Creative Mental Health Forum 2021

We pay our deep respects to the First Peoples of Boon Wurrung Country where we will meet.

CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FORUM AND SELF CARE RETREAT

Friday 14th – Monday 17th May 2021

Inverloch RACV Resort, Bass Coast, Victoria.

 

This training event is proudly endorsed by PACFA for 11 hours of continuing professional development.

 

The Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat supports the goals of the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign in

showcasing how the Creative Arts Therapies are holistic, person centred, inclusive and value lived experience.

We welcome Professor Anne (Dan) Harris, Director of Creative Agency Research Lab,

ARC Future Fellow, Associate Dean, Research & Innovation, School of Education, RMIT University.

Profits from this forum/retreat will be donated to support CATA’s work

employing qualified Arts Therapists to work with families of children receiving end of life care. 

Presenters include:
 
Your Host, Dr Carla van Laar MCAT, Prof Doc ThAP, AThR, author of Bereaved Mother’s Heart and Seeing Her Stories
Special Guest Presenter, Professor Anne (Dan) Harris, ARC Future Fellow, Associate Dean, Research & Innovation, School of Education, RMIT University www.creativeresearchhub.com
Dr Amanda Musicka-Williams, MDMT, PhD, Dramatherapist and Graduate Researcher CATRU, University of Melbourne
Dr Alisoun Neville MCAT, PhD, AThR, NDIS Arts Therapy training provider, Author and Advocate
Tara Harriden MMH, PhD candidate, AThR, Founder Whole Hearts and Minds, Leader in Indigenous Research in Art Therapy
Trish Thompson M Counselling, Clinical member PACFA, psychotherapist and accredited supervisor
Svetlana Bykovec MThAP, AThR, Lead Art Therapist for Creative Art Therapy Australia (CATA)
Michelle Smith RN, Masters of Art Therapy Candidate. Aboriginal Arts and Health Worker.
 
 
Your Self Care Workshop Facilitators are:
 
Lee Agius MCAT AThR, award winning Creative Arts Therapist, Founder Artful Warrior Mental Health Therapy Service
Anjali Sengupta, Grad Dip DMT, Dance-Movement Therapist and Founder Embracing Spirit
Michelle Morgan MThAP AThR, Founder Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies, Creator of Mandala Soul Oracle Cards
Melissa Nelson-Campbell MThAP AThR, Lived Experience Practitioner and Primary School Art Therapist
Jiancong (Eric) Zhang MA Art Therapy, AThR, Founder Unfold Art Therapy, NDIS Art Therapist
Natalie Poole, Grad Dip DMT, Masters candidate, Dance-Movement Therapist and Five Rhythms Teacher
Chris Petrie, MThAP, AThR, Founder Upbeat Arts, NDIS Arts Therapist
Bronwyn Roberts, BPsySc, Chief Happiness Officer: Let’s Laugh, Laughter Yoga Wellbeing Master Trainer, Skillful Mind Mindfulness Teacher
 
 
$600 registration fee covers core program, Friday night Welcome Dinner, morning and afternoon teas, and is payable in 3 instalments.
Registration does not include accomodation or meals other than the Welcome Dinner.
 
The core program includes:
Welcome Dinner
Morning mindful activities
6 x keynote presentations
6 x 1.5 hour experiential workshops
Optional wellness activities for self-care including dance, yoga, art making, swimming and walking.
Surfing, Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Snorkelling are available as optional add ons at affordable prices.
 

Experience for yourself how:

Creative practices support mental health

Contemporary Arts Therapists are working to promote and recover mental wellbeing

Arts Therapies are inclusive, holistic, trauma-informed and socially relevant.

The 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self-care Retreat is an opportunity to look after yourself and learn

while enjoying good company and restorative time in the living world.

It is hosted only two hours drive from Melbourne in the beautiful surrounds of the Bass Coast Bunurong Marine Park and township of coastal Inverloch.

This Professional Development event is suitable for Creative Arts Therapists, Psychotherapists, Health and Allied Health Professionals, Educators and Caring Professionals who are interested in understanding more about creative approaches in mental health care.

The Creative Mental Health Forum and Self-care Retreat includes:

Cultural awareness, welcome dinner and keynote

Creative Mental Health workshops and presentations

Participation in wellness practices including mindfulness, dance, swimming, nature walks, surfing and paddle boarding

Time to relax, explore and connect with your friends and colleagues

Exhibition of Creative Mental Health projects

“Decolonising Therapy” lived experience experts panel discussion on the future of Creative Mental Health in Australia.

We will keep updating this page as more details are confirmed.

Please register now to ensure your place. 

