted knowledge invaluable to our leadership journey.

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The year ahead is going to be equally challenging, if not more. As we take direction from the various government bodies and school, our role as the student committee is to adapt and keep up with them. Your safety will always be our priority. Beyond the success of events that the 17th SAOT SC has conducted, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support.

Without the student body to serve, the student committee would have lost its purpose. Therefore, I thank you once again for giving us this privilege to serve once more and on behalf of my committee, we hope to see you once more. Stay safe, everyone.

Mohamed Nazirul Mubin Bin Rohani 17th SAOT SC President

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A MESSAGE FROM THE SAOT PRESIDENT Jessica Hooi, President of Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists

Dear Occupational Therapy Students, The world and our society as a whole have journeyed through many ups and downs over the past two years. While some things remained the same, much has changed over the course of the pandemic. We have seen positive changes such as increased access to knowledge and skills via the digitisation of education and training programmes or the provision of therapy services via online platforms for those who may not be safe being out in the community. On the other hand some might say that we are slowly losing the “human touch”. One thing is certain, that the human race is ever adaptable to change.

Your faculty members in SIT have been working tirelessly to ensure that the quality of your education has not been compromised nor limited, despite the changing restrictions that have been put in place by the government to ensure health and safety of all. With the recent updates of the SIT BSc(OT) (Hons) Programme, I’m confident that the programme will continue to provide high quality and in-depth education for all of you to become occupational therapists who are not just well-versed in skills and knowledge but are holistic and innovative in thinking.

The 17th SAOT SC has worked hard at pulling together activities and events for the student body over the past year while balancing the demands of their academic journeys. The well-received learning journey with some organisations, gave you the opportunity to better understand what occupational therapists do in various fields of practice.

The specialised field sharing and language and dialect classes provided you with some skills and understanding that benefitted you in your clinical placements.

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While we can possibly look forward to more hybrid versions of future events organised by the SC, I hope that as a student body, you will continue to make the effort to stay connected with one another, regardless of the engagement platforms.

A big welcome to the new batch of Year 1 students, welcome to the occupational therapy community and we look forward to meeting all of you in the coming years!

To the year 2 and 3 students, you are halfway through your academic journey in SIT and your dedication to your education as an occupational therapist will continue to pull you through the demands of the programme.

I hope that all of you will continue to stay curious and excited about the knowledge that you are learning and the conversations that you are having with your peers and your faculty members.

To the graduating batch of students, well done for persevering through this rigorous programme! You are this close to entering into the working world of occupational therapy. Hold on to the hopes and dreams that you have formed during your academic journey and continue to seek counsel and wisdom from the professional community as you work towards being an autonomous practitioner. There will be progressive changes and opportunities arising from the process of social health integration in the years to come. Hence it is important that you keep in touch with the ins and outs of the professional community by being part of events and networking sessions while you step into the working arena. Time to put what you have learned into practice!

Keep well and keep safe!

Sincerely, Jessica Hooi President, Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PROGRAMME LEADER Lim Hua Beng, Programme Leader, SIT BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

I want to thank SAOT SC for allowing me to share the Occupational Therapy Programme Leader’s message for the 17th SAOT SC Newsletter.

This newsletter’s publication coincides with the entry of the 2021 cohort and graduation of the 2017 cohort.

Congratulations to the 2017 cohort for completing the programme to join the professional community. I am sure many of my professional colleagues are relieved that another group of new occupational therapists are helping to alleviate the acute shortage of occupational therapists in Singapore. I wish the 2017 cohort a smooth transition from student to professional.

A warm welcome to the 2021 cohort to the profession as students of occupational therapy. I am also sure my professional colleagues and the health and social care industry is looking forward to you joining them in 2025, where some from the 2017 cohort graduates could be your supervisors and seniors during your conditional registration period.

