Master of Child Play Therapy
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Child Play Therapy |
| Deakin course code | H706 |
| Course Credit Points | 12 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2019 to 2021 |
| Final Intake | Offered to continuing students only. The final intake to this course was in teaching period 1 2021. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information. |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
The Master of Child Play Therapy trains you to support children’s psychosocial and emotional health and wellbeing through play. Graduate from this internationally recognised course ready to apply for registration as a play therapist, and join a rewarding profession that’s growing in demand.
Want the skills to make a profound impact on the long-term health and happiness of children?
Even adults with years of life experience can find it hard to work through difficult feelings associated with mental health, trauma, self-esteem and relationships. When it comes to children, especially those without well-developed coping skills, these feelings can lead to problematic behaviour. Play therapy is increasingly being used as a way of helping children overcome these issues and make sense of their experiences. The beauty of play therapy is its developmental sensitivity. It allows children to express themselves through a comforting and familiar medium. With a skilled therapist, engaging with a child in play can reveal both the reason for and solution to change emotional and behavioural symptoms, through the therapeutic powers of play. Just as adults need to talk about their challenges with a counsellor or psychologist, children can benefit greatly from playing out their feelings with a play therapist.
If you already love working with children and want to play a pivotal role in their emotional and social development, a career in play therapy will be incredibly rewarding. The Master of Child Play Therapy will give you everything you need to get there. It is an internationally recognised degree, accredited by the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA), and the only course of its kind offered by an Australian university. It’s also a recognised pathway to becoming a Registered Play Therapist. Upon graduation, you’ll have the practical experience and professional recognition needed to apply for registration.
The course explores evidence-based principles in play therapy, and the study areas you will cover reflect the needs of the industry today and into the future. Some of the key areas include:
- foundations of play therapy
- neuroscience and psychopathology in children
- childhood development
- child attachment
- trauma
- therapeutic assessment
- therapeutic medical play
- engaging children in play
- humanistic skills
- filial therapy
A strong focus of the curriculum is developing your interpersonal, creative and expressive skills. These are crucial skills that allow you to work more effectively with both children and their families.
While the course is conveniently delivered on our premium online learning platform, allowing you to study at your own pace, there are many opportunities to apply your skills through practical learning in your own community. For example, you will get to experience what it’s really like to work as a play therapist through 250 hours of clinical placement. You can secure placements in a variety of settings such as preschools, childcare centres, primary schools, allied health services, disability services and private practice. For students interested in continuing their studies at a research level, the course offers elective research units that develop your practical research skills and hone your critical analysis.
Another highlight of the course is being able to learn from academic staff who aren’t just involved in the field, but leading the way through the work and research they contribute. We have staff working within key Australian and International Play Therapy Associations, their insights, case studies and experiences are fed straight into the course.
Indicative student workload
As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each credit point in your course. There are also significant placement and campus requirements based in Australia.
Students are required to attend intensive workshops at the Geelong Waterfront Campus for several units in the Master of Child Play Therapy and Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play. Dates are listed here.
Professional recognition
Graduates of this course will be eligible to apply to become a Registered Play Therapist with the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA).
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.
Participation requirements
The course involves a compulsory clinical placement of 250 hours in a professional placement there are 70 hours of online clinical supervision.
The placements must be undertaken in Australia.
Teaching intensive workshop dates are 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, and play assessment, 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 higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play (H505) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play (H605) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply an advanced and integrated theoretical and practical knowledge of the principles underlying Child Play Therapy and the processes involved in therapeutic practice. |
| Communication | Demonstrate verbal, written and interpersonal communication necessary to interpret theoretical positions, convey ideas, proposals and findings, pertaining to Child Play Therapy, to a specialist and non-specialists audiences. |
| Digital literacy | Use appropriate technologies to locate credible discipline-specific information and disseminate this information to specialist and other professional groups in an ethical and professional manner. |
| Critical thinking | Analyse, critically evaluate and synthesize complex cases, problems, concepts and theories in the field of Child Play Therapy. |
| Problem solving | Apply advanced knowledge and skills to and select appropriate therapeutic approach(s) and modify treatment plans as required to solve a range of problems within the field of Child Play Therapy. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate personal autonomy and expert professional judgement in the field of Child Play Therapy showing responsibility and accountability, in conjunction with reflective practice. |
| Teamwork | Establish and maintain collaborative professional relationships demonstrating responsibility and accountability to the child, family, carers, multidisciplinary professionals and other relevant stakeholders. |
| Global citizenship | Demonstrate professional and ethical practice and respect for diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts, and an awareness of international developments in Child Play Therapy |
Course rules
To complete the Master of Child Play Therapy you must pass 12 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 10 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course electives
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin '(0 credit points)' replaces HAI010* |
| HSO710 | Foundations of Play Therapy |
| HSO711 | Child Attachment Environment and Trauma * |
| HSO713 | Therapeutic Assessment of Play * |
| HSO715 | Childhood Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology * |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| HSO709 | Therapeutic Use of Self |
| HSO712 | Engaging Children in Play Using Directive Approaches |
and two 1CP elective units or one 2CP elective unit
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HSO720 | Humanistic Play Therapy |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HSO723 | Systemic Play Therapy |
| HSO717 | Professional Practice and Behaviour |
- *must complete prerequisite for HSO712 and HSO724
*HAI010 Academic Integrity (no longer available for enrolment, replacement unit DAI001)
Electives
Select two 1 credit point elective units
| HSH725 | Research Literacy ** |
and
| ALL743 | Foundations in Writing and Literature |
| HPS772 | Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent) |
| HDS732 | Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the Lives of People with Disability |
OR
Select one 2 credit point elective unit
| HSH731 | Minor Research Project A *** |
| HSH732 | Minor Research Project B *** |
** must select a research pathway of either HSH725 and one other elective or HSH731 and HSH732 (i.e. must complete at least one research unit).
*** must complete if student wishes to undertake HDR minimum entry requirement and must attain >70% grade.
Work experience
There are clinical placements throughout the course - see individual unit descriptions for full details. These placements must be undertaken in Australia.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Income support
Domestic students enrolled in this postgraduate coursework program may be eligible for student income support through Youth Allowance and Austudy.
Further information can be found at Deakin University's Fees website.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.