The Master of Creative Arts Therapy is a unique blended learning program offering you a specialisation in either drama or dance movement therapy. You will undertake supervised industry placements in various contexts including community, health and education.

The creative arts therapies are a form of psychotherapy utilising creative modalities, including drama, dance, music and visual art-making within a therapeutic relationship to improve and inform physical, mental and emotional well-being.

The course provides you with studies in theory, methods, research and professional practice across health, educational and community contexts. There is an emphasis on how each artistic modality is employed in teams with groups and individuals. The teaching method incorporates experiential, theoretical and practice-based learning approaches.

The Master of Creative Arts Therapy has been developed specifically for arts educators, community arts workers, health workers and therapists who are interested in training to practice as a drama and dance movement therapist.

24 months full-time or 48 months part-time.

This is a 200 credit point program.

Students can specialise in Drama Therapy or Dance Movement Therapy.

Please note there is a set approved pathway for the part-time study option.

Sample subjects

Arts for Health and Wellbeing
This subject will provide an overview of various theories within the arts for health continuum of practice: including arts in healthcare, community arts and health and the arts therapies. It will introduce students to contemporary practices and debates in the field from around the globe, as seen from a creative arts therapies perspective. Lecture topics will canvas health and wellbeing frameworks that are prominent in various contexts. Distinctions and similarities between drama, dance, music and art and how they might facilitate health and wellbeing needs will be highlighted and explained with reference to a continuum of practice.

Creative Arts Therapies Practice 1
This subject will provide students with a placement opportunity for extended observation of and participation in a creative arts therapies program as practiced by a qualified professional. Students will learn to integrate relevant psychological and behavioural theory into a particular practice context in response to the needs of people in that context. They will learn how to consider ethical issues and practice ethically, with particular reference to standards of practice. They will also develop an understanding of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams and be able to understand their own role in different professional contexts. Additionally, students will develop self-awareness about their own reactions to the people and systemic barriers and enablers encountered in that context. They will receive feedback on their professional attitudes and capacities as demonstrated in context.

Dance Movement Therapy Methods 1
This subject introduces students to dance as a therapeutic modality, and the function of dance as a healing art throughout human history. Students will appraise the development of dance movement therapy into a contemporary evidence-based profession and its application internationally. Theories that underpin the practice of dance movement therapy will be analysed and critiqued, particularly the function of improvised movement as a therapeutic tool. Experiential learning will be a priority, with students engaged in movement experiences that are enhanced by reflection, group discussion and focussed reading.

Drama Therapy Methods 1
Drama Therapy Methods 1 introduces students to creativity and play-based methods and theories that underpin all of drama therapy. Through experiential learning and classroom practice students will identify core facilitation skills necessary to run a session or series of drama therapy sessions. Further, they will be introduced to meta processes of change, as well as core underlying therapeutic processes of change in drama therapy. In addition, students will receive classroom practice in facilitating these methods.

On completion of this course, graduates will have developed:

• Expert skills to reflect critically on the role of creative arts therapists in educational, health and community contexts
• Integrated understanding of the theories informing methods of practice used by creative arts therapists
• Ability to apply different creative arts therapies methods in ways that address the identified needs of clients
• Advanced communication skills in responding to the expressed needs of clients, colleagues and communities
• Autonomous decision making, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility in professional creative arts therapies practice
• Technical skills in understanding findings from creative arts therapies research to inform practice and evaluation
• Ability to engage with people in ethical and respectful ways.

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed: an undergraduate degree or equivalent; or 6 years documented relevant work experience in creative or performing arts, or

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.