Maria Daniela Farrugia completed her undergraduate studies in Occupational Therapy at the University of Malta. She continued her postgraduate studies obtaining a Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Plymouth and later a Masters in Bioethics from the University of Malta. Maria Daniela practices as an occupational therapist and manages the Occupational Therapy Department in Mental Health Services. She has also contributed as a board member in the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries.

At present, Maria Daniela lectures in the Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, assists in the delivery of Advanced Skills Laboratories - Psychosocial Practice in the Department of Occupational Therapy in the same Faculty, and is a fieldwork educator in Occupational Therapy. Her main interests are occupational justice in mental health and the use of music in health care.