Get ready for a very personal experience being Welcomed to Country by Sonia Weston at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat in the beautiful coastal town of Inverloch. … Read More
News
“Promoting Creative Healing and Preventing Human Trafficking” with Nepalese Activist and Psychologist, Anuradha Acharya.
Members of the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum extend a heartfelt welcome to Anuradha Acharya, an inspiring leader who will be joining us in May 2025.
Anuradha, or ‘Anu’ is a compassionate psychologist with over 15 years of experience dedicated to supporting survivors of violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking in Nepal. Her unwavering commitment focuses on helping survivors heal and grow after these traumas. This has led Anu to discover and embrace arts-based and creative approaches as healing modalities. … Read More
“Making our Marks”: ND Affirming Creative Arts Therapy with Freya Pinney.
Making Our Marks: Reflections on ND Affirming practice by neurodivergent creative arts therapists explores the perspectives of neurodivergent identifying CATs and what ND affirming practice means to them.
This research project involves 7 ND identifying CATs participating in collaborative co-inquiries and interviews. … Read More
Printmaking: The Nature of Reciprocity with Melinda Jane and Emma Fayelecaun.
How might we bring ourselves into meaningful relationships with other bodies, both human and non-human, using embodiment, reciprocity and expressive play?
Using creative printmaking as our primary modality, the invitation will be to explore connection, kinship and reciprocal relationships, with place, with materials and with others. … Read More
Outdoor Play Therapy with Kim Wood, Founder of Heartwood Health Farm.
Outdoor Play Therapy with Kim Wood – experience and learn about it for yourself at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum. Introducing Kim Wood Meet Kim Wood, a biologist turned therapist, with a deep-rooted passion for working with … Read More
Inverloch Pop-Up ART CO – the evidence of participation
Image: A young visitor admiring artist Martha Breninger’s “Ocean Goddess” soft sculpture. We created a driftwood shrine for her, and many visitors to the ARTCO created soft colourful pom-poms to adorn the shrine and make a commitment to the Ocean … Read More
Dr Carla van Laar – advocating for Creative and Experiential Therapists
Advocacy for Creative and Experiential Therapies Part of my role as Convenor of PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies (CCET),is a pivotal job in actively shaping the landscape of mental health and wellbeing within Australia’s service system and … Read More
CCET’s monthly professional development webinar series launches on 3rd September with an Introduction to Dramatherapy from Dr Amanda Musicka-Williams!
Join PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies (CCET) for an introductory presentation on Dramatherapy by Dr. Amanda Musicka-Williams: Explore key international definitions and approaches to dramatherapy practice Learn about the range of drama-based therapeutic methods from embodied play to … Read More
RADICAL CREATIVITY with Dr Carla van Laar and Melanie Knight
Rhythm in Flow – Dance Meditation Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing is a way of integrating change Dancing is a way … Read More
CRAFTING IDENTITY – A BARBIE ART THERAPY WORKSHOP with Michelle Morgan and Alana Stewart
Crafting Identities – a Barbie Art Therapy Workshop Recently, Mattel released Art Therapist Barbie. She’s the first Barbie in a mental health profession. She’s young, light-skinned, casually dressed, sits on the floor, works with a child, and has similar … Read More
TEXTURAL TRUENESS: LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE with Bree Till
Textural Trueness: Authenticity, Preservation and Permeable Boundaries of Lived and Living Experiences as Sustainable Resources to Support Diverse Populations. Bree Till is a carer and art therapist with training and experience in advocacy, governance, neurodiversity, and systemic engagement. … Read More
ART THERAPY IN POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION AND DETAINEE REHABILITATION with Chanudi Wickramasinha
Exploring the Role of Art Therapy in Post-Conflict Reconciliation and Detainee Rehabilitation Art Therapist, Chanudi Wickramasinha is joining us in May 2024 to share learnings from her fascinating work with ex-militants. Chanudi is a well-respected practitioner in the … Read More
Henry De Oleveira – Actor and Theatre Maker
Introducing Henry Meet Henry De Oleveira, a dedicated actor and theatremaker based in Naarm / Melbourne. He graduated from Federation University’s Arts Academy in 2021 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts. Henry is inspired by the world of immersive theatre … Read More
STRENGTHENING THE VESSEL with Ann Soo Lawrence
Strengthening the Vessel in the Ebb and Flow: Creative approaches in working with refugees and asylum seeker experiences. Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are delighted to be joined byAnn Soo Lawrence Social Worker, Creative Arts … Read More
