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. …

“The experience and expression of grief is as unique as a finger print”. Join us for an insightful and interactive workshop designed for creative/experiential therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists, allied health professionals, educators, and arts and health workers at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum. In “Pondering Grief Together,” renowned grief counsellors Linda Espie and Dr Carla van Laar will explore the deeply personal and unique experience of grief, emphasising its complexities and the various ways it can be expressed and understood. …

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. …

Justine Lenart, a passionate movement practitioner and First Nations woman, has embraced a practice that not only nurtures her well-being but also fosters a deeper connection to the Earth. This practice is called Wayapa Wurrk, which translates to "connect to the Earth" and is rooted in ancient Indigenous wisdom. …

Create Your Own Drag Persona: Exploring Identity Through the Art of Drag. In this experiential workshop, drag becomes a powerful tool for self-exploration—where you are the canvas. Through the playful and transformative modality of drag, participants will be invited to step beyond societal expectations, embrace fluidity in gender expression, and bring untapped parts of themselves to life. …

Andrew McSweeney facilitates the Music & Imagination Introductory Workshop where you'll learn how to tap into your natural ability and create music you love with the magic of your imagination. You’ll be introduced to a wonderful new way of learning, playing and creating music. During the workshop, Andrew will lead you through an intuitive exercise that will immerse you in your imagination and reveal the music you'd love to create and play. You’ll transform your relationship with music and overcome any obstacle that has been holding you back from learning, playing or creating the music you love. …

In this workshop Anna facilitates an engaging 30-minute deep relaxation session. You will be gently guided to a potentially blissful space where waking and sleeping consciousness intertwine. This restorative practice allows participants to unwind and rejuvenate, crucial for those working in high-demand environments, especially with children and families. …

A workshop to inspire creativity and sustainability by teaching participants how to weave artistic and functional wall hangings that turn non-Australian "weedy" plants and other found fibres into art, while acknowledging the rich traditional wisdom and origins of weaving practices. …

Navigating Uncertainty: Insights from Dr. Carla van Laar at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat As we continue to navigate the complexities of mental health care, particularly within the framework of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the upcoming 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the evolving landscape of creative and experiential therapies. Dr. Carla van Laar, a key speaker at this year’s forum, poses a crucial question: “What has been revealed over the past six months of uncertainty regarding access to Creative and Experiential Therapies in the NDIS?” …

Let Leesa and Alana guide you through a 3 hour sensory and creative forest therapy experience. Our aim is to provide you with a mindful experience which connects you with nature as a healing companion in your daily lives for co-regulation. …

This hands-on experience, led by well-loved and experienced Art and Equine Therapists Kim Wren and Lindy Schneider, offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of creativity, nature, and mental health. …

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. …

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. …