Flexible part-time online study
Understand child development and therapeutic play
Apply therapeutic play to your current work
Why choose therapeutic child play at Deakin
The Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play is designed for professionals and practitioners who want to strengthen their understanding of child development, childhood mental health and wellbeing, and therapeutic play-informed practice.
Ideal for anyone who works with children including educators, health and allied professionals, mental health, wellbeing, and disability practitioners, the course explores the therapeutic benefits of play to support children’s development and wellbeing.
You will examine areas including child development, play development, brain development, trauma attachment, and the therapeutic benefits of play that can be applied within your existing practice.
Delivered part-time online, the course is informed by contemporary research and taught by clinically experienced internationally connected play therapy academics.
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Strengthen your professional practice with children
Learn about therapeutic play approaches that can be applied in education, health and community settings.
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Study child development and wellbeing in depth
Explore areas including child development, brain development, attachment, trauma and the foundations of therapeutic play and play therapy.
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Flexible study designed for working professionals
Study part-time online while building specialised knowledge that complements your existing professional experience.
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Learn from internationally connected academics
Study with clinically experienced academics contributing to leading play therapy research and scholarship in Australia and internationally.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build specialised therapeutic play skills to strengthen your work with children and families across education, health, allied health and community settings, and support progression within your existing profession.
Professional areas
- Education
- Counselling
- Occupational therapy
- Nursing
- Social work
- Mental health
FAQs
The cost of studying at Deakin depends on your degree, units and study load – tuition fees are listed on degree pages under the fees and scholarships tab. Beyond tuition, you will need to budget for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), accommodation, transport, groceries and textbooks. Find out more about the cost of living in Australia, use the Study Australia calculator to estimate living expenses and explore international scholarships which may help to reduce your tuition costs.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your postgraduate tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
It depends on the degree and how you study. Graduate certificates typically take six months full time or one year part time. Graduate diplomas usually take one year full time and masters degrees typically take one to two years full time. Recognition of prior learning can reduce your study time. Check the degree page for full details.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
We value your experience and qualifications. That is why every new degree application at Deakin is assessed for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Through RPL, Deakin can assess your previous study and life experience and may award course credit that could reduce your study duration, as well as the cost of your study. Qualifications from universities and private tertiary institutions worldwide are considered, as is informal learning related to your degree. Use the RPL calculator to see how much credit you may be eligible for.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in a postgraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores, so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin’s postgraduate degrees are designed to advance your career, whether you want to deepen expertise in your field, move into a specialist role or shift direction entirely. All our degrees are shaped by industry partners, so what you learn reflects what employers need now and into the future. We’re proud to be the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. With flexible study options and financial support available, Deakin helps you gain the skills, recognition and confidence to reach your next professional goal.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play?
Build foundational knowledge in therapeutic play and develop a deeper understanding of child development, mental health and wellbeing. Designed for professionals and practitioners who work with children, the course explores therapeutic play approaches you can apply across education, health and community settings.
Build therapeutic play-informed knowledge
Explore the foundations of therapeutic play and play therapy
Learn how play can support children’s psychosocial, emotional and behavioural development and wellbeing across diverse settings.
Understand child attachment and trauma
Examine how attachment relationships and positive and adverse childhood experiences can influence children’s development, wellbeing and behaviour.
Tailor your studies to your professional interests
Choose electives in areas such as therapeutic assessment, therapeutic use of self, childhood neuroscience and therapeutic medical play.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play, you must pass 4 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Professional recognition
Please note that the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play does not equip you as a Play Therapist. Students who complete the Certificate may apply the knowledge and skills learned to their primary discipline and/or current work with children and families.
What to expect while studying
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units.
Mandatory student checks are not required for students undertaking the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play.
As a student undertaking an online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to participate in a range of learning activities each week. You will spend 11-13 hours per unit (i.e., per 1-credit point unit) each week engaging in a combination of self-paced study, seminars, online interactions and assessment tasks during the trimester teaching period. In some instances, assessment tasks may also take place outside of the trimester teaching periods. All units are designed to be self-paced so that you can work through the material at a time that suits. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information on each unit.
There are no work experience or placement requirements for students undertaking the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
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| Apply specialised theory and practical knowledge associated with child development, measurement of play ability and the impact of life events such as trauma on children’s development in the context of therapeutic child play. |
| Demonstrate the verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills to work with children and their carers appropriate to therapeutic child play to a variety of audiences. |
| Use appropriate technologies to find, use and disseminate discipline-specific information to a variety of audiences. |
| Critically evaluate and synthesise concepts and theories in therapeutic child play. |
| Apply knowledge and skills to measure and assess children to determine the need for therapeutic intervention and refer to a Child Play Therapist or other Practitioner to solve a range of problems. |
| Demonstrate personal autonomy and professional judgement in the field of therapeutic child play showing responsibility and accountability, in conjunction with reflective and ethical practice. |
| Establish and maintain collaborative professional relationships, demonstrating responsibility and accountability to the child, family and carers. |
| Demonstrate professional and ethical practice and respect for diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts that may impact children and families. |
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- H505
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Pathways
Students may be eligible to apply for credit for this course
Pathway for credit to other postgraduate coursework programs may be available.