In Singapore, unlike some countries, we do not register student occupational therapists. Therefore, it is important to possess a symbol of your professional identity by being a student member of SAOT. Critically, being a SAOT student member means you will subscribe to SAOT’s Code of Ethics. This will serve as a constant reminder to you of the profession’s values, mission and acceptable behaviour. Therefore, at SIT we expect every occupational therapy student to be a student member of SAOT. We have gracious donors from the profession who have stepped up to help students be members. Do approach SAOT SC executives or I-Ling or Gabriel about the membership process.

It is apt at the start of a new academic year to remind ourselves about our profession, occupational therapy.

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First, being in the occupational therapy profession is understanding, subscribing and practising occupational therapy. What is being an occupational therapist? I think this is best shared by our clients: “In 2006, after I had my stroke, I happened to meet a wonderful occupational therapist, and from that point on, I began my fulfilling second life, which was almost like a happy dream…occupational therapists, are among the high-class elite, showing the crystal of human kindness. Looking over a life-time, for me as a disabled person, through occupation I received real rehabilitation that supported me from the heart” (Hayama, 2014, p. iv).

In practice, occupational therapy is not that simple…However, I don’t offer occupational therapy for the sake of (day service centre) business; I went into business because I want to offer occupational therapy” (Hayama, 2014, p.2).

Mr. Hayama is an accountant by training who, after receiving occupational therapy, was inspired to open a Day Service Centre for the older adults in Japan that reflected values of our profession. Mr. Hayama’s centre practices meaningful occupation. His centre employs occupational therapists and many occupational therapy students also volunteer at his centre.

Mr. Hayama wrote a book to inspire occupational therapists to face the difficult but meaningful challenge of serving their clients. The book is aptly titled “Look at what you can do! Real stories of occupational therapy in Japan” (Hayama, 2014). The book, written in Japanese was translated by a dear long-time colleague and friend Professor Hiromi Yoshikawa of the Prefectural University of Hiroshima.

The SAOT SC is the platform to complement student’s academic life with the opportunity to serve with heart through voluntary activities.

Secondly, we must constantly strive to improve our capabilities. In doing so, we grow ourselves personally and professionally. At SIT’s Occupational Therapy programme, we have tried to facilitate this beyond the curriculum by connecting to the larger occupational therapy world. This is the “hidden” curriculum that is especially critical in health professions’ education. SAOT SC organises activities that allow students to reflect on improving their capabilities, socialize with like-minded peers and reinforce values of the profession.

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Third is the importance of belonging to the larger whole of the profession.

For students, it is about being part of a larger learning community beyond your cohort extending into the national and international scene. The larger the membership, the stronger the professional representation to those outside the profession. Internationally, we connect with our peers from the region and the wider internationally world. This connectedness allows us to reflect on our evolving roles, challenges and collaboratively develop the science and methods to support the profession’s capabilities to serve. SAOT SC provides the opportunity for students to connect to their national association and for students to appreciate that serving a profession is not an easy task as it involves the commitment of time beyond our student or clinical/administrative roles.

Finally, we truly become a professional through professional socialisation both in productive occupations and at play. When we share social space and activities, we learn to listen and trust our peers. So do participate in the social activities that SAOT SC organises.

On a lighter note, I want to share a social moment from 2014 after a long day of meeting in Chiba, Japan. Aside from showing my younger self, the photograph captured the shared joy of being part of the same mission with fellow peers as members of an even larger association called the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). These moments help renew my passion and commitment. I also met many student volunteers who assisted in making a WFOT Council Meeting possible. They served admirably, despite their halting English, from mundane tasks such as serving drinks to important administrative tasks like ensuring each one of us can find our way from the airport to the meeting site.

A few days later, the Emperor and Empress of Japan (now Emperor Emeritus) hosted some of us for tea. Singapore was invited to this very special audience. He mentioned how important occupational therapy is to Japan’s ageing society, including himself. I shared with him our government’s single-mindedness in increasing the number and standards of allied health professionals including Occupational Therapy.

