What is Diversional Therapy?

Diversional therapy is a client centred practice and recognises that leisure and recreational experiences are the right of all individuals.

Diversional therapy practitioners work with people of all ages and abilities to design and facilitate leisure and recreation programmes. Activities are designed to support, challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical well being of individuals.

The Diversional Therapist provides opportunities where individuals may choose to participate in leisure and recreation activities which promote self esteem and personal fulfillment. The Diversional Therapist facilitates individual client choice, decision making and participation when developing and managing recreational programmes.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Through specialised education and training Diversional Therapists possess a broad range of skills and knowledge applicable to health, community and leisure settings.

Diversional Therapists have specialised skills and knowledge in the following areas:

Leisure counselling and education
Assessment of leisure related needs and abilities
individual personal programmes
Facilitating client choice and decision making
Leisure programming for individuals and groups
Lifestyle management
Creative and expressive recreation
Activity analysis and modification
Documentation of professional practice and client care
Continuous Quality Improvement and evaluation
Teaching and facilitation
Health promotion
Management
Team and group work

Caring for Older Australian's Public Enquiry DTA Submission - Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Productivity Commission invited interested parties to register their interest in an inquiry into Australia's aged care arrangements and Diversional Therapy submitted a document to the Australian Government Productivity Commission in July 2010.

Diversional Therapy Australia would like to recognise members who contributed to the document. These people being:

Judy Greenidge Blue Mountains who drove the task force, Annette Smith in Sydney, Aileen Wright in Hobart, Jennifer Anderson in country Victoria, Wendy Baron in Cairns and Karen Cussen also in the Blue Mountains, Jacquline Quirke, Renee Smith & Rebeccah Matthews of Sydney.

The document can be viewed below by clicking on 'read more'