National Certificate in Diversional Therapy (Level 4)

The National Certificate in Diversional Therapy (Level 4) is designed for people working as diversional therapists (also known as activities officers) in a community, residential home, or hospital setting.

Diversional therapy is defined as a professional practice which recognises and facilitates purposeful recreational, leisure, and pleasure activities for individual consumers.  The diversional therapist focuses on choices made by consumers, with the aim of enhancing their independence and physical, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing in a supportive environment.

Holders of this qualification will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the philosophy, purpose, and benefits of diversional therapy; the role of the diversional therapist; and the application of principles of quality assurance to diversional therapy practice.

This qualification recognises the skills required to: develop, implement, evaluate, and adapt diversional therapy careplans for individuals, groups, people with identified health conditions,and people experiencing grief and loss; develop a diversional therapy resource manual, identify safety concerns, assess risk, and develop appropriate risk management strategies; and provide support to people, in particular people living with dementia and/or exhibiting challenging behaviour patterns, in a person-centred, culturally appropriate manner.

This qualification forms part of an integrated pathway of progressive knowledge and skills acquisition.  The pathway begins with the National Certificate in Community Support Services (Foundation Skills) (Level 2), which leads to the National Certificate in Community Support Services (Core Competencies) (Level 3), the prerequisite for award of this qualification.  Candidates may choose to work towards the National Certificate in Community Support Services (Core Competencies) (Level 3) at the same time as this qualification.

For more information about undertaking this Qualification

Prerequisite: You cannot be awarded this qualification until you have successfully completed the Core Competencies qualification. You may complete unit standards in Core Competencies and in this qualification in any order; however you MUST complete the last unit standard in Core Competencies before you complete the last unit standard in this qualification.

Resources

Learning resources are being developed for each unit standard, which contain learning material and learning activities. These will include workbooks and Trainee Assessment Portfolios (TAPs). TAPs are effectively an answer book for the trainee to complete for each unit standard.

Trainee Assessment Portfolios Currently Available Include

	The philosophy, purpose, and benefits of diversional therapy, and the role and skills of diversional therapists
	Research support services for diversional therapists and collate into a resource manual