Master of Child Play Therapy
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Child Play Therapy |
| Deakin course code | H706 |
| Course credit points | 12 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2022 onwards |
| Campus | Online, however there are significant placement and campus requirements. |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent. |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2027
Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| 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
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
The Master of Child Play Therapy prepares you to support children’s mental health and wellbeing through evidence-based play therapy approaches. The only course of its kind in Australia, it equips you with the advanced knowledge, practical skills and professional experience needed to work as a play therapist across health, education and community settings.
You will explore areas including child, play and brain development, childhood attachment, trauma and psychopathology, the history and foundations of play therapy and counselling, and humanistic, integrative and systemic approaches to play therapy practice, while developing reflective, interpersonal and practical skills. Through supervised placements, you will apply play therapy interventions in settings such as schools, allied health services, and private practice clinics.
Guided by clinically experienced internationally connected academics and informed by contemporary research and industry standards in play therapy and counselling, the course prepares you to support children and families through developmentally sensitive, person-centred therapy.
Indicative student workload
As a student undertaking an online course (with on-campus teaching intensives in some units) in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to participate in a range of learning activities each week. You will spend 11-13 hours per unit (i.e., per 1 credit point unit) each week engaging in a combination of self-paced study, seminars, online interactions and assessment tasks during the trimester teaching period. In some instances, teaching intensives, placements and assessment tasks may also take place outside of the trimester teaching periods. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information on each unit.
If you are undertaking the course full-time, you can anticipate spending 40 hours or more per week in study across Trimester 1 in the first year of the program. Trimester 1 focuses on foundational theoretical knowledge and consists of four theory units (HSO710, HSO711, HSO713 and HSO715). These units are designed to be self-paced so that you can work through the material at a time that suits. Students who are working or who have other significant commitments typically undertake the course part-time. No play therapy units run in Trimester 3; however, students may undertake the research unit HSH725 in Trimester 3 depending on their individual course plan.
In addition, there are significant placement and campus requirements throughout the program. Within the Master of Child Play Therapy students complete three supervised placement units (HSO712, HSO720 and HSO723) and a minimum of 200 clinical hours and 50 hours of clinical supervision. Clinical play therapy supervisors are provided by Deakin. Placement units run the full length of the trimester including the study and examination period. All placements must be undertaken in Australia.
Each placement unit also consists of a compulsory intensive teaching workshop held prior to the start of placement that must be attended live.
Teaching intensive workshop dates are listed here.
Professional recognition
We are currently reviewing accreditation options for Deakin’s Master of Child Play Therapy for 2026 and beyond to ensure the course remains responsive to industry changes and the needs of a growing profession.
Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the Child Play Therapy Team 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 but rapidly developing field in Australia. Awareness of its benefits is growing among parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers, particularly in response to increasing demand for children’s mental health, wellbeing and disability services and supports. The Master of Child Play Therapy prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively to this rising need and positions them to meet the expanding demand for specialised support in childhood.
Graduates are well-prepared to work as play therapists in a range of settings, including:
- private practice
- schools
- hospitals
- charitable organisations
- government departments.
Your unique skill set may also open up employment opportunities in other areas that intersect with children's health such as:
- child and youth mental health
- child protect and children's services
- domestic and family violence support
- family support services
- the legal system (particularly in court evaluations of children’s needs)
Participation requirements
The course involves compulsory clinical placement units. Each placement unit (HSO712, HSO720, HSO723) consists of an intensive teaching workshop held prior to the start of each placement. You will be required to attend intensive workshops live across consecutive days and will need to take time off work and other commitments to attend. Intensive workshops may take place outside of the trimester teaching period.
Intensive workshops are held on-campus for the placement units HSO712 and HSO720 across 5 days at the Geelong Waterfront campus. The intensive workshop for the placement unit HSO723 is held virtually across 5 days.
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 the policies of health and human services organisations, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to 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 Therapeutic Child Play or Play Therapy 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.
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. This police check needs to be completed prior to commencing a placement unit and must be current to the year you are undertaking placement.
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 prior to their first placement unit. 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.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
Students may be required to undertake a NDIS Worker Screening Check to comply with any requirements as specified by a particular placement organisation. This is an assessment of whether a person poses risk to NDIS participants. A placement organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if they fail to obtain a NDIS Worker Screening Check. This may impede progression 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.
Pathways
This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs. Student who completes the 2CP Research (Minor Project) may be able to extend their research career by undertaking a PhD if desired. This, however does not guarantee a place as preference will be given to highest academic and research achievement and subject to staff availability.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play (H505) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play (H605) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Apply an advanced and integrated theoretical and practical knowledge of the principles underlying Play Therapy and the processes involved in therapeutic practice. |
| Communicate respectfully and professionally using a range of media to convey play therapy concepts and theories to varied audiences, establish therapeutic relationships, and facilitate therapeutic change among diverse client groups. |
| Select and use a range of digital technologies to locate and ethically communicate credible information to clients, caregivers and other professionals, and deliver technology-mediated therapy where suitable. |
| Critically evaluate and integrate theory, research, international developments and best practice to inform ethical, evidence-informed Play Therapy practice. |
| Apply specialised Play Therapy skills and knowledge to assess, plan, implement, and review tailored therapy interventions that address a range of client issues. |
| Demonstrate personal autonomy and professional judgement through responsible, accountable, and reflective practice, including self-awareness and use of self in Play Therapy. |
| Establish and maintain collaborative professional and supervisory relationships and actively contribute to multidisciplinary teams to support ethical and effective client care in Play Therapy contexts. |
| Demonstrate professional, ethical, culturally safe and child safe practices within diverse communities including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Child Play Therapy you must pass 12 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 12-credit point Master of Child Play Therapy 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) |
| 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 | Child Play Therapy Placement |
and two 1 credit point elective units
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HSO720 | Humanistic Play Therapy |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HSO723 | Systemic Play Therapy Placement |
| HSO717 | Professional Practice and Behaviour |
Electives
Select two 1 credit point elective units
One of
| HSH725 | Research Literacy |
| HSH753 | Research Methods in Health and Social Development |
And one of
| HSO725 | Therapeutic Medical Play |
| HDS732 | Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the Lives of People with Disability |
OR
Select both elective units:
| HSH731 | Minor Research Project A *** |
| HSH732 | Minor Research Project B *** |
** must select a research pathway of either HSH725 or HSH753 and one other elective or HSH731 and HSH732 (i.e. must complete at least one research unit).
*** Students must have a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60 to be eligible to undertake the minor project option.
Work experience
There are three 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
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.
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.
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.