ARTA Membership
November 2024 Media Release
Change to Membership Requirements and Partnership with AHANA
ARTA will no longer be accepting membership with qualifications under a degree in leisure and recreation following recent amendments to its constitution. Members with Certificate IV or Diploma qualifications in Leisure and Recreation will continue to be supported through a collaboration with the Allied Health Assistants National Association (AHANA).
Read the full official media release here
How do I become a member?
- Apply online and upload supporting educational documentation.
- Your application will then be reviewed.
- You will be contacted via the office for confirmation of membership approval and category.
Members must complete 20 hours of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) annually to maintain their membership.
Why join ARTA?
Membership benefits include:
- Being part of the peak professional body for Recreational Therapy in Australia.
- Monthly newsletters to keep informed about progress or changes in the industry, training opportunities and employment options.
- Professional networking opportunities through network groups both in person and online.
- Members only access to the website with resources and information to support practice.
- Opportunities to contribute to a growing body of knowledge.
- National conference with evidence-based research and practice at discounted rates.
- Award for Excellence presented annually.
- ARTA merchandise available to promote the profession.
- Discounted industry specific education provided in numerous formats to meet member needs:
- Face to face workshops
- Online workshops
- Hour to empower training sessions
- Online learning platform
- Communities of practice to assist in influencing contemporary areas of practice and developing the industry.
View and download the official ARTA Information brochure here.
Please note: when you join, you will be charged a pro-rata membership fee calculated to the beginning of the next membership year. The membership year runs from July to June.
To renew, you will need to login.
Membership Renewal Steps:
- Click on Member Log in on the Home Page
- Provide your user name and password
- Click on Subscriptions
- Pay your membership
- Upload your CPD under the MY CPD tab
ARTA Memberships
Certified Member
A Certified Member must hold an approved university qualification as specified and defined by the ARTA Board. ARTA recognise only these members as Certified Members who are permitted to use the title 'Recreational Therapist'.
The degree confirms the holder has knowledge in health, recreation and leisure and has met the competencies expected in terms of knowledge application as assessed throughout a minimum of three years of university education. These competencies include assessing individual client’s needs using various assessment tools based on the client needs and goals; using professional judgement guided by laws, ethics and organisational requirements; identifying goals with clients and developing an intervention plan or program to meet the identified goals; measuring and evaluating the intervention based on the outcomes and expectations of the intervention.
Associate Member
Associate Member - Diploma
This membership category is for members that hold a diploma qualification in leisure, recreation and health. A member must hold an accepted vocational level Diploma qualification as specified and defined by the ARTA Board.
A person holding this qualification can coordinate the recreation service and performance manage staff but do not have training in interpreting and analysing results from different assessment tools to most effectively meet individual client’s needs.
Associate Member - Certificate IV
This membership category is for members who have completed a Certificate IV qualification as specified and defined by the ARTA Board.
The role is involved in assisting with the delivery of a recreation program.
Associate Member - Student
Student members are welcome. Student Membership is offered at a discounted rate. Students have the opportunity to be mentored by experienced members in specialised areas of interest.
Affiliate Member
There are a range of Affiliate Memberships for those not working directly in recreational therapy in Australia. This includes retired members, international members and academic affiliates. Please contact the office for further information.
Life Member
Nominated members who have contributed enormously to the foundation of the profession have been honoured with Life Membership.