Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2020 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2020. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
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 Qualifications 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 are feeling. Studying therapeutic child play at Deakin will give you additional skills to pursue your rewarding work with children and their families.

Deakin’s therapeutic play and child play therapy courses are the first of their kind offered by an Australian university. The Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play 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 therapeutic child play. You will learn how to assess and observe 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 per unit every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.

Students are required to attend intensive workshops for several units in the Master of Child Play Therapy and Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play. Dates for 2019 are listed here

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.

Participation requirements

The course involves a compulsory clinical placement of 40 hours during Trimester 2. The placements may be undertaken in your local area.

Compulsory attendance is required at a four-day on-campus intensive placement workshop as well as the 40 hours in a professional placement and 10 hours of online clinical supervision.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks listed here

Mandatory student checks

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check at the commencement of their course. This police check needs to be completed annually for the duration of the course.

Students are also required to hold a current Working with Children Check in Victoria (or the interstate equivalent) at the commencement of their course.

Students who fail to obtain both a Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of their first unit will not be able to commence clinical components and this will impede progress in the course.

NB: Clinical components include observation of a child at play, infant-parent observation, play assessment, and therapeutic play and play therapy clinical placements.

The Faculty of Health Work Integrated Learning Team utilise an online service called ‘Fit2Work’ for police checks, and students will receive an email with instructions on how to apply. Students should not apply for a police check until they have received this email from Fit2Work.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to other postgraduate coursework programs.

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 attachment, 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 electives listed below.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Course structure

Core units

Trimester 1

HAI010

Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HSO710

Foundations of Play Therapy

HSO711

Child Attachment Environment and Trauma

HSO713

Assessment and Measurement in Play Abilities

HSO715

Childhood Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology

Trimester 2

HSO709

Therapeutic Use of Self

HSO712

Engaging Children in Play Using Directive Approaches

HSH725

Research Literacy for Health Practice

Course structure

Elective units

Select one unit:

ALL743

Foundations in Narrative Theory

ECP712

Social, Physical and Emotional Health and Wellbeing

HDS732

Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the Lives of People with Disability

HPS772

Child and Adolescent Development

Work experience

The course includes a mandatory 1 credit point unit (HSO710), that requires students to undertake at least 6 hours of suitable practical experience. This experience may be in an early childhood setting, home environment or public area, where the student will be exposed to professional e.g. child play and family interactions and associates carrying out their duties.

The course includes a mandatory 1 credit point unit (HSO712), that requires students to undertake at least 40 hours of suitable practical experience. This experience may be in a school environment or community based play therapy clinic, where the student will be exposed to professional e.g. early childhood educators or health care professionals and associates carrying out their duties.

Other course information

Course duration - additional information

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