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 the work force, we are highly qualified to work in mental health, and everyone benefits from having a creative practitioner in your team.
CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY - FAQs
Q: What are Creative Arts Therapies?
A: Arts Therapy engages the power of the arts to promote health and is facilitated by a trained mental health professional, a Qualified and Registered Creative Arts Therapist.
Q: Is Creative Arts Therapy important from the Australian Government’s perspective?
A: Absolutely. The Ministers of Health and Culture in Australia are committed to increasing the availability of Art Therapy to all Australians, which works towards a better overall health system, as outlined in the National Arts and Health Framework.
Q: Are Creative Arts Therapists qualified?
A: Registered Creative Arts Therapists are trained in government approved tertiary degrees, which gives them the skills and practical knowledge to work as mental health practitioners alongside Social Workers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Nurses. Creative Art Therapists engage in ongoing professional development and supervision. Australian specific registration is through the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), and post nominals Clin.Reg. are used.
Q: Where do Creative Arts Therapists work?
A: Creative Arts Therapists work in many places including aged care facilities, community centres, correctional settings, family violence prevention services, hospitals, mental health services, NDIS, private practices and schools. Creative Arts Therapy is such a flexible and portable practice that it is hard to find locations where Creative Art Therapy cannot be offered.
Q: For which population is Creative Arts Therapy most effective?
A: Arts Therapy is very adaptable in responding to diverse needs. Arts Therapy spans a spectrum of mental health responses including arts engagement, health promotion, prevention, early engagement, acute care and recovery. Arts Therapy has been demonstrated to help participants of all age groups who seek help with various physical, mental and social issues.
Q: Is Creative Arts Therapy relevant to just artists?
A: Absolutely not. The benefits of Arts Therapy are being encouraged by the Australian Government to be considered and utilised by the heath sector, community, businesses, education and also non-government organisations.
Q: Where is the research in to the efficacy of Arts Therapy?
A: The World Health Organisation (WHO) report confirms that the arts and arts therapies are effective for helping people experiencing mental distress and promoting health and well-being at all stages of the life course (WHO Health Evidence Network Synthesis Report 2019).The Australian Government have a commitment to “refine research methodologies and measures of progress, outputs, outcomes and impacts arising from arts and health practice”, to produce stronger research in the future.
LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION
SOUTH GIPPSLAND
CREATIVE ARTS THERAPISTS
We live and work in Boon Wurrung and Gunai Kurnai Country in South Eastern Victoria.
Dr Carla van Laar (Inverloch) website:
Sharyn Latham, “Peace in Art” (Cape Patterson) website:
https://www.peaceinart.com.au/about
Maya Fraser, “Imagerie Creations” (Morwell) on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/ArtTherapyMAThr
Erin McCrorey, “Intrinsic Value Art Therapy” (Leongatha) website:
https://intrinsicvaluearttherapy.weebly.com/
2023 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat, CLICK HERE
FIVE WAYS TO WELLBEING, CLICK HERE
HERE’S THE EVIDENCE: ART THERAPY IN SCHOOLS IMPROVES STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, CLICK HERE
ART THERAPY FIRST AID VIDEO TUTORIAL WORKSHOP: CLICK HERE
Carla’s chapter on Art Therapy First Aid can be found in this book: CLICK HERE
PACFA’S COLLEGE OF CREATIVE AND EXPERIENTIAL THERAPIES: CLICK HERE.
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