What are the benefits of APPTA memberships?
- Membership in a professional association.
- Advertising for Members on the FIND A MEMBER online platform,
- Newsletters and emails will keep you informed about on-going training, professional development opportunities, social events, job opportunities, research updates and other developments within the play therapy field,
- Discounts for APPTA professional development training courses, workshops, webinars, and conferences.
- Networking opportunities with play therapists, individuals, and organisations with an interest in play therapy.
- Opportunity to actively participate in APPTA and contribute to the progress of the field of play therapy in the community.
- Political advocacy for recognition of the profession of play therapy,
- Voting rights for members at APPTA meetings.
- Eligibility for membership in various APPTA committees.
- Members are welcome to attend meetings of their local state or territory representative.
What qualifications does a Play Therapist require?
Our members hold postgraduate degrees in play therapy, either through APPTA-accredited courses or an alternative pathway. For additional information, please refer to the membership credentials.
What Play Therapy course providers can I use?
APPTA has only accredited the Master of Child Play Therapy course at Deakin University.
All other course providers are not accredited, therefore, you must perform your own research to decide whether they fulfil APPTA’s membership requirements.
Who is required to compete an undergraduate degree (AQF level 7 or higher)?
Members who choose the alternative pathway must have an undergraduate degree in mental health (psychology, counselling, social work, social science, and mental health nursing) or allied health (occupational therapy or speech therapy). not education or early childhood education.
What type of Supervisor do I require?
A registered play therapy supervisor must be supervising you. The chosen supervisor could be a member of APPTA or another Play Therapy Association, including APT, APTA, BAPT or PTI.
If you choose group therapy, 1.5 hours of group supervision equals 1 hour of individual supervision. As a result, you cannot have more than 37.5 hours of group supervision, which is comparable to 25 hours of individual supervision.
When applying for membership at the end of your supervision journey, you must submit a letter from your supervisor(s) on letterhead detailing the number of hours you have completed and the timeframe in which they were completed, as well as the supervisor’s credentials and signature.
Please note that if you choose group therapy, 1.5 hours of group supervision is equivalent to 1 hour of individual supervision. As a result, you cannot exceed 37.5 hours of group supervision, as this is equivalent to 25 hours of individual supervision.
When applying for membership at the conclusion of your supervision journey, you will be required to submit a letter from your supervisor(s) on letterhead detailing the number of hours you have completed and the timeframe in which it was completed, along with the supervisor(s) credentials and signature.
Who can I use for personal therapy?
The 50 hours of personal therapy can be completed with a number of techniques and a couple of providers. You may use any therapeutic technique that aligns with the APPTA’s Personal Therapy Rationale. We urge that you provide a copy of this to your therapist(s) so that they may assess whether their method can help you achieve our membership criteria.
If you choose group therapy, 1.5 hours of group therapy equals 1 hour of individual therapy. As a result, you cannot have more than 37.5 hours of group therapy, which is comparable to 25 hours of individual therapy.
When applying for membership at the end of your personal therapy journey, you must include a letter from your therapist(s) on letterhead that details the number of hours you have completed and the timeframe in which they were completed, as well as the therapist’s credentials and signature.
How do I get work as a Play Therapist?
Play therapists work in a range of settings in the Australia/Pacific region, including schools, hospitals, charitable groups, government departments, and private practice. Play therapists also often collaborate with other professionals, such as psychologists, social workers, and teachers, to provide comprehensive care for their clients. Overall, play therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention for children experiencing a wide range of emotional and behavioural challenges.
Do my overseas qualifications or registrations transfer to Australia?
APPTA has a process in place to assess overseas qualifications and registrations so that those with Australian equivalent credentials can become registered members.
How do I find a Play Therapist or a Play Therapy supervisor?
APPTA keeps an up-to-date list of Registered Play Therapists (RPT) and Play Therapy Supervisors (RPT-S). Please use the following link Find a Play Therapist
Why can I not find my membership details?
If the payment for your membership renewal is not received by the end of April, you will lose access to your account and will no longer be considered a “active member.”
Members who do not pay will temporarily lose their membership privileges and voting rights until they reapply. To reapply for membership, please log in to “Apply for Membership.
If you think you are still an active member because you have paid your membership fees, kindly send an email to [email protected]
Why am I being charged late fees?
Members are usually reminded several times before March 31 every year. Please ensure that payment is made by the 31st to avoid a $25 late fee added to your regular membership cost.
Why does it take so long to get replies?
The Board, Committee, and State Representative staff of APPTA are all voluntary. We try our best to answer all questions within a reasonable time-frame. However, please keep in mind that we all have other responsibilities outside of our roles with APPTA. Therefore, we appreciate your patience and understanding if there are delays in our responses. Rest assured, we are dedicated to serving our members and will do our best to address any concerns or enquiries you may have. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
How long does it take to process an application?
An application is typically heard in a month or two.
The membership committee meets once a month. There are various reasons why an application may be delayed. Maybe you have forgotten to
- Submit all the necessary documents for approval
- Get all the documents signed by a Justice of the Peace (JP).
- Have your support letters provided on letterhead.
- Get your documents signed by the necessary person, such as a counsellor, supervisor, or organisation.
- Check the deadline for the upcoming round of applications.
- met the full criteria for the membership category you have applied for.
There could be a lot of reasons behind the wait. To avoid having to wait a long time, kindly take your time when submitting your application.
If these frequently asked questions haven’t answered your question please contact APPTA.
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APPTA was established in 2007 and is the peak professional body for Play Therapists in Australia and throughout the Asia Pacific region.
"It is through play we reach the whole child" (V.Gowman)