Master of Child Play Therapy

2022 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2022 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year

2022 course information

Award granted Master of Child Play Therapy
Course Map

These course maps for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2022:

These course maps for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2022:

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) mode, however there are significant placement and campus requirements
Cloud CampusYes
Duration

2 years full-time or part-time equivalent.

Deakin course codeH706
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 9.

Course sub-headings

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 will 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 are not 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 (with on-campus intensives in some units) in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend at least 11-13 hours per unit every week participating in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals, placements and online interaction via CloudDeakin. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. Teaching, placements and assessment tasks may take place outside of Deakin University teaching periods.

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 for 2022 are available 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.

Career opportunities

Play therapy is an emerging profession in Australia. Parents and healthcare providers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of play therapy, especially as mental health issues in children continue to rise. As a result, the demand for qualified therapists has increased. The Master of Child Play Therapy puts you in a strong position to take advantage of this growing demand.

When you graduate from the course, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a play therapist with the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA). Once you are registered, you can start working independently as a play therapist in:

  • private practice
  • schools
  • hospitals
  • charitable organisations
  • government departments.

Your unique skill set will also open up employment opportunities in other areas that intersect with children's health such as:

  • child protection and children's services
  • domestic violence support
  • family support services
  • the legal system (particularly in court evaluations of children’s needs)

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.

Compulsory attendance of 12 days is required over the course which is broken into three on campus intensive placement workshops at the Geelong Waterfront Campus. 1 x 4 days in year 1 Trimester 2, 1 x 5 days in year 2 trimester 1 and 1 x 3 days in year 2 Trimester 2.

Mandatory student checks

Inherent requirements

Applications are accepted from students who possess the skills and prerequisites required to complete the course, gain professional certification and practise safely. The inherent requirements of the course are listed here.

Police Record Check

In accordance with the policies of health and human services organisations, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to undertaking professional placements in each calendar year that they are enrolled in a placement unit. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of a professional placement will not be able to undertake their mandatory placement units and this will impede progress in the course.

Students with a criminal record are not precluded from enrolling in play therapy degrees at Deakin but may face difficulties in obtaining placements which are required to complete the degree. Many agencies are reluctant to place students whom they perceive may place service users staff or the organisation itself at risk, e.g. when offending has involved crimes of violence against children or adults, or crimes of deception such as fraud and embezzlement

Working With Children Check (or State/Territory equivalent)

In accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of professional placement will not be able to undertake their mandatory placement units and this will impede progress in the course.

Immunisation Status

Students are a potential source of infection for service users and colleagues and may be required to comply with any requirements for immunisation as specified by a particular placement organisation. Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health and human service organisations where they will be undertaking their professional learning experience. A placement organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the placement organisation. This may impede progression in the 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.

Students who complete H605 Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play will be guaranteed entry into the H706 Master of Child Play Therapy and receive up to 8 credit points.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play (H505)
Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play (H605)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose 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.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as photocopying or travel.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

Apply an advanced and integrated theoretical and practical knowledge of the principles underlying 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 Play Therapy, to a specialist and non-specialist 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

Demonstrate an ethical research approach to critically evaluate, analyse and synthesize complex cases, problems, concepts and theories in the field of 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 Play Therapy.

Self-management

Demonstrate personal autonomy and expert professional judgement in the field of 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 Play Therapy.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Child Play Therapy students must attain 12 credit points. Units may be worth 1 or 2 credit points - check each unit for its credit point value in the course structure below. 10 credit points are core (these are compulsory) plus 2 elective credit point (you can choose which one to study from the list provided) in Year 1 Trimester 2.

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).

Students may exit the course after completing a specified sequence of 4 units for the award H505 Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play, or after completing the specified sequence of 8 units for the award H605 Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play.

Course structure

Core units

Year 1 - Trimester 1

HAI010Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HSO710Foundations of Play Therapy *

HSO711Child Attachment Environment and Trauma *

HSO713Therapeutic Assessment of Play *

HSO715Childhood Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology *

Year 1 - Trimester 2

HSO709Therapeutic Use of Self

HSO712Engaging Children in Play Using Directive Approaches

and two 1CP elective units

Year 2 - Trimester 1

HSO720Humanistic Play Therapy

Year 2 - Trimester 2

HSO723Systemic Play Therapy

HSO717Professional Practice and Behaviour

*must complete prerequisite for HSO712 

Elective units

Select two 1 credit point elective units

HSH725Research Literacy **

and one of

HSO725Therapeutic Medical Play

HDS732Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the Lives of People with Disability

OR

Select both elective units: 

HSH731Minor Project A ***

HSH732Minor 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.


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.

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.

Research and research-related study

Students completing the Master can select from two pathways obtaining either one credit point or two credit points of research related study.