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Professional socialisation facilitated by Suntory Premium Beer with (from left) M a lProfessional t Patrick B e e rKersocialisation w(Singapore), i t h ( f facilitated r oKang m lDaehyuk e by f tSuntory ) (South P a tPremium rKorea) i c k Malt K e r (Singapore), Kang and Nakamura Hayuki D a e(Japan) h y u k at(aSsocial o u t hevent K ohosted r e a )by athen dChiba N aPrefecture’s k a m u r a Occupational H a y u k i (Therapy Japan) at a s o c i a l e v e n t h o s t e d b y tAssociation. he Chiba Prefecture’s Occupational Nakamura sensei is the current President of the Japanese Association of T h e r a Occupational p y A s s o cTherapists i a t i o nwhich . N arepresents k a m u r aits s50,000 e n s emembership. i is the current P r e s i d e n t o f t h e J a p a n e s e A s s o c i a t i o n o f O c c u p a t i o n a l Therapists which represents its 50,000 membership.

I want to end this message by thanking the 17th SAOT SC executives led

by Mr. Mohamed Nazirul Mubin Bin Rohani and all volunteers for selflessly serving to enrich the occupational therapy educational process and to mirror professional life. I am sure it was challenging to serve and run events during COVID-19. I hope the learning points can be handed on to future SAOT SC. I would also like to thank Asst. Prof Yeh I-Ling who is the SAOT SC Advisor and Mr. Gabriel Kwek, the SAOT liaison with SAOTC. Both are SAOT Council Members.

A/Prof Lim Hua Beng Programme Leader, BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy Reference Hayama, Y. (2014). Look at what you can do! Real stories of Occupational Therapy in Japan (H. Yoshikawa & T. Buthod, Trans.). Tokyo: Miwa-Shoten Pub. (Original work published in 2012).

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OUR COMMITTEE

President

VicePresident

President

MOHAMED NAZIRUL MUBIN BIN ROHANI

IVANA FAITH DING XING YI

Treasurer

Head of Special Events

Head of Publicity

FAHIRA NASHA BINTE AZMAN

JAMIE TAN JIE MIN

FOO YU XUAN RENEE

Head of Professional Development

PRAISE CHEW SHER YIN

Head of Community Outreach

YAP SHUN HWA

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OUR COMMITTEE

Community Outreach

Special Events

Rachel Ho Ting Xuan Mildred Ong Jia Wei

Joel Foo Yong Jun Niam Xing De Han Jia Ern Loh Hsien Loong

Professional Development

Publicity

Priyanka Kaur Bajaj Denise Tem Ting Wei Amirah Nurhuda Binte Abdul Shukor

Gabrielle Tan Kai Qi Gwendolyn Lee Sheng Yi Ong Yanning

*Left to right

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020 Full Council

Annual General Meeting 28/09/2020

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an event where we update SAOT Student Members on the past year's happenings, present our treasury report, and run the election for the next year's student committee.

We also had the opportunity to invite our then-programme leader, Associate Professor Tan Bhing Leet and our SAOT President, Ms Jessica Hooi to speak to the student body.

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This year’s Annual General Meeting was my first and it has given me insight into what the SAOT subcommittees do for us OT students. The amount of effort put into making the AGM happen was seen evidently in how well and smoothly planned out everything was despite the limitations of COVID-19.

Though being held on Zoom for the first time, it was conducted in a very efficient and informative, yet fun and casual way. The AGM also gave me a very thorough introduction on who our current SAOT leaders are on a professional level. I look forward to seeing the newly-elected 17th SAOTSC main committee’s fruits of success this year.

JERVYN CHARITY TAN, YEAR 2 (2020)

Annual General Meeting 28/09/2020

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OT DAY 2021 Full Council

SMC President Zidane on Instagram Live!

Instagram Live featuring Prof Bhing Leet and Prof Hua Beng

A Virtual Wall of Appreciation by the students, for clinicians

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In this year’s SIT OT day, we teamed up with the OT-SLT SMC to plan a variety of events themed around “Recognizing efforts, appreciating deeds”. Due to the ever-evolving Covid-19 situation, much of what we planned was online or asynchronous events that students could participate in even from home.

