Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play
2021 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2021 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Campus |
There may be on campus intensives offered. |
| Cloud Campus | No |
| 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
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
Course overview
Sometimes children don’t have the words to express what they are thinking or 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 clinicians and educators equipped with overseas teaching experience, and by pioneering academics in Australian 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 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 and moral development) 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 2021 are: Monday 12 July to Thursday 15 July.
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 60 hours during Trimester 2. The placements must be undertaken Australia.
Compulsory attendance is required at a four-day on-campus intensive placement workshop at the Geelong Waterfront Campus as well as the 60 hours in a professional placement and 17 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 a clinical placement in therapeutic play, which must be undertaken in Australia.
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, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.
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 |
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 units that requires students to undertake at least 10 hours (HSO710 – 3 hours, HSO711 – 6 hours and HSO713 – 1 hour) of suitable practical experience in Australia. This experience may be in an educational setting, private practice, home environment or public area, where the student will observe and analyse e.g. child play and family interactions.
The course includes a mandatory 1 credit point unit (HSO712), that requires students to undertake at least 60 hours of suitable practical experience. This experience may be in a school environment or community based clinic, where the student will undertake supervised practice in engaging children in play using directive approaches. The placements must be undertaken in Australia.
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