DTAA membership levels

As of June 2020 the categories of DTAA membership as well as their criteria changed. New membership levels, approved at the 2019 AGM, have been instituted. There are only four levels of practitioners that the DTAA recognises as dance movement therapists and whose work DTAA recognises as dance movement therapy. These levels are Clinical Professional, Professional, Provisional Professional, and Associate.

Information about fees for each level is available here

Clinical Supervisor

The Clinical Supervisor register is reserved for Professional DMTs who are ready to supervise and want to be included in the register of potential DMT supervisors. Only a Professional member can upgrade to Clinical membership. To do so, they must demonstrate that they have worked clinically or academically for five years post graduation from a DMT training program and, during that time, have received an additional 50 hours of group or individual supervision above the 70 hours needed for Professional membership. The DTAA prefers that the Professional member undertakes or has undertaken a training in Supervision Practice. Clinical Supervisor members hold the right to become a Supervisor of dance movement therapists, use the nominal DTAA (Clin DMT) in their signature block, and will form the DTAA Clinical Supervisor Register.

The form to upgrade from Professional member to Clinical can be found here.

Professional Member

A Professional Member has completed a DTAA recognised DMT training course (found on https://dtaa.org.au/coming-events/training/ ) to an approved level (currently 250-400 hours of course work) and has accumulated at least 250 hours of clinical experience (leading the sessions) with a minimum of 70 hours of supervision. S/he continues regular supervision and professional development and makes an active contribution to this profession. Members achieving this level are permitted to call their work Dance Movement Therapy and DTAA post-nominal in their CV and signature block DTAA (Prof DMT). These members are registered by the DTAA for practice in Australasia and receive a Registration Number.

A Professional member has the option to Deactivate their Professional membership due to personal, health, or family circumstances. A Deactivation form can be found on the How to Join/Renew webpage.

Provisional Professional Member

This level of membership recognises that a member is progressing towards his/her achievement of Professional Membership and expects to reach it within two to three years. A Provisional Professional Member has completed a DTAA recognised DMT training course (found on https://dtaa.org.au/coming-events/training/ ) to an approved level (currently a minimum of 250 hours course work) and has accumulated 80 hours of practice experience (leading the sessions) with 20 hours of supervision, and is working towards Professional Membership. S/he continues regular supervision and professional development and makes an active contribution to this profession. Members achieving this level are permitted to call their work Dance Movement Therapy and use the DTAA post-nominal in their CV and signature block: DTAA (Prov. DMT). These members are recognised by the DTAA for practice in Australasia.

A Provisional Professional member does not have the option to deactivate as they are still working toward professional membership. If membership lapses, the Provisional Professional member will not be automatically renewed and must reapply. If a break from DMT work is warranted due to personal, health or family circumstances, they must continue to pay their Provisional Professional membership fee. If paying the fee creates a hardship, they must write to the Administrator, PMC Convener, and Treasurer to explain the circumstances and discuss a fee adjustment.

Associate Member

This level of membership recognizes that a member has begun their progress toward becoming a full professional dance movement therapist. They graduated from a DTAA recognized DMT training program (found on https://dtaa.org.au/coming-events/training/ ) within the past year, or is returning to the profession after an extended break. S/he is currently in supervision, preferably with a DTAA Clinical Supervisor (or equivalent) and has completed 40 hours of client work with 10 hours of professional supervision. Additionally, they will submit to the Professional Membership Committee (PMC) a plan for further study and practice in order to reach Provisional Professional membership within 2 to 3 years. This plan will require approval by both the PMC and Training and Education Committee (TEC). Members accepted at this level can call their work Dance Movement Therapy and can use the nominal DTAA (Assoc DMT) in their signature block.

An Associate member does not have the option to deactivate as they are still working toward Professional membership. If membership lapses, the Associate will not be automatically renewed and must reapply.

Student Member

This level includes any person currently studying DMT in a DTAA recognised DMT training program (found on https://dtaa.org.au/coming-events/training/ ). To apply for membership at this level, s/he must obtain the signature of their course director.

General Member (full)

General Member (concession)

This category of membership includes any other member who is not recognised by the DTAA as current at the levels of professional training and standards listed above. It includes any person with an interest in dance movement therapy in Australasia who is on a low income, including pensioners, and unemployed persons. There is no concession for Clinical, Professional, Provisional Professional or Associate members.

Retired Professional Members

Retired Professional Members have previously obtained Professional Membership status, but have retired from active professional practice as a dance movement therapist. Members at this level are permitted to use the post-nominal DTAA (Ret. DMT), but are not eligible to call any work they undertake either paid or volunteer dance movement therapy.