In keeping with the theme, the planning committee prepared an Instagram challenge and a virtual wall of appreciation where OT students could extend their appreciation and thanks to current clinicians. Messages and media were then taken from these to create a video sent to the clinicians, aligned with SAOT’s OT day.

For the SIT student body, we held a treasure hunt (with valuable prizes at stake) for non-OT students to have a go at and learn more about the OT profession. For our OT students, we held an Instagram Live event featuring some of our Professors showcasing the daily life of an OT. All in all, SIT OT day 2021 involved many audiences, from OTs in the field to non-OT students from SIT. We hope you enjoyed the activities planned as much as we did!

Ivana Faith Ding Xing Yi Vice President, 17th SAOT SC

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AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE I attended OT Day 2021 and it was an eye-opening experience. I attended the IG live where there was an address by Prof Hua Beng & after which, Prof Bhing Leet was invited for a QnA session.

As a year 2 student back then, I was still getting to know more about OT and halfway through year 2 was when I starting to get overwhelmed with school and questioning if all the hard work was really worth it. Hence, OT Day came as a timely reminder for me.

The most memorable part of OT day was the IG live especially when Prof. Bhing Leet answered questions from us. From that IG live, I was reminded to always go back to the reason why I joined OT in the first place. To take small steps towards that goal and slowly but surely the progress is happening and I'll reach my goal.

Additionally, given the COVID-19 circumstances, it was a pleasure to have been able to still celebrate OT Day with our Professors through Instagram Live. It was a great conversation about how far OT has come, and even in such unprecedented times, it is a testament of how far it will continue to grow to help and serve the community in need.

Overall, it was a reflective experience learning about OT through the lenses of clinicians who have selflessly served the community and our professors who have taken the route of sharing that experience with us. I am thankful to have these clinicians and professors to model after and inspire us and future OTs alike.

LORETTA AEMELIA CHAN, YEAR 3

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GRADLINE 2021 Special Events

Gradline 2021 26/02/2021 Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and government regulations regarding safe distancing measures, the Special Events committee had to delay the Graduation Night celebration for Year 4 graduates, postponing it to February 2021.

Grad Night was reformatted and became Gradline 2021 — an event for our Occupational Therapy seniors to have a night of fun and games with their cohort peers.

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A REMINDER OF THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT The graduation event was fun and creative. I particularly enjoyed catching up with coursemates and professors in the free-and-easy breakout rooms and playing games suitable to the video-call like “Skribbl”.

Perhaps the most memorable thing about this social event was the fact that we all attended online via video conferencing. Attendees included those still busy at work and a lucky few who were already home for the day. Yet, we were all together for Gradline regardless of where we were, or what we were doing.

It felt amazing to see the familiar faces of my professors and friends whom I have not had the chance to encounter since completing the OT course in SIT. I was reminded of the strong community support I have in my alma mater, and the timeless bonds I have forged through my years of working together.

ANDRE, GRADUATE

AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP IN TOUCH Gradline was a good opportunity to keep in touch with our professors and coursemates. Using the $10 Grabfood voucher, some of us were able to eat dinner together. We had fun bonding over games like occupational-therapy-themed charades that the SAOT student council prepared for us. The online graduation book which compiled our cohort’s photos was a nice memento! It was also gratifying reading our professors encouragement and nuggets of advice. Thank you SAOT SC for your effort in organising Gradline 2021!

KIMBERLY, GRADUATE

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ZOOM SEATED TAICHI Community Outreach

Zoom Seated Tai Chi 27/04/2021

This year, our Community Outreach committee held an online zoom session with students and seniors from Ren Ci's senior daycare centre to learn seated Tai Chi together. This session not only allowed students the opportunity to bring some cheer to the seniors at the centre, but also gave students the chance to gain some insight into the role an occupational therapist can play in a day care centre.

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WHAT YOU GIVE IS NOT MEASURED We followed the SAOT committee member to learn about how to warm up and do seated Tai Chi online for the elderly in Ren Ci to follow. I enjoyed bonding online with OT mates and the elderly while doing Tai Chi. It was very heartwarming to see the elderly diligently follow the steps we show and how the Ren Ci staff help on-site as well as show their appreciation for our volunteering.

