Are you a Speech and Language therapist interested to work in Singapore?
With a blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture, Singapore is a great place to live and work. English is the working language, and tax rates are low in comparison with most cities. Singapore is clean, has an excellent public transport system and with its central geographic position, is a good place to base yourself if you wish to explore the rest of Southeast Asia.

A relevant degree from a recognised university is required to work as a Speech and Language therapist in Singapore.

There are many opportunities to work as a Speech and Language therapist in Singapore. Visit our JOBS in Singapore page to find out about current vacancies. It is also advisable to approach service providers directly. Please note that SHAS does not handle job applications, so please do not send us your CV. Contact us for more information if you have general enquiries about working as a Speech and Language therapist in Singapore.

General information about employment visas and working in Singapore can be found at Contact Singapore.

Speech and Language Therapy in the Singapore Context

Speech-Language Therapy in Singapore
Speech and Language Therapists in Singapore may find work in a range of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation units, special schools, early intervention centres, nursing homes, specialist disability services and private practice. Restructured hospitals, special schools and early intervention centres are the major service providers. There are also many clinicians working in private practice. Speech and Language Therapists in Singapore do not work directly in mainstream schools, so school-aged children are usually seen in hospitals or private clinics. The growing demand for speech and language services means that therapists are always kept busy!

Multilingualism is very much the norm in Singapore. The four official languages are English, Chinese (Mandarin), Malay and Tamil. Other dialects of Chinese (eg Hokkien, Teochew) and other Indian languages are also encountered. Recent Singapore statistics found that two out of three children now have English as one of their home languages. It is therefore possible for therapists who only speak English to manage paediatric caseloads. However, be aware that Singapore Colloquial English, commonly known as ‘Singlish’ does differ from standard English and can be a challenge to understand at first! Understanding normal development of Singapore English is important when evaluating any Singaporean client. There are several published books and studies on Singapore English.

A large proportion of the elderly population understand and speak limited English, so it can be more challenging for therapists who speak only English to work with an adult caseload. There is some facility to work with assistants who speak the local languages, but this may be restricted, so referrals to other therapists who speak the local languages may be necessary.

Working in Singapore provides a fantastic opportunity to learn about Asian traditions and cultures, and to take these into consideration in assessment and intervention. Standardised tests with western-based norms have limited applicability, so creative informal evaluations and therapy materials need to be used too.

Did you know?
The Singapore population is:
76.8% Chinese
13.9% Malay
7.9% Indian
1.4% Other

Other Source: http://www.singstat.gov.sg