about ANZACATA

our mission

ANZACATA recognises the potential of all art forms to enrich and enhance our lives. Our mission is to attend to ethical standards of training and of professional practice, and to advocate for the profession of the creative arts therapies in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region. 

ANZACATA recognises, acknowledges and respects the ancestors, elders and families of all Indigenous peoples of the lands on which we stand and practice.

what is anzacata

The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) is the peak professional body that represents creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region. It is a member-run self-regulating non-profit company limited by guarantee that seeks to advocate for the profession and to ensure that the training and practice of professional members is in accordance with the highest international standards. It encourages continuing professional development of members by supporting colleges and groups representing special interests and regions, hosting regular conferences and symposia, and publishing a peer reviewed journal: the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Arts Therapy (ANZJAT). Creative arts therapy is still an emerging profession in our member countries, and the association strives to raise its profile, advocating and lobbying for increasing recognition, as well as forging connections and links with other disciplines, and other countries. 

aims and objectives of anzacata

• To promote the therapeutic use of the creative arts for the improvement of human well-being.
  
• To maintain the criteria for training creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and Asia to international standards.
  
• To promote the standards of practice and ethical responsibility in the creative arts therapies and to ensure these are maintained.
  
• To offer support to creative arts therapy professionals and others interested in this field, by providing information on research, employment, standards, education and publications as well as resources for advocacy and promotion of the profession.
  
• To provide continuing professional development opportunities for those engaged in the creative arts therapies through the means of conferences, symposia and workshops and the support of Colleges and CAT Groups.
  
• To maintain requirements for continuing professional development and supervision to ensure that members are competent and fit to practise.
  
• To uphold an audit procedure of continuing professional development and supervision to ensure that members adhere to the standards required.
  
• To maintain standards for arts-based supervision.
  
• To encourage research and publication in the creative arts therapies.
  
• To provide information about creative arts therapy services, practices and training opportunities to the public and other mental health professionals.
  
• To encourage the development of Colleges and CAT Groups and support their ongoing activities.
  
• To encourage member participation and voice in the structure and policy development of the Association.
  
• To publish a monthly newsletter.
  
• To publish a peer-reviewed professional journal, ANZJAT (The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Arts Therapy), at least annually.
  
• To hold a conference or symposium every year.
  
• To hold an AGM annually.
  
  

the history of creative arts therapies in the region

1987  The Australian National Art Therapy Association Inc. (ANATA) was founded as a non-profit incorporated association.

1990s onwards  Programmes at postgraduate level in art therapy, drama therapy and creative arts therapy developed in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

1995  Establishment of Creative Therapies Association of Aotearoa (CTAA) in New Zealand.

2000  Establishment of Australian Creative Art Therapies Association (ACATA) by first graduates of the RMIT masters programme.

2006  ANATA became ANZATA (Australian and New Zealand Art Therapy Association), affiliating with
New Zealand.

2006   ANZJAT (The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art Therapy) first published.

2007  The Australian government wage award was granted to the profession, and the profession was included in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZCO).

2009  ANZATA professional membership was opened to Singapore graduates.

2011  An ‘s’ was added to ‘art’ in ANZATA’s and ANZJAT’s title to reflect the many creative modalities that members utilise.

2015  ANZATA professional membership was opened to graduates of University of Hong Kong.

2016   ANZATA and ACATA became Affiliated Organisations of PACFA.

2018   ANZATA and ACATA transitioned to ANZACATA, a company limited by guarantee.