Even through online volunteering we are able to contribute and help with the elderly engage in physical activity. What you give is not measured, what matters is giving/helping with a good heart.

I enjoyed the event as I learned a new exercise while helping the elderly exercise as well as how the event is planned in the community setting and will gladly volunteer for a similar event in the future.

WONG KHIELLA MAE FELIPE, YEAR 1

THE VARIOUS WAYS OF GIVING BACK It was really nice to interact with the seniors at the centre even though we cannot physically head down.

It was an interesting volunteering experience as it was conducted online, which made me realised that there are various ways of giving back and reaching out to people in the community.

MAGDALENE RACHEL CHO WEI TING, YEAR 1

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SPECIALISED FIELD SHARING Professional Development

Specialised Field Sharing 17/03/2021

The specialised field sharing was organised in order to provide OT students an opportunity to hear from experts working in different settings (Palliative Care, Home-based rehabilitation, Mental Health and more). Through these sessions, we hope to help OT students understand the role of an OT in different fields and encouraging them to explore their interests.

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PIQUING INTEREST AND PASSION The SFS was a very insightful session for me as I have always been interested in exploring the various specialised fields in OT. The sharing by the various occupational therapists have allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of their job scope as well as the meaning behind their work. I was able to pose questions during the Q&A session and my doubts were clarified by the OT, allowing me to learn more about their fields. The topics covered definitely piqued my interest and it has made me want to learn even more now. I can see the passion that drives them to do what they love and it has inspired me to work even harder as an OT student, as well as to have an open mind to trying out different fields to see what best suits and interests me!

LAI SHI TING, YEAR 2

GAINING INSIGHT The Specialised Field Sharing allowed me to gain insights into the different specialisations in which OTs can work in. Something new to me was the field of forensics as I did not know that OTs worked in prisons as well! I also got to understand more about the profiles of the clients, as well as the main areas of focus of interventions used in the various fields. This sharing will give me a heads up on what to expect in the different settings which I may encounter during my clinical placements and will definitely enable me to make a more informed decision when choosing which field to enter in the future!

MILDRED ONG, YEAR 1

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LANGUAGE AND DIALECT CLASSES Professional Development

Cantonese Lesson 05/05/2021

After last year's response, we organised another series of Language & Dialect Lessons. A total of 4 languages (Mandarin, Malay, Hokkien and Cantonese) were taught. Through the sessions, participants were able to pick up a new language while connecting with fellow OT students.

Many participants found the lessons helpful for their Clinical Practice Education, empowering them to better establish rapport with the clients they met.

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INTRODUCTION TO A NEW LANGUAGE We were taught how to speak to patients using the Malay language.

I enjoyed the part where we had to make use of what we have in that short period of time to form and pronounce the various phrases and sentences. I learnt about the important phrases and sentences needed in the clinical settings as well as words that I can use in my daily life.

I felt that overall the event was very nicely planned and it gave me more insights and helped me to better understand the Malay language. Although it may have been hard to learn everything in a short time, it gave me a good introduction to the Malay language as well as the right ways to say certain words to avoid any misunderstanding.

GOH HARTCHEG ISAAC, YEAR 1

A SAFE SPACE FOR LEARNING During the Hokkien lesson, we learnt different words and how to pronounce them. Everyone was given the opportunity to try pronouncing the words and the instructors made it comfortable for us to try. Even though some participants were not as confident, we still tried our best to pronounce the words.

I learnt that the pronunciation of words is especially important when it comes to Hokkein as different tones will result in a completely different meaning!

YIP KENG YIN, YEAR 1

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EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTURE During the lesson, we learnt different words and phrases that are commonly used in clinical settings. While I may be able to converse casually in Mandarin, I struggled to find the words for healthcare-related terminology such as the human anatomy.

Through the lesson, I was able to add relevant terms to my vocabulary, equipping me for the upcoming Clinical Practice Educations. We had the opportunity to practice the pronunciation and form sentences for different scenarios based on the words and phrases taught by the volunteers.

