Diversional Therapists plan, design, coordinate and implement recreation and leisure-based activity programs to support, challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of individuals.
Occupation description
Diversional Therapists plan, design, coordinate and implement recreation and leisure-based activity programs to support, challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of individuals.
Occupations considered suitable under this ANZSCO code:
- Recreational Therapist
Specializations:
- Activities Coordinator
- Activities Officer
Occupations not considered suitable under this ANZSCO code:
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Personal Carer
- Personal Care Worker
These occupations are classified elsewhere in ANZSCO.
Diversional Therapist is a VETASSESS Group D occupation.
This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate III or higher. Applicants can fulfil the assessment criteria for this occupation in four different ways.
* Highly relevant paid employment duration (20 hours or more per week)
Pathways 1–3
minimum years of post-qualification employment highly relevant to the nominated occupation, completed at an appropriate skill level in the five years before the date of application for a Skills Assessment.
Pathway 4
minimum 4 years of relevant employment required – Three years of relevant employment (can be outside the last 5-year period) in addition to at least one year of highly relevant employment within the last five years before applying.
A positive assessment of both qualification level and employment duration is required for a positive Skills Assessment outcome.
Qualification and Employment Criteria
AQF Certificate IV or higher qualification*
This occupation requires a qualification in Diversional Therapy, including studies in Leisure and Health or Therapeutic Recreation.
*This includes qualifications assessed at AQF Certificate IV, Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master and Doctoral level.
Employment
Highly relevant tasks include:
- Planning and implementing leisure activity programs for individuals in health care and in the community to assist in their social development, and promote their sense of wellbeing;
- Identifying individual needs through task analysis;
- Evaluating and assessing clients’ levels of abilities, interests, needs, strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to carry out a range of tasks and interact with others;
- Maintaining a knowledge of resources available within a facility and within the community;
- Organising leisure and recreational events;
- Assisting with training and supervising volunteers and staff;
- Providing information on available support resources within the local community;
- Encouraging and supporting clients to take part in activities suited to their particular needs and interests;
- Adapting programs to suit individual clients’ needs, interests, skills and abilities.
*If employment is prior to the completion of the qualification at the required level, an applicant must have at least one year of highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level within the last five years. The remaining three years of pre-qualifying period may be within the last ten years. A positive assessment of both qualification level and employment duration is required for a positive Skills Assessment Outcome.
Employment information
Diversional Therapists usually work with people in aged care, who have physical or intellectual disabilities, or mental illness, as well as people undergoing medical treatment or rehabilitation from injury or surgery. They liaise with other health care professionals about the needs of their clients and discuss their clients’ interests and help them to find activities that appeal to them. They organise outings and activities for their clients, coordinate these activities and assist their clients in managing their lifestyle choices.
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