Image credit: “Gooloo’s Scar Tree” by Gooloo (100com x 120cm; multimedia on canvas) Finalist in Brisbane Portrait Prize – 2021 This submission has been prepared on behalf of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)’s College of Creative and … Read More
ACTIVATE ARTS THERAPY
ACTivate Arts Therapy is a grass roots collective of people who support
the advancement of Creative Arts Therapy
as a valued allied health profession within Australia’s mental health system.
We began as a grass roots campaign in Victoria, Australia, and you can see our original mission below.
We have expanded to become a supportive collective of multi-disciplinary Creative Arts Therapists and allies of the Arts Therapies.
We:
*are united by our commitment and passion for Creative Arts Therapy
*share information and resources,
*take action to advocate, raise awareness and campaign for access to Arts Therapy for our communities,
*create a community together that supports our own wellbeing and sense of belonging.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for all the latest news articles and updates.
See our original campaign petition here:
Join our FB group for all the latest updates and resources here:
Professional Arts Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner
WE ARE GOOD TO GO
Expand the definition of Mental Health Practitioner to include ‘Qualified Arts Therapist’.
This inclusion will enable a workforce of highly skilled and experienced professionals to help with the demands on the Mental Health sector during this time of crisis and beyond, in the recovery period.
Pearl Taylor, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Pearl explains why the current campaign to have Arts Therapists recognised as Mental Health Practitioners and working in schools is so important for the well-being of Australian young people.
Join the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner Campaign.
Sign our petition here now: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Australia, and particularly Victoria, is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Arts Therapists are standing by ready to help – we just need some changes to government definitions.
- Creative Arts Therapy engages the power of the arts to promote health and is facilitated by a trained mental health professional – a Qualified Arts Therapist.
- Professional Creative Arts Therapists in Australia undergo rigorous training and have AQF level 7, 8, 9 and 10 Degrees in this specialist field.
- Our training and qualifications are recognised and regulated by TEQSA, Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education.
- We are registered through the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP).
- We engage in ongoing supervision and professional development.
- We work in hospitals, schools, mental health services, prisons, family violence prevention, NDIS, community health organisations and many other settings.
- We work within person centred and trauma informed approaches, and within our code of ethical conduct that includes privacy and confidentiality.
The legislation is outdated and does not reflect the fact that many Arts Therapists ALREADY work as Mental Health Practitioners in health, education and community organisations. Change the legislation to reflect the reality AND mobilise a work force who are trained and READY TO GO!
Dr Alisoun Neville, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner
Dr Alisoun highlights how arts therapy is an adaptable approach that makes mental health care a personalised experience, with an emphasis on individual choice and agency as major factors in supporting mental health and well-being.
Sign the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner petition here:
https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
What is the problem
AND HOW CAN WE HELP?
Sign our petition here now: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Engaging the expertise of Mental Health workers is more crucial than ever in responding to the challenges facing Victorians due to COVID 19. The new initiative placing Mental Health Practitioners in all Victorian schools reflects this need.
The Victorian State Government’s Mental Health Practitioners in Schools Initiative Information for Schools FAQ sheet states “there are known workforce supply shortages in the mental health sector”.
There is an untapped workforce of trained Mental Health Practitioners who are ready and willing to participate in supporting the community – Arts Therapists.
Qualified Arts Therapists are trained to rigorous standards in Government regulated programs, and are registered through ARCAP. However, the definition of Mental Health Practitioner in the 2014 Victorian Mental Health Act does not mention our profession and hence we are unable to help fill important roles such as the new Mental Health Practitioner in Schools positions being rolled out throughout Victoria.
Arts Therapists are especially well equipped to engage with children and young people because of the range of creative modalities we use in our therapeutic approach. Arts Therapists already work effectively in many schools as part of well-being teams, and headspace centres in multi-disciplinary clinical teams.
We support an urgent revision of the definition of Mental Health Practitioner in the 2014 Victorian Mental Health Act to include ‘Qualified Arts Therapist’.
This revision will enable a massively under-utilised workforce of highly trained professionals to help with the demands on the Mental Health sector during this time of crisis and beyond, in the recovery period.
Sign our petition here now: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Please contribute your own short video explaining why this petition is so important. Email me directly at carlavanlaar@gmail.com
CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH – FILM LAUNCH
“2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat” is a twelve minute documentary filmed on location in Boon Wurrung Country, South Eastern Victoria, at the event of the same name. This short film features footage and interviews … Read More
Victorian State Government agrees to fund Arts Therapy in schools – success for the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign.
Following the announcement of the new State budget on 20th May, Acting Premier James Merlino announced on breakfast radio that the State Government will be creating a new $200,000 fund to support extra mental health initiatives in schools. He stated … Read More
2021 Creative Mental Health Forum brings 60 Arts Therapists to Boon Wurrung country, South Gippsland, Australia
https://youtu.be/I302-fmzMUY Sixty Creative Arts Therapists from all over Victoria and interstate gathered on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung People in Inverloch for the first Australian summit of its kind from 14th – 17th May 2021. “We want more … Read More
Arts Therapists Recognised by Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
Our voices are part of a chorus who want greater choice for people in managing their own mental health care, and greater inclusion for Arts Therapists as highly skilled and valued members of Victoria’s Mental Health Workforce. Tuesday the 2nd … Read More
Here’s the Evidence: Employing Arts Therapists in Schools is Good for Student Mental Health.
Prepared by Dr Carla van Laar and Dr Lisa Mosely for the ACTivate Arts Therapy Campaign Evidence for the efficacy of Arts Therapy in mental health and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the effectiveness of the arts … Read More
6 Months of Activism – Highlights of the ACTivate Arts Therapy Campaign
The ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign began when numbers of experienced and well qualified Arts Therapists were told they could not apply for the new ‘Mental Health Practitioner in Schools’ positions because their profession is not listed in the 2014 Victorian … Read More
ACTivate Arts Therapy community PICNIC Sunday 6th December 12.30 – 2.30pm Princes Park, North Carlton
You are invited! Please join members of the ACTivate Arts Therapy community for a friendly casual catch up and debrief, celebrate, get some perspective on 2020 with an art-full picnic. Where: By the pond at the Northern end of Princes … Read More
Save the Date! “Creative Mental Health” Forum and Self Care Retreat May 2021
We pay our deep respects to the First Peoples of Boon Wurrung Country where we will meet. Friday 14th – Monday 17th May 2021 Inverloch RACV Resort, Bass Coast, Victoria Experience for yourself how: Creative practices support mental health Contemporary … Read More
ACTivate Arts Therapy speaks with the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
Today, Dr Alisoun Neville AThR, Caroline Liuzzi (EO Creative Art Therapy Australia) and I met with representatives of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. We were met warmly, and informed that we did not need to convince our … Read More