I look forward to attending more of the other language and dialect classes in the future to enable me to connect with patients from all walks of life.

GWENDOLYN LEE SHENG YI, YEAR 2

Mandarin Lesson 05/05/2021

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NOTICING YOUR DRAGONS Professional Development

Noticing Your Dragons 27/04/2021

The program was done in partnership with a practicing social worker, Jeric, and his team from Noticing Your Dragons, who guided students through the reflective process. The session urged students to think about the role of their beliefs, experiences, and emotions, and how it can affect them as future practitioners. The students also explored the concept of countertransference and the therapeutic use of self more effectively.

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NOTICING MY DRAGONS We discussed the concepts of "use of self" and "CounterTransference". In addition, we had many mini-group discussions sharing our thoughts, experiences and feelings about those concepts in our field of work and in our daily life.

Jeric made use of a children book to describe a concept of a dragon and how it may relate to our future or even current situations which I found quite interesting.

I learnt to try to be more aware and conscious about certain personality traits that may hinder the way that I provide care to my patients. It is important to acknowledge that it exists and work on it so that it won't negatively affect the client/patients.

I felt that it could be useful for a lot of students especially when they lack experience. The workshop could provide some useful tips and even help them to reflect on areas to improve on.

GOH HARTCHEG ISAAC, YEAR 1

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LEARNING JOURNEY Professional Development

IMH LEARNING JOURNEY

Following the success of last year’s learning journey, SAOT SC’s Professional Development department organised another set of learning journeys to allow Occupational Therapy students to explore the role of Occupational Therapists in the various fields of Paediatrics, Geriatrics and Mental Health.

We were honoured to have speakers from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Rainbow Centre, Institute of Mental Health and Changi General Hospital to share their experience and expertise working in the various settings. Many students attended the learning journeys and it helped them gain insight into the job scope of a therapist in the various clinical settings.

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Tan Tock Seng Hospital

01/09/21

We attended a sharing and got to know more about being an OT in TTSH. During the sharing, the videos which showcased interviews and facilities as well as the case study were particularly impactful. I learnt more about the departments in TTSH and how being an OT contributes to an individual's return to work (RTW) process which is something I did not have much exposure to.

Overall, I felt that it was nice to hear from a senior OT sharing her experiences as it made me feel inspired and gave me motivation to work harder to become a better OT in the future.

CHENG TZAI TUNG, YEAR 3 During the learning journey, we listened to the insightful sharing about what an OT does in TTSH. I enjoyed the videos of OTs in different departments and also the case study segment which helped put what was shared into real life application for us to understand better. I learnt a lot from the Q&A session when the senior OT shared about her personal experiences in TTSH and the challenges she faced. I also gained insight on the wide range of job scope of an OT and more about the different departments in TTSH. I learnt a lot from this short sharing, not just about TTSH, but also about OT in general!

CHEN XIN YI, YEAR 2

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Changi General Hospital 02/09/21

During the Learning Journey, I listened to the presentation and took notes about being an OT. The sharing of the speakers' personal struggle was memorable as it reflected my own struggles. I learnt a lot about the working flow of an OT in an acute setting, how it is different, what could be done to cope with the intensive nature of working in a clinical setting, and more about CGH as an institution. I feel very fortunate to be able to participate in this event to get to interact, albeit indirectly, with actual OT. As I'm a first year student, this event really allowed me to know more about OTs and their roles.

LIM HUI XIAN, YEAR 1

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Rainbow Centre

02/09/21

I attended the learning journey held by Rainbow Centre. As I listened to the sharings by the OTs at Rainbow Centre, and watched the videos that showed what the OTs do there, it inspired me to potentially join them in the future. I learnt that OTs can also play a very meaningful role throughout the childhood and adolescence of those with disabilities, through innovative ways such as food play and sensory activities.

I enjoyed the sharing a lot :) Thank you for organising the event!

CHIA LING XUAN JASMINE, YEAR 3

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