See Dr Carla van Laar

See Dr Carla van Laar

See Dr Carla van Laar

Creative Arts Therapists working in rural contexts are finding innovative, creative ways to engage with and strengthen community mental health and wellbeing. We are a group of Creative Arts Therapists working in Boon Wurrung and Gunaikurnai Country in the Gippsland regions of rural Victoria. In this interactive workshop we introduce Creative Arts Therapy theory, education and practice in Australia. We present examples of the diversity of ways in which each of us work with our communities, and we invite participants to engage in some Art Therapy First Aid creative activities.

Creative Arts Therapy is a highly adaptable approach and, as Allied Health Practitioners, we respond creatively to the
unique circumstances of our communities, local families and the people we work with. We present some of the ways in which we have used creative approaches to improve accessibility to mental health and well-being support for children, young people and families, people of diverse abilities and members of the health and allied health workforce.

The Arts can be successful in engaging people who may otherwise avoid contact with the service system. We give examples of our work using arts-based practices to enhance
community connectedness, participation and social interaction for well-being, and the prevention of isolation, loneliness and depression.

Engaging in creative practices can be a therapeutic activity that also generates health promoting outcomes such as artworks, stories, music, theatre and digital media. These
artefacts can serve to cultivate community awareness of mental health and well-being, break taboos around discussing mental health and well-being, engender dialogue about mental health, and contribute to a culture of understanding, care and support.