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
Health
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
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 people … 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
Jill Gallagher AO supports the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign
The ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign is honoured to receive this endorsement from Jill Gallagher AO, CEO of Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and former Treaty Advancement Commissioner for Victoria. Thanks Jill.
“Sometimes we don’t have the words”
Don’t have the words to explain Arts Therapy? Watch this. Please help support the campaign by sharing widely. Thank you Pearl Taylor AThR for this beautiful animation.
Prof. Patrick McGorry urges Government: “Activate Arts Therapy”.
I respectfully urge the Victorian government to expand its definition of “Mental Health Practitioner” to include “Professional Arts Therapists”. Prof Patrick McGorry Prof. Patrick McGorry is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and Director of Orygen … Read More
Brodie Caporn, Melbourne Musician and Professional Arts Therapist in training.
Brodie gifts us a theme song for this campaign! “I’d like to see, Arts Therapy”. AND she tells us why this campaign is so important for the health and well being of Victoria’s children, with a personal plea to the … Read More
Debbie – lived experience of Arts Therapy for recovery.
Debbie shares from her lived experience how Arts Therapy has been an important part of her recovery from serious mental distress, and is an ongoing integral part of her mental health care. She advocates for including Arts Therapists as Mental … Read More
Dayne Beams, AFL Footballer, explains how Arts Therapy has been a game changer in his own mental health
“Arts Therapy showed me that I can use the arts to cope with difficult thoughts and emotions, to help me feel calm and productive, and to strengthen my personal relationships” Dayne Beams Dayne speaks out in support of the current … Read More
Chris Petrie, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Chris shares how he witnesses increased self-esteem and enhanced relationships in his work as a Professional Arts Therapist with NDIS participants. As a former art teacher, he explains some of the differences between an art class and arts therapy. He … Read More
Svetlana Bykovec, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Svet tells us about her work as an Arts Therapist with CATA, highlighting the adaptability of arts therapy and the power of the arts to engage when working with young people. She explains how CATA is currently offering FREE online … Read More
Eric Zhang, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Eric describes how Arts Therapy can support student well-being in schools and shares a message of hope for young people who might be going through a hard time at the moment. Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Marnie Weule and Tara Harriden: Aboriginal Women leaders in Australian Art Therapy.
Feature image credit: Tara Harriden, “It’s in my blood.” “If you look closely at the dots that make up this painting, they have raised ‘lines’ which are reminiscent of blood vessels and, on another level, are representative of the songlines … Read More
“Chill Skills”, anxiety prevention program in secondary schools. A Mental Health initiative by a Professional Arts Therapist.
Sign and share the ART THERAPIST = MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems experienced by young people. In Australia, anxiety disorders are estimated to affect about one in every 10 young … Read More
Katishe Grudnoff AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Katishe shares about the many therapeutic contexts she has worked as a Mental Health Practitioner. She highlights her work with young people and how, as the mother of a child in a public school she wants the option of arts … Read More
Arts Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner Campaign
WE ARE GOOD TO GO – HELP US TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE IN CRISIS THE AIM OF OUR CAMPAIGN: Expand the definition of Mental Health Practitioner in the 2014 Victorian Mental Health Act to include ‘Professional Arts Therapist’. Mobilise a … Read More
Lee Agius AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Lee shares how she has worked in multi-disciplinary teams as a Mental Health Practitioner with MIND Australia in Melbourne. Sign the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Gayle King AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Gayle King AThR describes how Arts Therapy is especially relevant in a school setting working with young people who have experienced trauma. Sign the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Pearl Taylor AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner
Pearl describes how she came to Arts Therapy after being a school art teacher and witnessing the impact engagement in the arts has on the mental health and well-being of students. She shares how she uses arts therapeutic approaches in … Read More
Dr Alisoun Neville, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Dr Alisoun talks about her work providing arts therapy with NDIS participants experiencing mental health issues. She highlights how arts therapy is an adaptable approach that makes mental health care a personalised experience, with an emphasis on individual choice and … Read More
Su Mei Tan AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Su tells us about her arts therapeutic approach and its benefits, including reduced anxiety and increased relaxation. She explains why it is so important to support the ARTS THERAPIST = MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER campaign. Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Maggie Date, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner
Maggie talks about her work as an art therapist with children and adults in psychiatric settings and through the NDIS. She shares how she uses creative processes within a relational approach, and the benefits for participants that she witnesses. She … Read More
Maya Fraser, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Maya Fraser AThR talks about her work in the regional Victorian La Trobe Community Health Services, the Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) and with NDIS clients, describing how Art Therapy is particularly valued by the community yet she has persistently … Read More