Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play
Deakin course code	H505
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Online There may be on campus intensives offered.
Online	Yes
Duration	0.5 years full-time
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Course sub-headings

Course overview

With a Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play, you can get an introduction to the therapeutic powers of play while building specialised skills that allow you to work more effectively with children.

Love working with children and want a deeper understanding of the way they think, behave and feel?

The Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play is designed for those working with children on a regular basis, from health professionals to educators. It introduces you to the therapeutic powers of play and how these powers may be applied to your current work with children. Whether you work with children in an educational, medical or allied health profession, you will benefit greatly from exploring the important role of play in the lives of children.

Within this program 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 psychopathology, including developmental trauma, and neurodevelopmental differences including autism. Learn about evidence-based methods of implementing play into your work with children and enrich your study experience with case studies and class discussions around the latest research in this growing field.

The course can be used as a pathway into the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play and Master of Child Play Therapy and includes two core units from these courses:

Foundations of Play Therapy
Child Attachment Environment and Trauma

And a choice of 4 electives

Assessment and Measurement in Play Abilities
Childhood Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology
Therapeutic Use of Self
Therapeutic Medical play

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.

Indicative student workload

As a student undertaking an online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to participate in a range of learning activities each week. You will spend 11-13 hours per unit (i.e., per 1-credit point unit) each week engaging in a combination of self-paced study, seminars, online interactions and assessment tasks during the trimester teaching period. In some instances, assessment tasks may also take place outside of the trimester teaching periods. All units are designed to be self-paced so that you can work through the material at a time that suits. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information on each unit.

Professional recognition

Professional recognition is available to students who progress their studies through to successful completion of the Master of Child Play Therapy. Graduates of the masters course will be eligible to apply for registration as a Play Therapist with the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA).

Please note that the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play does not equip you as a Play Therapist. Students who complete the Certificate may apply the knowledge and skills learned to their primary discipline and/or current work with children and families. Students seeking training and registration as a Play Therapist should complete the Master of Child Play Therapy.

Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the relevant professional body retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.

Career opportunities

The Graduate Certificate 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 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 certificate. With registration, you can start working independently as a play therapist in:

private practice
schools
hospitals
charitable organisations
government departments.

Mandatory student checks

Mandatory student checks (i.e., Police Record Check and Working with Children Check) are not required for students undertaking the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play. Students who progress to undertake the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play or the Master of Child Play Therapy will be required to undertake checks prior to commencing any placement units in accordance with the Department of Human Services policy.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to other postgraduate coursework programs.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply specialised theory and practical knowledge associated with child development, measurement of play ability and the impact of life events such as trauma on children’s development in the context of therapeutic child play.
Communication	Demonstrate the verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills to work with children and their carers appropriate to therapeutic child play to a variety of audiences.
Digital literacy	Use appropriate technologies to find, use and disseminate discipline-specific information to a variety of audiences
Critical thinking	Critically evaluate and synthesise concepts and theories in therapeutic child play.
Problem solving	Apply knowledge and skills to measure and assess children to determine the need for therapeutic intervention and refer to a Child Play Therapist or other Practitioner to solve a range of problems.
Self-management	Demonstrate personal autonomy and professional judgement in the field of therapeutic child play showing responsibility and accountability, in conjunction with reflective and ethical practice.
Teamwork	Establish and maintain collaborative professional relationships, demonstrating responsibility and accountability to the child, family and carers.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate professional and ethical practice and respect for diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts that may impact children and families.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play students must attain 4 credit points. Two units are core and students can choose from a list of four elective units.

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.

Course structure

Core units

Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module (0 credit points)

HSO710

Foundations of Play Therapy

HSO711

Child Attachment Environment and Trauma

Elective units

Select two of:

HSO709

Therapeutic Use of Self

HSO713

Therapeutic Assessment of Play

HSO715

Childhood Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology

HSO725

Therapeutic Medical Play

Work experience

There are no work experience or placement requirements for students undertaking the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Play. Students who progress to undertake the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Play or the Master of Child Play Therapy must undertake placement units as part of these degrees.

Other course information

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central