Arts Therapy Courses Australia: Top 4 Places To Study Arts Therapy In Australia

Where are the best places to study Arts Therapy in Australia, and what do you need to do to become a registered arts therapist?

Arts therapy or creative arts therapy is an experiential psychotherapeutic approach utilising arts modalities within a relationship with a trained therapist, attending to emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual well-being.

Become a registered practicing arts therapist

The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) is the peak professional body representing creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region. In order to practice in Australia, a masters degree in Arts Therapy is required and Arts Therapists must be registered with ANZACATA or another registration body such as PACFA or ACA. Pathways to registration typically require a combined 6 years of education and training.

Steps to becoming an Arts Therapist:

Complete a bachelor degree in art, counselling, psychology, nursing, social science or a related field at university.
Complete a postgraduate qualification in arts therapy. The postgraduate course must be recognised by ANZACATA or PACFA
Complete 750 hours of supervised field experience on a clinical placement.
Register with ANZACATA, PACFA (CCET), ACA
Able to register for NDIS

Where to Study Arts Therapy

There are a range of Graduate Schools and Programs in Australia, that offer different approaches to arts therapy. I studied at MIECAT (Melbourne Institute of Experiential and Creative Arts Therapy) in Melbourne, and chose to study here as they offered an experiential learning environment which encompasses the essence of arts therapy or psychotherapy. Also the course was offered in week intensives, allowing for working people or people from inter-state to attend and complete the course in a more life-friendly way. The Arts Therapy Masters degree is a non commonwealth funded degree, therefore fees are higher than the subsidised general courses like teaching etc. However, HECS is still available for Australian students. There is also a degree at the University of Queensland as a part of the Masters in Mental Health, however you need to have studied in a health related degree as a prerequisite for entry to this degree.