WHAT IS AN OVERSEAS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PLACEMENT WITH WORK THE WORLD?
An occupational therapy placement abroad is a clinical placement you undertake in a low-resource clinical setting in a developing country
You’ll see immense differences between occupational therapy abroad and back home. You’ll also see practices, like paraffin therapy, that you wouldn’t normally see back home.
You’ll come across uncommon conditions like leprosy and polio, and learn how local staff treat conditions like neuropathies and contractures with limited resources. In fact, you’ll see that much of the rehabilitation equipment they use is handmade.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PLACEMENT ABROAD?
With experience like this you’ll stand out from all the other OT students graduating every year.
On one of our placements, you’ll:
- Expand your clinical knowledge and skill set
- Sharpen your communication skills
- Develop your confidence and resourcefulness
- Build your personal and professional network
- Become more attractive to employers
You’re in the hospital Monday to Friday, so you have freedom at the weekend to explore your destination of choice.
WHO ARE WE?
We're Work the World — We’re expert at planning, building and overseeing occupational therapy placements in foreign countries. We've been designing international occupational therapy opportunities for over 15 years for 17,000+ students and graduates from 450+ universities around the world.
Our service is end-to-end, and it includes:
A customised placement in a destination of your choice | Comprehensive pre-trip preparation | 24/7 in-country support | Private, catered accommodation
You'll arrive on a Sunday (whenever suits you — we're open year-round). Placement durations start from one week.
Click here for a step-by-step guide to how our service works.
AM I ELIGIBLE?
You can go on one of our occupational therapy placements:
- You are undertaking an occupational therapy degree
- You have recently graduated with an occupational therapy degree
WHERE DO I START?
Talk to our team. The team have the answers to all your questions and offer a clear picture of what you can expect from our occupational therapy shadowing opportunities.
Get in touch using the short enquiry form.
DESTINATIONS
Philippines - Iloilo
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You'll get experience with a broad range of cases on your occupational therapy placement in Iloilo. Typical cases include Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, RTAs, and spinal cord injuries.
You'll interact with patients of all ages, presenting at various stages of severity. You'll undertake your OT placement in our partner hospital's physiotherapy rehabilitation department. This offers you the chance to see how interdependent the two disciplines are. You'll also notice a focus on inpatients, with staff spending up to an hour with patients.
Tanzania - Dar es Salaam
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Despite Dar es Salaam’s swift expansion, the city’s surrounds hold some of the most impressive natural beauty in the world. African plains home to endangered wildlife lie under the watchful gaze of mountains, and Zanzibar — a paradise island — is a short boat ride away.
A proactive approach to your OT placement will open doors to witnessing cases of arthritis, neuropathies, and contractures. The OT team also works with the ICU as well as doing home visits, giving you an immersive experience of OT in the developing world. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam.
What do our occupational therapy placements offer?
A Work the World OT placement gives you the chance to undertake a clinical placement in the developing world. You will spend time in a low-resource hospital and see unfamiliar practices and advanced conditions. You can even choose the departments you want to rotate through. Learn more here.
What are the benefits of a Work the World occupational therapy placement?
The benefits of our occupational therapy placements include:
- Expanding your clinical knowledge and skill set
- Becoming more confident, independent and resourceful
- Making yourself more attractive to employers
- Doing some proper travelling
- Building your personal and professional network
- Sharpening your language and communication skills
- Renewing your perspective on care back home
How can I raise funds for my OT placement?
It’s easier than ever to get the funds together for your overseas OT placement. You can take advantage of government programs like OS-HELP, you can take the initiative by starting your own online fundraising page, and you can apply for a huge number of grants and bursaries to help you along the way. Learn how easy it is to raise as much as you need.
What kinds of cases will I see on a Work the World overseas occupational therapy placement?
You will see cases like:
- Clubfoot
- Hydrocephalus
- Paediatric spina bifida
- Post-amputation rehabilitation
- Post-eclampsia
How long is a Work the World occupational therapy placement?
An occupational therapy placement is as long as you want it to be. Our minimum placement duration is one week, but students typically travel on their occupational therapy placements for 4 weeks. There is no upper limit to how long you can travel for.
