Welcome to the Dance Movement Therapy Association of Australasia

The Dance Movement Therapy Association of Australasia (DTAA) is the recognised professional body for dance movement therapy in Australasia. It sets the standards for Professional and Provisional Professional levels of membership, training and supervision. The DTAA also warmly welcomes General and Student members.

The DTAA promotes the growth, development and recognition of the dance movement therapy profession in Australasia by:

  • establishing and maintaining standards for training, research and professional practice
  • providing a means of communication, education and networking between dance movement therapists, other health professionals, employers and clients
  • liaising with other relevant peak and professional bodies
  • providing information and resources for dance movement therapy practitioners, students and the wider community
  • offering Provisional Professional and Professional Membership status to applicants who meet the training criteria, and Associate, Student or Overseas membership to others interested in dance movement therapy.

Member resources include the opportunity for recognition as a dance movement therapist, bi-annual journal, regular news of events, insurance, library and professional development opportunities.

 

A Virtual Celebration of Dr Kim Dunphy’s Life and Legacy

Please join Kim Dunphy’s colleagues and students in a celebration of her joyous life and her dedication to the profession of Dance Movement Therapy.  This tribute is being organised by the University of Melbourne, where Kim established Australia’s first Masters Degree Program in Dance Movement Therapy.  Ella Dumaresq has compiled a video of tributes from Kim’s international colleagues as well as of the DTAA closing movement ritual from last Sunday’s AGM which will be shown. Please join us to celebrate Kim’s amazing life. Date: 23 October 2020, Time: 05:00pm, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney.  Zoom details and passcode are available to members upon login.

The content on this page is accessible to DTAA members by logging into the website.

PACFA tribute to Dr Kim Dunphy OAM

PACFA

DTAA recognises, acknowledges and respects the ancestors, elders and families of all Indigenous peoples of the lands on which we stand and practice.

 

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University of Melbourne: A Virtual Celebration of Dr Kim Dunphys Life and Legacy

Date: 23 October 2020, Time: 05:00pm, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Kim, a pioneer of dance movement therapy, has been an extraordinary colleague playing a foundational role in the development of the creative arts therapy programs at the VCA and she will be sadly missed. We pay tribute to her generosity, passion, energy, enthusiasm and tenacity as a teacher, a researcher and as a friend. We acknowledge her extraordinary contribution to dance, to dance movement therapy and to creative arts therapy.

In addition to being an admirable professional, Kim was truly stellar in her management of her illness: clear in her decisions about how to proceed through each stage, and careful in deciding how much to share with us all. She was utterly focused on living every moment of her life to the full, and only chose to reveal about her condition when she felt it was necessary to explain that she was unable to proceed with something the way she would like. She was both stoic and tender, vulnerable and strong.

This amazing professional capacity was grounded in a loving home life and Kim frequently described herself as having the most wonderful family support. Because of this great love, as well as her incredible contributions to the profession (acknowledged recently by being awarded an Order of Australia), Kim frequently asked us not to be too sad for her. She often reflected on being deeply satisfied with her life and felt each day to be a great blessing.

The team in Creative Arts Therapy will host a celebration of Kim’s life on Friday the 23rd of October at 5PM (Melbourne time).

Zoom details and passcode are available to members upon login.

The content on this page is accessible to DTAA members by logging into the website.

RESEARCH INVITATION
Invitation to take part in Research Study
Adapting to COVID-19: Telehealth Dance Movement Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents with Autism

(Ethical approval from the University of Hong Kong: HREC Reference Number: EA200128)

Janet Tein Ni is inviting Australia and New Zealand-based Dance Movement Therapist/Psychotherapists who have worked with children and adolescents with autism using teletherapy (e.g. online via Zoom) to take part in a research study.  You will MPs will be invited to individual interviews (held online) lasting approximately 30 minutes to share your experiences with the researcher.

The intent is that the research findings, which will be shared in a book chapter, will be helpful for DMPs during this time of adapting to COVID-19.  The potential benefits to participants who join this study include the opportunity to reflect on their practice

If you are interested in taking part, please get in touch with Tein Ni, Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (ADMP UK) and PhD student, University of Hong Kong, at:  teinni@hku.hk