ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026
ARTA 2026 HYBRID CONFERENCE
From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing Our Professional Voice in Recreation
Thursday, 17 September and Friday, 18 September 2026
Attend in person at Westmead or join online.
Two days of learning, evidence, connection and practical ideas for Recreational Therapy professionals.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The ARTA 2026 Hybrid Conference brings together Recreational Therapy professionals, students, educators and industry leaders from across Australia and beyond.
This year’s conference explores how Recreational Therapy continues to strengthen its influence across mental health, aged care, community practice and emerging service settings.
Across two days, presenters will share clinical experiences, practice models, research, technology and practical interventions designed to improve engagement, connection and quality of life.
Attend in person at Westmead or participate online.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
The conference programme covers a broad range of Recreational Therapy practice, including:
- Mental health rehabilitation and recovery-oriented care
- Artificial intelligence and the future of Recreational Therapy
- Virtual reality for pain management
- Canine-assisted Recreational Therapy
- Therapeutic art, mindfulness, poetry and music
- Moral distress in Australian aged care
- Art-based technologies in dementia care
- Digital activity programmes for aged care
- Recreational Therapy in libraries and community settings
- Rural and independent practice
- Clinical placements and professional development
- Current Australian and international Recreational Therapy developments
The programme also includes networking sessions, ARTA board updates, the Award for Excellence and the Student Presenter Award.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dr Angelique Souma
Rebuilding Identity, Function and Quality of Life Through Meaningful Engagement
Dr Angelique Souma will explore the role of therapeutic recreation and multidisciplinary interventions within inpatient mental health rehabilitation.
Drawing on clinical cases and experiences from different care environments, Dr Souma will examine how meaningful engagement and recovery-oriented care can help people rebuild identity, daily function, relationships and quality of life.
Her keynote will highlight the value of understanding the whole person, including their goals, supports and daily experiences, rather than concentrating only on symptoms.
Susan Purrington
Artificial Intelligence: Where Technology Stops and Our Humanity Begins
Susan Purrington will examine artificial intelligence as both a limitation and an opportunity for Recreational Therapy.
Artificial intelligence can support documentation, improve the profession’s evidence base, personalise interventions and give practitioners more time to concentrate on their clients.
It can also help clarify what technology cannot replace: presence, human connection, improvisation, meaning and the professional judgement that Recreational Therapists bring to their work.
This keynote will consider how practitioners can use artificial intelligence deliberately to strengthen, rather than replace, the professional voice of Recreational Therapy.
DAY ONE: THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER
Day One begins with registration, an open meet and greet and technical support for online attendees.
Presentations include:
- Dr Angelique Souma: Mental health rehabilitation, meaningful engagement and recovery-oriented care
- Omar Al-Dabbas: Poetry in Mental Health
- Shay Dawson: Introducing the Life Spaces Practice Model for Recreational Therapy
- Ross Bell: Blunted Tools, Navigating Moral Distress on the Frontlines of Australian Aged Care
- Cherry Sin Yin Hau: Challenges of Working as an Independent Diversional Therapist in a Rural Setting
- Shane: Neurons VR
- Lesley Fox: Creative Joy, One Language, Many Dialects
- Tamia Hawkins: Good Vibrations, Intentional Music Use to Strengthen Connection and Wellbeing
- Taleah Critchley: Evaluating Virtual Reality as a Recreational Therapy-Led Intervention for Pain Management
- Emma Fischer: Finding Recreational Therapy Beyond Healthcare
- ARTA board update and questions
The day runs from 8.30 am until 4.30 pm, with dedicated morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea breaks for networking.
DAY TWO: FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER
Day Two continues the conversation with presentations examining technology, professional influence, innovative practice and new settings for Recreational Therapy.
Presentations include:
- Susan Purrington: Artificial Intelligence and the Future Influence of Recreational Therapy
- Jody Asquith and Danielle Anderson: The Waggiest Wellness Team, Two Models of Canine-Assisted Recreational Therapy Practice
- Catherine Meredith: From the Foundation of Influence, Advancing Our Professional Voice Through People, Place and Purpose
- Arianne Reis and Nicole Peel: Providing Clinical Placements, Knowledge and Skills
- Sharron Tancred, Gregor Poole and Professor Klaus Veil: Advancing Recreational Therapists’ Effectiveness and Influence in Residential Dementia Care Through Art-Based Technologies
- Alison Harrington: From Evidence to Engagement, A CST-Informed Digital Activity Programme for Aged Care
- Kylie Samorowski: Recreational Therapy in Libraries, A Haven Beyond Books
The conference concludes with the Award for Excellence, the Student Presenter Award and the announcement of the Recreational Therapy annual theme for 2026.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The ARTA Hybrid Conference is relevant to:
- Recreational Therapists
- Diversional Therapists
- Students and recent graduates
- Educators and clinical placement supervisors
- Allied health professionals
- Aged care and mental health practitioners
- Community programme providers
- Service leaders interested in engagement, wellbeing and person-centred practice
ATTEND IN PERSON OR ONLINE
The hybrid format allows you to attend at Westmead or participate virtually.
Online access opens at 8.30 am on both days, giving virtual attendees time to log in, test their technology and resolve any connection issues before presentations begin.
JOIN US
Join ARTA for two days of professional learning, practical ideas and conversations about the future influence of Recreational Therapy.
Register for the ARTA 2026 Hybrid Conference