ANZACATA upcoming events

Clinical Problem-Solving Using the Play Therapy Dimensions Model: Taking an Integrative Approach to Meeting the Needs of Neurodivergent Clients in Therapy with Raelene Dundon (22 Jul 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Please note this is an intermediate/advanced-level workshop suitable for experienced therapists.

This workshop explores an integrative approach to identifying and addressing therapeutic challenges with neurodivergent clients using the Play Therapy Dimensions Model (PTDM) as a framework for clinical decision-making in psychotherapy.

Participants will learn to recognise when specific therapeutic approaches aren't meeting client needs and how to flexibly shift between directive/non-directive and conscious/non-conscious dimensions based on individual preferences. The session emphasises how thoughtful integration of approaches can be more effective than rigid adherence to single methodologies. Through case studies and experiential activities, attendees will practise applying the PTDM's quadrants to develop individualised intervention strategies that honour neurological differences, sensory profiles and communication preferences.

Creative arts therapists will find particular relevance in discussions of how various modalities naturally align with different PTDM quadrants, offering additional pathways for engagement when traditional approaches stall. This neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed approach emphasises collaborative adaptation based on client feedback and therapeutic response.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Apply the Play Therapy Dimensions Model as a clinical decision-making framework to identify when current therapeutic approaches are not effectively meeting the needs of neurodivergent clients and determine which quadrant shift may be most beneficial.
Develop collaborative strategies that meaningfully engage neurodivergent clients in evaluating therapeutic effectiveness and guiding dimensional shifts in the therapeutic approach.

PRESENTER BIO

Raelene Dundon is an Autistic and ADHDer Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Registered Play Therapist and Author, with over 20 years' experience supporting neurodivergent children and their families and working with educators and clinicians. She is the Director of Okey Dokey Childhood Therapy and a lecturer in Child Play Therapy at Deakin University.

When: Wednesday 22 July 2026
Time: 10am–12.30pm AEST (12pm NZST, 8am AWST/HKT/SGT)
Duration/CPD: 2.5 hr
Where: Zoom
Cost: $50 (+GST for Aust. members)
Open to: Practising members (Professional, Tier, Provisional) - Experienced practising members only
Max: 30 participants
Recorded session: No (Privacy Reasons)

Cancellation Policy
When you register and pay to attend one of our events, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to other members. In order to be respectful of your fellow members and the presenter, please email us as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the event. We keep our events as affordable as possible and need to pay presenters the fee they request. While we understand sometimes urgent matters come up, if registrants cancel at the last minute, we struggle to pay presenters. A full refund will be given if the cancellation occurs more than 24 hours before the event. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the event, 50% of your registration fee will be refunded only to defray our costs.

Contracting to ACC for sensitive claims - what you need to know, and how to get started with Tania Blomfield (25 Jul 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

This workshop covers the requirements you need to know to register to provide arts therapy for clients impacted by sexual abuse funded by ACC. The workshop will cover ACC's requirements relating to qualifications and clinical experience, and ongoing requirements from ACC post registration. The registration process will be covered, and how to go about finding a supplier.

This is open to anyone who is located in New Zealand and interested in registering to do this work, from experienced professionals, to students who are looking at this as a future revenue source once they have sufficient experience. The workshop will consist of a presentation, and will include time for questions. There is no experiential component in this workshop.

PRESENTER:

Tania is a professional Arts Therapist, and holds a supplier contract with ACC for sensitive claims (sexual abuse). She graduated Whitecliffe in 2013, and has specialised in working with trauma for most of her career. Tania has a special interest in working with shame, and has also done extensive training in working with dissociation and eating disorders. She is the director of choose2change, and has approximately 80 therapists subcontracting for ACC work across NZ.

When: Saturday 25 July 2026
Time: 10am-11.30am NZDT
(not applicable to other countries)
Duration/CPD: 1.5 hrs
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Open to: Practising and Student Members in New Zealand only
Max: 30 participants
Recorded session: No (Privacy Reasons)

cATch up with Pete, Sara and James - the new leadership team at ANZACATA (29 Jul 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT

This hour-long drop-in session with the new leadership team at ANZACATA occurs the last Wednesday of the month and all members are welcome to join. There is no agenda, no commitment, just pop in anytime you like for a chat with James Beckford Saunders (CEO), Peter Muntz (Membership and Communications lead) and Sara Kirsner (Policy and Regulations Lead) and with other ANZACATA members.

