Discipline of Occupational Therapy

BIOSKETCH
Ms. Nonjabulo Ndaba joined the Discipline of Occupational Therapy in January 2019 as a recipient of the New Generation of Academics Scholarship Programme (NGAP). She obtained her undergraduate degree (BSc in Occupational Therapy) from the University of Cape Town and her Masters in Public Health degree (MPH) from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. She has worked as an occupational therapist in public and private settings in the KwaZulu-Natal Health System. She has extensive experience managing paediatric occupational therapy conditions (child development, malnutrition, neurological conditions) and various physical conditions.In the Discipline of Occupational Therapy, she is involved with teaching, learning, and assessment, curriculum design, administration, and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate (masters) research. She has experience as an external examiner for other universities and has supervised and co-supervised six students who obtained their Masters in Occupational Therapy degree.Ms. Ndaba is a Ph.D. Candidate researching health profession education responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of an evolving occupational therapy curriculum, occupational therapy education, and teaching, learning, and assessment in occupational therapy. She has presented parts of her research at national and international conferences.She is currently involved in profession-specific activities that promote advocacy, growth, and evidence-based practice in occupational therapy. She is presently the chairperson of the KZN Branch of the Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa (OTASA). She is involved in community outreach and engagement activities supported by the professional association. Ms. Ndaba believes in the continuous development of Afrocentric occupational therapy perspectives and research and the support of students from all contexts to become people-centered, adaptive, empowering, and innovative occupational therapists.