CPD Scholarships for Graduating Deakin Master of Child Play Therapy Students

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Kickstart your play therapy career with a Continuing Professional Development Scholarship with Psychology and Play Therapy Australia 

Psychology and Play Therapy Australia is a leading provider of play therapy supervision and training in Australia.

You will have the opportunity to work directly with our Director, Psychologist and Play Therapist-Supervisor™, Katherine Olejniczak, and her 22 years’ experience in the child and play therapy field.

About Psychology and Play Therapy Australia

Psychology and Play Therapy Australia Pty Ltd (PPTA) is committed to ensuring the rights of children to access developmentally appropriate mental health and trauma therapy services to heal, grow, and reach their potential. We seek to honour children’s experiences by promoting child-sensitive and trauma responsive therapeutic practices across all settings in which children live, learn, and play.

We are at the forefront of integrating best practice psychological and play therapy approaches that focus on the healing powers of relationship and play, structured in a neurobiologically sensitive manner to meet the specific therapeutic needs of individual children.  We recognise play as central to how children come to learn about themselves, their relationships, and their world.  

Our professional development services are delivered Australia-wide and with growing international participation.  PPTA has established itself as an inspiring provider of supervision, training and consultancy services for professionals and organisations across the mental health, play therapy, child safety, Out of Home Care, education, and child and family organisation settings.  We deliver these services Australia-wide and internationally.  Our services are targeted to supporting psychologists, play therapists, counsellors, social workers, and organisations working therapeutically with children and families.   

PPTA is passionate about supporting the development child and play therapists.  We believe that therapy is a craft which requires time and developing of skills and experience, of gaining wisdom through our practice of habits, and through our capacity to be curious about our practice.  Reflective practice is a core ingredient in personal and professional development.

Our clinical service is based in Nipaluna/Hobart, Lutruwita/Tasmania, and provides psychology and play therapy services in response to a broad range of presenting issues and referral sources. In addition, our Trauma Therapy Service provides dedicated trauma responsive care to children living in Out of Home Care, supporting their recovery from the effects of abuse and trauma.

THE OPPORTUNITY!

2 Scholarships are available for individuals for the 2026 year!

Application Process & Selection Criteria

To apply for the scholarships, you will demonstrate your commitment to your development as a therapist and the role of reflective practice in your play therapy practice.

You will respond to the 3 Selection Criteria below, which ask you to answer three questions:

1)  Articulate how you have been embedding reflective practice in your placements and learning.  Provide an example of how this has impacted on the direction of a piece of work.

2)  Watch Katherine’s FREE webinar – Child and play therapy: Essentials for effective and sustainable practice – and share the 3-5 things that most resonated with you that you will take forward into your play therapy practice - watch here.

3)  Identify some of your learning goals for your 2026 continuing professional development plan.  Please state 3-5 learning goals.

If your scholarship application is not successful and you would like to join one of our supervision groups for 2026, please check the box to be added to our Expressions of Interest list and Katherine will be in contact with further details and scheduling options.  

Katherine also offers individual supervision if you would prefer this option.

Applications close Wednesday, 19th November 2025 at 5:00pm.