Dr Carla van Laar – Artist and Creative Arts Therapist
Artist’s Statement I pay my respects to the Boon Wurrung People, on whose traditional lands this exhibition takes place. I honour them, their elders and ancestors. They have inhabited, cared for, gathered on and practiced Culture here on Country for … Read More
PLAYBACK THEATRE LIVE AND REAL with A/Prof Drew Bird
Playback Theatre – Live and Real The Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat is delighted to welcome Associate Professor, Dramatherapist Drew Bird as a specialist workshop presenter at our 2024 event in Boon Wurrung Country, Inverloch. … Read More
COnnect in a CO-creative space in one of our workshops – something for everyone
Inverloch’s new Pop-Up ART CO is providing plenty of opportunity to get your creative holiday juices flowing with a range of creative workshops suitable for adults, teens and children this Summer. Come along and enjoy a co-creative atmoshere where you … Read More
COme on in and enjoy Inverloch’s pop-up ART exhibition featuring local artists
The former accountants offices in the heart of Inverloch are being re-invented as a colourful, vibrant, artist-led space for local artists to exhibit their art work and connect with visitors to beautiful Boon Wurrung Country this Summer holidays! Feature image: … Read More
CO-llaborate on our CO-mmunity installations at ART CO
Our reception area is set to be transformed by collaborative community installations and you are invited to participate! Pom-pom Bomb the driftwood sculpture with up-cycled wool and yarn Chatterbox Corner – fold a moving origami puzzle and leave messages for … Read More
Experience the Practice-led, Creative Approach to Supervision with Dr Carla van Laar’s “Supervision Studio”
Art is a Way of Knowing There is a difference between making art to “express something”, and making art as a form of inquiry, using creative process as a means of knowledge production – employing art as a way of … Read More
BIRTHING THE NEW PARADIGM, TOGETHER with Marianne Wobcke
Birthing the new paradigm, together. Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are honoured to be joined by Indigenous Midwife, award wining Arts and Health Practitioner and PhD Researcher, Marianne Wobcke, as a special guest facilitator. During … Read More
Experience the Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat with Dr Carla van Laar in 2024
We’ve done it! Changed the name of our forum to better reflect the true nature of this event – “collective care”. Are you a mental health professional looking to explore the power of creative approaches in your practice? Do you … Read More
IMAGES OF MATTER AND WHAT MATTERS TO YOU with Anja Zimmermann
Images of matter and what matters to you? Historically, people labeled with intellectual disabilities (ID) have experienced stigma, discrimination, segregation, social isolation, and violence. Until today, social justice in a sense of barrier free possibilities for belonging to … Read More
RECRUITING A CREATIVE OR EXPERIENTIAL THERAPIST TO YOUR TEAM?
Introducing PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies Dear Employer, Team Leader, or Manager, Introducing PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies I am pleased to inform you of the establishment of the College of Creative and … Read More
FELTING FIBRES INTO BEING with Megan Fromholtz
Felting Fibres into Being The sensory nature of felting has many appeals to all ages, abilities and situations. Whether you are creating felt yourself, to use in imaginative play, or guiding clients through the felting journey to find … Read More
ARE YOU A WONDER WORKER?
Feature image above published by the Inverloch RSL: Members of the Inverloch RSL participating in the new “Ocean /Art Mindfulness” wellbeing program for veterans, proudly funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Are you a Wonder Worker? I … Read More
SUPERVISION STUDIO – Online Creative Practice with Dr Carla van Laar
WATCH MY 2 MINUTE INTRO TO SUPER VISION STUDIO https://vimeo.com/811512264?share=copy SUPERVISION STUDIO with Dr Carla van Laar is an online, small group supervision session where we focus on using creative and collaborative processes as ways to connect, explore, problem solve … Read More
WHAT’S BENEATH OUR FEET? with Melissa McDevitt Weston and Carla van Laar
What’s beneath our feet? Cultural awareness in Australian Nature-based Arts Therapy For Arts Therapists wishing to practice Nature-based Arts Therapy in Australia, Cultural awareness is essential, and can become a deeply healing experience for Country, Traditional Owners and Arts Therapists, … Read More
EMPLOYING THE ARTS FOR EXCELLENCE AND ENGAGEMENT IN RURAL AND REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH
CALL TO ACTION: RURAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Next time your service is advertising a position, add “suitably qualified Creative Arts Therapist” to the list of allied health professionals that can apply to the role. We can help fill gaps in … Read More
PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies submission to the new National Cultural Policy
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