Australian Recreational Therapy Association

08/07/2025

✨Member Spotlight ✨
A fantastic feature article about Diversional Therapist Cherry Hau and her meaningful work improving the lives and wellbeing of people through leisure. Cherry also shares some insights working and living in a regional community. Thanks to Southern NSW Local Health District for highlighting our small but important workforce

ICYMI | Our We Are Southern Winter 2025 magazine is out now, bringing you stories about how Southern is making an impact on the health and wellbeing of our community, as well as sharing achievements from the staff and volunteers across our District.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3HsoVKR

Stories in this issue include:
📘 Small activities make a big impact in mental health recovery
📙 Meet our nursing and midwifery award winners
📗 Construction progress for Eurobodalla
📕 Breastfeeding accreditation for District

Subscribe to We Are Southern at https://bit.ly/3HsoVKR. Your subscription includes the free quarterly magazine delivered directly to your inbox.

02/07/2025

📣 Calling Recreational Therapists interested in student supervision
You’re invited to this valuable information session, helping to invest in our future. We look forward to seeing you

🗓️Monday 7th July (Syd, Canberra & Melbourne)

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hBsGefEjSVCz7vOamfboMw #/registration

🗓️Wednesday 9th July @ 7pm (Syd, Canberra & Melbourne)

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ssnx7DZPSWC17kNsUOaHdw #/registration

29/06/2025

⏰⏰⏰ Take advantage of our amazing early bird prices and last minute tax deductible CPD for ARTA members 💰💰💰
📲 Register online now
🗓️ Choose from single day attendance or both days, special rates for members so be sure to login (Not yet a member there’s still time to join)

https://www.recreationaltherapy.au/learning/conference/

18/06/2025

Congratulations to graduates of the Bachelor Health Science Recreational Therapy program 🎓A warm welcome into the Recreational Therapy community, we are excited to see what the future brings ✨
Tag yourselves and your gradating class below, share some photos of your day
Western Sydney University - Health Sciences
Nicole Peel
Joanne Rodrigues
Arianne Reis

It's grads season yet again 🎓

Across 23 ceremonies, we celebrate the achievements of more than 4,000 students. Graduation is a proud and emotional milestone, marking the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and academic excellence.

To all of our grads, enjoy this time, take it all in, and feel proud of all that you have achieved! ❤️

Read more about this round of graduations here - https://lnkd.in/gAMbWV5T

17/06/2025

📢 Australian Recreational Therapy Association is excited to announce our second international keynote speaker for the 2025 National Virtual Conference, Dr Jerome F. Singleton.

Jerome, PhD, CTRS is a Professor Emeritus who taught Therapeutic Recreation in the Recreation and Leisure studies department at Dalhousie University for 37 and half years. Dr. Singleton’s research focused on the area of Leisure and Aging.

He also served on the National Council Therapeutic Recreation Certification Board (NCTRC) from 2018 to 2021, the Committee on Accreditation for Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE), board Jan 1 to July 2025 and currently sits on the International Therapeutic Recreation Coalition.

Register here today 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=359

11/06/2025

Thanks to ARTA Executive Officer Charlise Bennett for connecting Slippery Rock University recreational therapy students and academics on their study tour down under last month ✨
Special shout out to members
Kylie Louise & Kelsey Kerr and their team for hosting at Campbelltown Hospital
Rachel Askew and her team for hosting at Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT and
Suzanne Stacey Ta'leah Critchley Adam Wilson
and team for hosting at Royal Rehab
We appreciate your time, support and contribution sharing the Australian recreational therapy experience with our international friends ✨

SRU recreational therapy students and professors met with Australian parliamentarians Rebekah Sharkie and Dai Le during a study abroad trip to Australia, where they discussed policy and practices in the country to better understand approaches to disabilities and person-centered care.

The SRU group also had the opportunity to practice hands-on in an aged care facility and study new technology in the field of recreational therapy such as ZeroG robotic body weight supports systems, drone fishing and adapted gaming apparatuses.

Read more: https://news.sru.edu/recreational-therapy-group-meets-with-australian-parliamentarians/

07/06/2025

🎓 Calling All Recreational Therapists!
Help shape the future of our profession

— become a Student Supervisor with the Australian Recreational Therapy Association (ARTA) and Western Sydney University (WSU).

We’re seeking experienced Recreational Therapists to supervise 3rd-year Bachelor of Health Science (Recreation Therapy) students during their placements. This is your chance to give back, grow professionally, and support the next generation of RTs.

🔹 Why get involved?

✅ Mentor future professionals — share your skills and experience
✅ Earn 10 CPD hours (50% of your annual requirement)
✅ Access free training & a micro-credential in Allied Health Clinical Education from Western Sydney University Staff
✅ Elevate the standards of RT by keeping training within the profession
✅ Gain meaningful support from WSU academic staff

🔹 What’s involved?
Students join your service part-time or full-time for 4–6 months, contributing meaningfully to your programs while learning under your guidance. A great opportunity to build leadership skills while gaining an extra set of capable hands!

🎯 Let’s build a stronger, sustainable RT workforce—together.

📩 Expressions of interest are now open!
Contact Dr Arianne Reis at [email protected] to find out more.

05/06/2025

📣 Our virtual conference is approaching
🗓️ Join us online 18 &19th September 2025
⏰Early Bird registrations open until 30th June
🌐 Head to our webpage for more info
🔎Recreating the Recreation Revolution, are you with us?

02/06/2025

🌿 Recreational Therapy is more than just activities — it's a pathway to purpose, connection, and self-expression.

We, as RT's we have seen firsthand how leisure education empowers individuals to rediscover what brings them joy — even in the face of dementia, disability, or complex care needs.

🎯 Leisure education helps people:
* Reconnect with forgotten interests
* Build skills and confidence
* Explore new, meaningful pastimes
* Improve emotional and physical well-being

Across the lifespan, this approach fosters dignity, autonomy, and identity.

It’s not about “keeping busy” — it’s about enabling people to live life on their terms.

Let’s reframe leisure as a human right, not a luxury.

🧠💬 If you’re working in allied health, aged care, or support services, how do you integrate leisure meaningfully into your approach?

29/05/2025

🌿 Reclaim Your Independence with Recreational Therapy (RT)!

RT is a person-centred, evidence-informed approach that uses leisure and meaningful engagement to support your functional, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial goals.

🧠💬 RTs specialise in Reablement and Recovery Models, helping you regain or maintain your function, autonomy, and identity.

🌍 We help improve community connection by:

1️⃣ Navigating barriers to access

2️⃣ Fostering local and wider community ties

3️⃣ Advocating for better outcomes

✨ Engage with a Recreational Therapist for reliable, consistent results.

26/05/2025

🎨 Have You Considered a Recreational Therapist to Boost Your Independence?

Recreational Therapists (RTs) are experts in Social Inclusion and Participation – helping you connect with your community, culture, and identity in fun and meaningful ways.

🌟 Whether it’s through art, music, games, or group outings, RTs focus on maintaining your abilities and autonomy with dignity and care.

💬 Let’s build independence together – the fun way!

26/05/2025

🚀 Exciting News for Recreational Therapists! 🚀

The Support at Home reforms have officially recognised Recreational Therapists (formerly known as Diversional Therapists) as a vital part of therapeutic services for independent living! 🎉

This is a huge win for our profession, opening up new opportunities to support individuals in maintaining independence and enhancing their quality of life.

💡 Want to learn more about how these reforms can benefit you?

🔗 Follow us for updates, insights, and ways to get involved!

📢 For more on the reforms, please go to https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home