Our History

The Growth of Occupational Therapists in Singapore

Although there were no exact records of the year that Occupational Therapy started in Singapore, we know that it started soon after the end of World War Two back in the late 1940s – early 1950s.

The profession has grown from a handful of local occupational therapists in the 1950s providing occupational therapy services in Singapore General Hospital to an ever-growing number of more than 1300 of us working across health, social and private sectors. Thanks to the vision, wisdom and perseverance of our pioneer batch of occupational therapists and those who came after them, we have since made tremendous development in our professional identity, representation, education and expertise along the years.

Strength in Numbers: Becoming a Professional Society

Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists (SAOT) was established in the mid-1970s by our pioneer occupational therapists who came together to discuss the need for the profession to represent occupational therapy as a profession. As an association, SAOT took up the mandate of shaping and advancing the quality and access of occupational therapy through standard setting, advocacy, education and research. Today, we continue to represent the profession in national and overseas platforms such World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT), Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Regional Group, East Asian Exchange Meeting and many more.

Reference:
Ho, M.J. (2007). Occupational therapy in Singapore. A historical perspective and anecdotes. Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists.

Key Dates in the History of the Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists (SAOT)

Although there were no exact records of the year that Occupational Therapy started in Singapore, we know that it started soon after the end of World War Two back in the late 1940s – early 1950s.

The profession has grown from a handful of local occupational therapists in the 1950s providing occupational therapy services in Singapore General Hospital to an ever-growing number of more than 1300 of us working across health, social and private sectors. Thanks to the vision, wisdom and perseverance of our pioneer batch of occupational therapists and those who came after them, we have since made tremendous development in our professional identity, representation, education and expertise along the years.

1975

Singapore Association of Occupational Therapy was formed

1992

SAOT becomes a full member of World Federations of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)

2001

First National Occupational Therapy Conference (NOTC)

2005

Established first Singapore Occupational Therapy Day on the 11th January

2006

SAOT joined as member of Asia Pacific Occupational Therapists Regional Group (APOTRG)

2015

Established the first Inspiring Occupational Therapy Award

2015

Established and awarded the first SAOT Research Grant

2018

Celebrated the 10th National Occupational Therapy Conference (NOTC)

Now