When: Wednesday 29 July 2026
Time: 12pm-1pm AEST / 10am-11am AWST / 11.30pm-12.30pm ACST / 2pm-3pm NZST
Duration/CPD: 1 hour
Where: ZOOM
Cost: Free
Open to: All members
Recorded session: No (privacy reasons)

Creative Regulation: Art Psychotherapy Approaches for Neurodivergent Clients with Sarah Falkenberg Hassan (15 Aug 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:00:00 GMT

This 4-hour interactive CPD webinar offers an exploration of Art Therapy processes that support emotional regulation in neurodivergent clients. The session will examine how creative, sensory, and symbolic expression can support regulation, insight and expression. Participants will be guided through structured and unstructured art-based exercises, practical therapeutic aids, case discussion and be provided a reflective space to deepen clinical insight. The webinar is experiential and participatory, inviting clinicians to engage directly with art-making processes.

Please note this is a similar event to the previous event if already attended. .

Develop Understanding of Emotional Dysregulation in Neurodivergent clients
Explore Art therapy processes to support nervous system regulation, including symbolic expression
Learn to adapt Art therapy processes and ensure practice is trauma informed, and person centred
Reflect upon own processes and experiences within your own practice to broaden understanding.

CPD 4-hour certificate and hand out provided following the workshop.

PRESENTER:

Sarah Falkenberg Hassan is an Art Psychotherapist and counsellor who has been working in the Northern Territory for the past three years. She graduated as an Art Psychotherapist (Masters) in the United Kingdom in 2018 and has since gained experience across a range of settings, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), A Foster and Adoption agency and an Eating Disorder Unit. Sarah recently supported adults, children, and couples through the NDIS as well as private participants. She now continues to work with individuals with trauma backgrounds and those who are neurodivergent within a private hospital setting. Sarah is passionate about a person-centred approach, guided by the ethos of “meeting people where they are at,” and tailoring support to each individual’s unique needs and experiences.

When: Saturday 15 August 2026
Time: 9.00am–1.00pm AEST
11.00am NZST,
7.00am AWST/HKT/SGT
Presenters location, 8.30am Darwin
Duration/CPD: 4 hours (with break)
Where: Zoom
Cost: $90 (+ GST for Australian members)
Open to: All members (except subscription only)
Min/Max: 10/30 participants
Recorded session: No (privacy reasons)

Cancellation Policy
When you register and pay to attend one of our events, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to other members. In order to be respectful of your fellow members and the presenter, please email Michelle as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the event. We keep our events as affordable as possible and need to pay presenters the fee they request. While we understand sometimes urgent matters come up, if registrants cancel at the last minute, we struggle to pay presenters. A full refund will be given if the cancellation occurs more than 24 hours before the event. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the event, 50% of your registration fee will be refunded only to defray our costs.

Arts-based supervision skills training with Tilly Dawson (Oct start) (30 Oct 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 01:00:00 GMT

This training will contain theory, experiential learning, and opportunities for supervision practice, and can be used as either an arts-therapy based PD opportunity, or towards registration as an approved supervisor with ANZACATA.

It is best suited to experienced professional members, as it assumes a working clinical knowledge and experience in arts therapy.

The training will cover:

Definitions of supervision
A variety of models and approaches to supervision
Arts-based integration
Clinical practice
Ethics and Contracts

The course will be 40 hours over 5 sessions (including 15 hours of experiential practice) in keeping with ANZACATA policy requirements of Approved Supervisors. Participants will be expected to engage in supervision practice with other participants between the online sessions in order to complete the required number of hours to register as an ANZACATA supervisor.

Please note only Professional Members can be on the ANZACATA Approved Supervisor listing and completion of this training course does not constitute an application to become an ANZACATA Approved Supervisor.

PRESENTER BIO

Tilly Dawson (she/her) is a professional member, practicing art therapist, and ANZACATA-approved supervisor. Tilly specialises in clinical art therapy within healthcare and oncology settings. She is a passionate clinician with experience in providing individual and group sessions for patients and their families across the lifespan. Throughout her career, Tilly has supervised numerous students and has work as a casual Academic at La Trobe University within the Master of Art Therapy program. Her areas of interest and application in art therapy include medical art therapy, palliative care, trauma-informed practices, and supervision.

When: 30, 31 October and 1, 14, 15 November 2026
Time: 12–5 pm AEDT (11am – 4 pm QLD, 2–7 pm NZDT, 9 am–2 pm AWST/HKT/SGT)
Duration/CPD: 40 hours
Where: Zoom
Cost: $500 (+GST for Aust. members)
Open to: Experienced Professional Members
Min/Max: 8/16 participants
Recorded session: No (Privacy Reasons)

Cancellation Policy:
When you register and pay to attend one of our events, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to other members. In order to be respectful of your fellow members and the presenter, please email us as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the event. We keep our events as affordable as possible and need to pay presenters the fee they request. While we understand sometimes urgent matters come up, if registrants cancel at the last minute, we struggle to pay presenters. A full refund will be given if the cancellation occurs more than 24 hours before the event. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the event, 50% of your registration fee will be refunded only to defray our costs.