Convergence: Cohesion in diversity

This is the inaugural creative arts therapies conference and convocation hosted by ANZACATA, the new peak professional body for the creative arts therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
It will be held from Friday 7 December to Monday 10 December 2018 in Perth.

This conference is a significant marker in the growth and maturity of the creative arts profession in the Australian and Asia/Pacific region. It will bring together arts therapy professionals and those from related disciplines to explore and expand on new horizons in practice and research.

As part of the activities of the conference we will hold a session of multiple ‘convocations’ which we hope will seed the start of our new member-led special interest college system. The first postgraduate art therapy and dramatherapy training in Australia started in Perth at Edith Cowan University. These courses were sadly discontinued some years ago, however, there is now a re-vitalisation of the profession in the city including Murdoch University’s new Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapies.

The association of ANZACATA, the new peak body for the creative arts therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, creates a structure in which creative arts therapists from many backgrounds and trainings can find a home. This conference marks ANZACATA’s official launch after many years of collaboration and planning. The realisation of this shared vision is cause for great celebration and it is fitting that we return to Western Australia for this event.

BOOKINGS ARE NOW LIVE

conference programme

The full programme for the conference and masterclasses is now available. Please download your copy by clicking on the icon above. You will find all the information you need to know about the masterclasses, the conference and convocations. There is also information about the ANZACATA Launch Party and the inaugural ANZACATA AGM, as well as the CECAT exhibition celebrating 50 years of the Creative Expression Centre for Arts Therapy in Perth.

Important dates

Early Bird Registration until: Friday 9 November 2018
Masterclasses: Friday 7 and Monday 10 December 2018
Conference: Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 December 2018
Launch Party: 5.30-7.30pm, Saturday 8 December 2018
ANZACATA AGM: 11am, Sunday 9 December 2018

Our keynotes

Rainbow TH Ho (Hong Kong)

Rainbow is the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Director of the Centre on Behavioral Health, Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, and the Director of the Master of Expressive Arts Therapy program in the University of Hong Kong. Rainbow has worked as a researcher, therapist, dance teacher and performing artist for many years. She has more than 150 publications in refereed journals, scholarly books and encyclopedia, and has been expressive arts the principal investigator of many research projects related to mind-body medicine, creative and therapy, spirituality, and physical activity for healthy and clinical populations. In 2015, Rainbow received the Outstanding Achievement Award and Research Award from the American Dance Therapy Association and the Outstanding Teaching Award from the University of Hong Kong. She also received the Research and Development Award from ANZATA in 2016.

Ephrat Huss (Israel)

Professor Ephrat Huss chairs an MA in arts therapy for Social work at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. She has published over 65 articles and two theoretical and two edited books on art therapy and arts based research within social contexts: What we see and what we say; Using the Arts in Social Research and Practice; A theory-based approach to art therapy: Implications for teaching, research and practice; Figure and background: Using arts in social work, and Researching creations, creating research: Arts based research in the context of Israeli society. She has also received competitive grants in this field. She is currently working on experiences of marginalised Bedouin youth in Israel, crafts as empowerment for Bedouin women, use of arts in the women for peace movement, and arts as salutogenic coping for medical staff and for recovering oncological patients in health-care. Her overall areas of research are the interface between social theories and arts therapy, as well as the use of arts in high context social situations and in health-care contexts.

Staying informed

All ANZACATA members will be sent regular updates and information about the conference. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please email Vic Segedin.