As we approach the end of the year, this is often one of the busiest times for many of us – professionally and personally. I want to take a moment to remind you to prioritise your own wellbeing amidst the deadlines, celebrations, and demands that inevitably come with this season. Self-care is not a luxury; […]
Dear Members, As we turn the page on another chapter for the Australian Recreational Therapy Association (ARTA), I am filled with both gratitude and excitement. With a new board now in place, we find ourselves at a moment of renewal. A time to pause, reflect, and realign our strategic direction to ensure that our work
September was a milestone month for ARTA with the success of our National Virtual Conference. I want to extend my deepest thanks to all of our presenters, both nationally and internationally, for the calibre of their presentations. Your expertise, innovation, and generosity in sharing knowledge have uplifted, inspired, and strengthened our profession. To all who
September is a very exciting month for our Association – it’s Conference Month! On the 18–19 September, we will be gathering for our National Virtual Conference, bringing together Recreational Therapists from across Australia and beyond. This year we are privileged to host international keynote speakers, alongside an amazing line-up of presenters who will share their
As we move into the final stretch of the year, there’s a renewed sense of energy and momentum across the association. I’m excited to share a few important updates and opportunities for our members to get involved and help shape the future of Recreational Therapy in Australia. Firstly, our National Virtual Conference is just around
As we move into July, I’m continually inspired by the dedication innovation, and professionalism of Recreational Therapists across the country. July marks an important milestone for our profession, with momentum continuing to build around national recognition and sector-wide reforms. Recreational Therapy recognised in Aged Care reformsFollowing ongoing advocacy efforts, we are proud to see Recreational
As we step into the second half of 2025, it’s an exciting time for recreational therapy in Australia. The growing recognition of our profession within aged care reforms—particularly those supporting older Australians to live well and independently at home—is a testament to our ongoing advocacy efforts. Recreational therapists are uniquely positioned to support reablement, wellness,
As you would be aware, sadly, we were unsuccessful in securing AHPA membership at this time. For those who may have missed the earlier communication, the full response is included in this newsletter. While this outcome is disappointing, one of the key takeaways is clear: ARTA will not waver in its commitment to advocating for
As April has arrived, I find myself reflecting on just how quickly time passes—where has it all gone? Nonetheless, it’s an exciting time for ARTA, and we have some great announcements to share! We are thrilled to announce that our international keynote speaker for the 2025 National Virtual Conference will be Jessica Luh Kim. Jessica
Throughout the month of February we celebrated Recreational Therapy Month internationally, with numerous organisations publicly acknowledging the essential role of Recreational/ Diversional Therapists across aged care and health. It was truly uplifting to see our profession celebrated and recognised across various platforms, enhancing our visibility. A big thank you to NSW Health, Southern Cross Care,
Welcome members to 2025! This month has certainly flown by. If this pace is any indicator of how the year will unfold, we’re in for a busy one. I hope you all had a safe and fruitful break (if you were fortunate enough to have some time off). As we step into this new year,
Here we are, arriving in December after an epic 12 months – wow, what a ride. I find the last month of the year a time to reflect on what the previous 12 months has been like and to celebrate all we have achieved – albeit it is sometimes not clear until this is written
