Bachelor of Arts Therapy

The Bachelor of Arts Therapy at Ikon Institute of Australia is a three-year undergraduate degree that trains you to use creative processes, visual art, and often music, movement, drama or writing, as a form of counselling and psychological support. You learn how to work with people across the lifespan, from children to older adults, in individual and group settings. The course covers human development, counselling theory, therapeutic relationship skills, mental health frameworks, ethics and professional boundaries, and the practical application of arts-based methods in clinical and community contexts.

As an Australian bachelor degree, it sits at Level 7 on the Australian Qualifications Framework and is normally three years of full-time study. The academic year is typically split into semesters or trimesters, and you enrol in units of study, each carrying a set number of credit points. You need to complete a required total of credit points to graduate. The course usually includes a capstone project or research component in the final year, where you investigate a topic in arts therapy and write a thesis or major project. Work-integrated learning is built in, supervised professional placement in a mental health service, school, aged care facility, disability organisation or community agency, so you graduate with real client contact hours and clinical supervision. The exact structure, unit list and placement hours are set by the institute and confirmed on the official course page.

You finish with skills in therapeutic assessment, arts-based intervention design, group facilitation, reflective practice, ethical decision-making and professional documentation. You also learn how to work within multidisciplinary teams and how to maintain your own wellbeing while supporting others. The degree prepares you for provisional registration with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA), the peak body for arts therapists in the region, and for further study if you want to specialise. Always check the current accreditation and registration details with the provider and the association.

This course suits people who are drawn to both creativity and human connection. Maybe you have a background in art, music or performance and want a career that helps people, or you have worked in support roles and want a formal qualification. It also fits mature-age students returning to study, provided you are ready for the emotional demands of therapeutic work and the academic writing that comes with it. International students should note that IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual English requirement for undergraduate courses like this, though you must meet the institute's published standard. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the semester. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia for a period. Confirm all details, tuition, intake dates, English equivalents and visa rules, on the official CRICOS register and the institute's website.

• Arts therapist (after meeting registration requirements with ANZACATA)
• Counsellor in community health, mental health or family services
• Support worker in disability, aged care or youth services
• Activities coordinator or therapeutic recreation officer in hospitals and aged care
• Wellbeing officer in schools or community organisations
• Program facilitator in arts and health programs
• Case worker in homelessness, domestic violence or refugee services
• Mental health support worker in clinical teams

Australian industries that hire graduates include healthcare and social assistance, education and training, community services, and government-funded mental health programs.