Empowering lives through heart work - Emily Koh Hui Yu

Meet Emily Koh, a Physiotherapist who desired in giving back to society upon graduation led her to join the social service. This is her story.

What sparked your interest in social service?
It was the desire to give back to society. I always knew that I wanted to join either healthcare or social service upon graduation. In the end, I decided to join social service as it serves the stratum of society that is most vulnerable and requires the most support. I wanted to contribute by empowering people’s lives.

How has the social service scholarship enabled you to fulfil this dream?

The scholarship provides opportunities to intern and to rotate across social service agencies in Singapore. This enables us to gain a more holistic understanding of social service and learn from senior professionals to become better at what we do.

Now that you have joined the social service sector, what are your current
roles and responsibilities?
I am a physiotherapist at SPD. Formerly known as the Society for the Physically Disabled, I work with people to help them to be self-reliant and independent. To extend holistic support to our clients, I constantly collaborate with other social service professionals to help clients improve their physical, psychosocial, emotional, and social well-being.

What is the biggest challenge you face in your work then, and
how do you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I face with some clients is when they lack the motivation to participate in physical activity at home and within their community. On my part, I work with clients, their families, and other professionals to try to identify ways that they can participate in community activities at activity centres and support groups. The joy from interacting with my clients is the motivation that keeps me going.

On the other hand, what is one memorable experience from
your career?
One of my clients teared up during a meeting with his occupational therapist, his daughter and me. He thanked us for our collaborative efforts. To me, that meant that I was on the right track because we were providing what he truly needed and had made a positive impact on his life as a team.

What advice would you give to those who are considering the
social service scholarship?
I would encourage them to learn more about what working in the social service is like before applying for the scholarship. The best way to do this is to visit various social service agencies or speak to people from social service to find out more. The industry is a growing sector with several career tracks for social service professionals to embark on. There are plenty of opportunities for personal growth and career development! We are professionals who are proudly empowering Singapore’s people to lead dignified lives. Discover what it means to be part of the Tribe and career opportunities within the social service.

Emily converses with a client in a session.

A Physiotherapist is one of many roles in social services. To find out more, click read about a career in Therapy.