Graduate Diploma
Enrich your work with children and develop evidence-based techniques for better understanding children and their behaviour with the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play. Get industry experience with 65 hours of clinical placement and learn alongside pioneering academics in Australian child play therapy research.
Want valuable new skills that allow you to pursue more rewarding work with children and their families?
The Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play is designed for those working with children on a regular basis, from health professionals to educators. It builds on the theories, models and practices learned at the graduate certificate level, and trains you to introduce play assessment and directive approaches in therapeutic play into your work with children.
You will examine child development from many different angles, with a particular focus on psychosocial, emotional and behavioural development. You will also explore childhood neuroscience and psychopathy, developmental trauma, and neurodevelopmental differences including autism.
The course can be used as a pathway into the Master of Child Play Therapy, and includes eight units from the masters course:
You will learn how to assess and observe a child's play behaviour, and ways to enhance a child's play ability, not just through case studies but through practical experience in a clinical setting. 65 hours of clinical placement allows you to develop skills in engaging children in play using directive approaches while being supervised by a clinician experienced in the modality. It also provides an opportunity to build professional relationships that can kickstart your career growth when you graduate.
A highlight of the course is being able to learn from academic staff who are not just involved in the field but leading the way through the work and research they contribute. We have staff involved with key Australian and International Play Therapy organisations such as the International Play Therapy Study Group (IPTSG) and the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations and their insights, case studies and experiences are filtered into the course.
The Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play is particularly valuable for those already working closely with children, including teachers, counsellors, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, speech pathologists and mental health professionals. The course also provides significant benefits for parents and caregivers who want to be better equipped for the complex and everyday challenges of children's development.
The skills you will learn will allow you to perform your current role more effectively, and will also open the door to more advanced roles within your profession.
If you are aspiring to become a Registered Play Therapist, you can continue your studies into the Master of Child Play Therapy upon successful completion of the graduate diploma. With registration, you can start working independently as a play therapist in:
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play students must attain 8 credit points. All 8 of these units are core within the Graduate Diploma (these are compulsory).
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.
Students may be eligible to apply for credit for this course.
Pathways for credit are available for this course.
Guaranteed pathways
Students who complete the following courses will be guaranteed a place in the course and receive credit as specified:
Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play, 4 credit points