Current Committee Members
MAOT History
The foundation of MAOT began with its first official meeting which was held on the 20th of February, 1985 at the Nursing School within St. Luke’s Hospital then changed to the Institute of Health Care. The aim of the association was to promote the development of the profession and to establish and maintain professional ethics. In this initial year, the constitution acceptable to the WFOT was drawn up. Certain criteria were also required to be affiliated with the WFOT. These included having 4 professional qualified Occupational Therapists and also Maltese citizens. The association decided that not less than 4 meetings would be held per year.
From its initial stages, the association worked in the OT Course Recognition, an official uniform as well as regular contacts with officials regarding the shifting of the OT course to University. In January 1986, the association held its first Annual General Meeting with 21 members. This consisted of 4 qualified Occupational Therapists as members whilst the rest were made up of OT students and technical staff. Since its formation to date, every AGM has always been followed up by a press release in the local papers. It was also during this year that the OT emblem was adopted for use on the badge of the OT uniforms. The MAOT has its own website (www.maotwebsite.org) and Facebook page. The Maltese Journal of Occupational Therapists (MJOT) and newsletters are published regularly. The MAOT organizes CPD events/seminars on a regular basis.
MAOT was accepted as an associate member of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) in 1988. In 1994 the MAOT gained full membership whilst the OT School (Malta) became officially recognized. The WFOT council is formed through representatives from countries worldwide. Each member country through their local association should have a delegate and alternate representative. In the past, Mr. J. Busuttil acted as the delegate up to his retirement. Currently, Mr. D. Cachia serves as the delegate. The Council meetings are held every 2 years in different hosting countries while the WFOT congress takes place every 4 years in a different hosting country. The national association has the opportunity to apply for funding to assist the delegate to attend the council meetings (www.wfot.org).
In July 1994, the MAOT was accepted as an Associate Member of the Council of Occupational Therapists in for the European Countries (COTEC). The aim of COTEC is to enable National Associations of Occupational Therapists to work together to develop, harmonise and improve standards of professional practice and advance the theory of Occupational Therapy throughout Europe to best address the social and health issues affecting European citizens. COTEC strives to make Occupational Therapy visible, valued, accessible and available for all European citizens by supporting its members and by collaborating on a European level. The General Assembly meets once a year hosted by different National Associations each year. COTEC also organises a European Congress once every 4 years through its contributions within Occupational Therapy Europe. The first delegate from MAOT was Ms. M. Bonello followed by Ms. D. Bonello and then the role was taken on by Ms. S. Vella as the delegate and Ms. M.D. Farrugia as the alternate delegate. The delegate representing the National Association on the said General Assembly can apply for financial assistance from COTEC. The MAOT organized and hosted the 51st Council meeting in October 2009 (www.coteceurope.eu) during which Mr. J. Busuttil was privileged to be nominated as Honorary Member of the MAOT. In, 2013, the MAOT hosted the first COTEC General Assembly. Presently, Mr. D. Cachia is COTEC delegate.
In 2007 the MAOT became an affiliated member of the National Council of Women (www.ncwmalta.com). In 2010 became an affiliated member of the Malta Health Network (www.mrc.org.mt). Furthermore, the MAOT is in the process of becoming a recognized body under the NGO’s Act, to be included in Schedule 4 in the Health Care Act, and to be a recognized special accreditation body under the Health Care Act. On the 20th of February, 2020 the MAOT celebrated its 35th Anniversary.
Malta Association of Occupational Therapists 