RHYTHM IN FLOW with Jodie Rahda Lynch

RHYTHM IN FLOW with Jodie Rahda Lynch

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

CRAFTING IDENTITY – A BARBIE ART THERAPY WORKSHOP with Michelle Morgan and Alana Stewart

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

TEXTURAL TRUENESS: LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE with Bree Till

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

ART THERAPY IN POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION AND DETAINEE REHABILITATION with Chanudi Wickramasinha

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

Jorja Elizabeth – empowering children’s creativity

Jorja Elizabeth – empowering children’s creativity

Introducing Jorja Hello Parents! Are you looking for a fun and creative way to engage your children in meaningful activities? My name is Jorja, and I'm here to guide your

GOOD OLD TAVERN CHOIR with Tania Balil

GOOD OLD TAVERN CHOIR with Tania Balil

Join Tania for an Afternoon of Active Music Making and Group Performance    Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are delighted to be joined by Tania Balilmusician and

Henry De Oleveira – Actor and Theatre Maker

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

ADAPTABLE DRAMA FOR ARTS THERAPY with Steve Wiegerink & Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton

ADAPTABLE DRAMA FOR ARTS THERAPY with Steve Wiegerink & Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton

"The Magic If" - What if a drama teacher and arts and health practitioner joined forces to co-create together?     Meet Steve Wiegerink and Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton Rebecca and Steve

Nicky De Gruchy – Musician, Artist, Voice Sound Therapist

Nicky De Gruchy – Musician, Artist, Voice Sound Therapist

Introducing Nicky Meet Nicky De Gruchy, an artist, musician and sound therapist who draws inspiration from nature for her creativity and healing. With over thirty years of experience in teaching

STRENGTHENING THE VESSEL with Ann Soo Lawrence

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

Jess Edwards – Nature Based Health and Wellbeing

Jess Edwards – Nature Based Health and Wellbeing

Introducing Jess Jess Edwards (she/her) is a social worker and nature therapist. Jess is the founder and therapist at Flourish: Health and Wellbeing in Nature. She is also currently studying a Diploma in Creative Arts and

Martine Zajacek – Designer and Collage Artist

Martine Zajacek – Designer and Collage Artist

Artist's Statement I specialize in creating collages using antique and vintage papers, as well as found ephemera, which significantly influence my work. The patina and texture of these materials, often

Ricci McAuliffe – Paintings from Nature

Ricci McAuliffe – Paintings from Nature

Artist's Statement While life initially had its own intentions for her, Ricci McAuliffe painted herself into the visual arts corner in 2019.  Living between Inverloch and the Yarra Valley since

Samantha Brick – Occupational Therapist, Kinesiologist and Energy Practitioner

Samantha Brick – Occupational Therapist, Kinesiologist and Energy Practitioner

Facilitator Bio Samantha Brick is an independent Occupational Therapist who lives and works in the coastal town of Inverloch. She has a holistic approach to her work, which involves using

Melissa McDevitt Weston – Contemporary First Nations Artist

Melissa McDevitt Weston – Contemporary First Nations Artist

Artist’s Statement Cultural understandings inform me, as a Traditional Owner, that my ancestors lived along the waterways and I continue to occupy these areas through spirit. This knowledge is substantiated by

Casey Sweetman – First Nations Artist

Casey Sweetman – First Nations Artist

Artist’s Statement Hi, my name is Casey Sweetman (Weston), I am a Boon Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman living here on county. I’m a contemporary artist and have been creating

Renee Sweetman – Boon Wurrung Singer and Songwriter, Songwoman.

Renee Sweetman – Boon Wurrung Singer and Songwriter, Songwoman.

Artist’s BiographyRenee Sweetman is a proud Boon Wurrung & Yorta Yorta woman living in the Bass Coast.She is a singer/songwriter and has performed at major events including the Blaktivism concerts

Jasmine Susic – contemporary dancer – improvisation, installation performance and dance theatre.

Jasmine Susic – contemporary dancer – improvisation, installation performance and dance theatre.

Artist’s BiographyJasmine Susic is a Bass Coast based contemporary dancer with an interest in improvisation, installation performance and dance theatre.Feature image credit: Tyson ButlerDance images credit: Karli Michelle   Jasmine

Dr Carla van Laar – Artist and Creative Arts Therapist

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

Jeremy Grace – Juggler and Magician.

Jeremy Grace – Juggler and Magician.

Artist’s BiographyJeremy has been entertaining Australians for the last 35 years as a juggler, magician, singer, dancer and compère. Performing in public spaces, private functions, theatre restaurants, tropical islands and entertainment

Kim McDonald – Visual and Performing Artist, Experimenter

Kim McDonald – Visual and Performing Artist, Experimenter

Feature image photo credit: Karli MichelleArtist’s StatementKim is a practicing interdisciplinary artist with a background in printmaking, drawing and performance. Working across disciplines her art practice is experiential and experimental