Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play

2017 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2017 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2017 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play
Campus	Cloud (online) There may be on campus intensives offered.
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Deakin course code	H605
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Quality Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Sometimes children don’t have the words to express what they’re feeling. Studying play and childhood at Deakin will give you additional skills to pursue your rewarding work with children and their families.

Deakin’s play therapy and childhood courses are the first of their kind offered by an Australian university. The Graduate Diploma of Play and Childhood is taught by practiced teachers equipped with overseas teaching experience, and by pioneering academics in Australian child play therapy research.

The course is designed for medical, allied health, welfare, and education professionals who work in community based services with children, adolescents and families who have experienced developmental, emotional, trauma or events that result in or comprise a mental health issue or concern.

The role of play in lives of children will be explored with an introduction to the theories, models, and practices of Child Play Therapy. You will learn how to analyse a child’s play behaviour, examining the behavioural characteristics present when children have a play deficit.

You will gain knowledge about children's development of play skills and coping, and consider the role of the practitioner in providing age appropriate play based experiences to children and young people.

This includes the study of several aspects of child development (cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, biological, motor, moral, developmental disorders) from infancy to adolescence.

There will also be an exploration of childhood developmental neuroscience and psychopathology, covering a range of mental health issues such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, child abuse and bereavement.

Indicative student workload

As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 8-10 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.

Professional recognition

The Master course H705 Master of Child Play Therapy leads to professional recognition. This Postgraduate Diploma is a skills enhancement program that supports practitioners to engage new learning and enhance their existing skills.

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

Graduates will be eligible to work in professional healthcare teams, in individual private practice, and in a range of health, education and community contexts.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play (H505)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Integrate knowledge of child development, neuroscience and psychopathology to design, implement and scaffold a therapeutic child play intervention.
Communication	Demonstrate verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills necessary to convey ideas, proposals and findings, pertaining to therapeutic child play to a variety of audiences.
Digital Literacy	Use appropriate technologies to find, use and disseminate information; and use technologies consistent with ethico-legal requirements for the management of personal information and clinical record keeping.
Critical thinking	Demonstrate an ethical research approach to identify, analyse and critically evaluate evidenced-based practice integrated with relevant literature.
Problem Solving	Apply knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement, evaluate a therapeutic treatment plan or refer to a Child Play Therapist or other Practitioner.
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 Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play students must attain 8 credit points comprising 7 core units (these are compulsory) plus 1 unit from the selectives listed below.