Australian Recreational Therapy Association

🌟 Invest in Your Team. Strengthen Your Impact.

Is your organisation looking for meaningful professional development opportunities for your Lifestyle, Wellbeing, Allied Health and Recreational Therapy teams?

The ARTA National Conference 2026 is a hybrid conference, giving your team the flexibility to participate online or in person.

👥 Group online bookings are now available for large care organisations.

Bring your team together to:
✅ Strengthen professional knowledge and skills
✅ Share ideas and learn from others across the sector
✅ Support continuous professional development
✅ Build confidence and capability across your organisation
✅ Connect with the latest thinking in Recreational Therapy and meaningful engagement

Group rates are available — contact us to discuss options for your organisation.

📩 [email protected]

📅 17–18 September 2026

Don’t just invest in one team member — invest in your whole team.

💙 Stronger Teams. Better Outcomes. Brighter Futures.

📖 Check out our 2026 Hybrid Conference Program….📖

Join the Australian Recreational Therapy Association and the World Leisure Centre of Excellence for the 2026 Conference as we come together to strengthen our professional voice, share innovation, and connect with colleagues from across Australia and beyond.

📍 Westmead Campus, Western Sydney University and virtually

📅 Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2026

✨ Conference Theme

“From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing our Professional Voice”

Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your place today.
🔗 Member Registration
Member Login & Registration
https://diversionaltherapymembers.memnet.com.au/Member-Login

🔗 Non-Member Registration
Non-Member Registration
https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=361

We look forward to welcoming recreational therapists, students, researchers, educators, and industry partners for two inspiring days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

Trade partners and providers- We are looking for trade tables for our 2026 Hybrid conference this September.

If you are interested or want to know more please email the team:
📧 [email protected]

📢 Early bird registrations are still open:
Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your place today.
🔗 Member Registration
Member Login & Registration
https://diversionaltherapymembers.memnet.com.au/Member-Login

🔗 Non-Member Registration
Non-Member Registration
https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=361

📢 We are excited to announce our second-day keynote speaker for our 2026 Hybrid National Conference: Susan Purrington

🌟 Early Bird Registration STILL OPEN! 🌟

Join the Australian Recreational Therapy Association and the World Leisure Centre of Excellence for the 2026 Conference as we come together to strengthen our professional voice, share innovation, and connect with colleagues from across Australia and beyond.

📍 Westmead Campus, Western Sydney University and virtually

📅 Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2026

✨ Conference Theme

“From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing our Professional Voice”

Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your place today.
🔗 Member Registration
Member Login & Registration
https://diversionaltherapymembers.memnet.com.au/Member-Login

🔗 Non-Member Registration
Non-Member Registration
https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=361

We look forward to welcoming recreational therapists, students, researchers, educators, and industry partners for two inspiring days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

📢 We are excited to announce our first keynote speaker for our 2026 Hybrid National Conference: Dr Angelique Souma.

🌟 Early Bird Registration STILL OPEN! 🌟

Join the Australian Recreational Therapy Association and the World Leisure Centre of Excellence for the 2026 Conference as we come together to strengthen our professional voice, share innovation, and connect with colleagues from across Australia and beyond.

📍 Westmead Campus, Western Sydney University and virtually

📅 Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2026

✨ Conference Theme

“From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing our Professional Voice”

Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your place today.
🔗 Member Registration
Member Login & Registration
https://diversionaltherapymembers.memnet.com.au/Member-Login

🔗 Non-Member Registration
Non-Member Registration
https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=361

We look forward to welcoming recreational therapists, students, researchers, educators, and industry partners for two inspiring days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

📢 80 spots face-to- face left for our Hybrid National Conference

🌟 Early Bird Registration STILL OPEN! 🌟

Join the Australian Recreational Therapy Association and the World Leisure Centre of Excellence for the 2026 Conference as we come together to strengthen our professional voice, share innovation, and connect with colleagues from across Australia and beyond.

📍 Westmead Campus, Western Sydney University and virtually

📅 Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2026

✨ Conference Theme

“From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing our Professional Voice”

Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your place today.
🔗 Member Registration
Member Login & Registration
https://diversionaltherapymembers.memnet.com.au/Member-Login

🔗 Non-Member Registration
Non-Member Registration
https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=361

We look forward to welcoming recreational therapists, students, researchers, educators, and industry partners for two inspiring days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

🌟 Early Bird Registration is NOW OPEN! 🌟

Join the Australian Recreational Therapy Association Conference 2026 as we come together to strengthen our professional voice, share innovation, and connect with colleagues from across Australia and beyond.

📍 Westmead Campus, Western Sydney University and virtually
📅 Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2026

✨ Conference Theme
“From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing our Professional Voice”

Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your place today.

🔗 Member Registration
Member Login & Registration

https://diversionaltherapymembers.memnet.com.au/Member-Login

🔗 Non-Member Registration
Non-Member Registration

https://diversionaltherapy.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=361

We look forward to welcoming recreational therapists, students, researchers, educators, and industry partners for two inspiring days of learning, collaboration, and connection.

🔔 Call for Papers – ARTA National Conference 2026

🎤 Share your voice. Shape our profession.
The Australian Recreational Therapy Association invites abstracts for the ARTA National Conference 2026:
“From the Foundation of Influence: Advancing our Professional Voice”

📍 Westmead Campus, Western Sydney University- Collaboration with Western's World Leisure Centre of Excellence
📅 Thursday 17 & Friday 18 September 2026

We welcome submissions from recreational therapy professionals, health professionals, academics, researchers and students across clinical practice, research, education, policy and workforce development.

📝 Abstracts close: 15 June 2026
📧 Submit to: [email protected]
🔗 Learn more: www.recreationaltherapy.au

Recreational Therapy within Allied Health — Understanding the Difference and the Connection

Recreational Therapy (RT) plays a distinct and vital role within the allied health landscape.

While Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on daily living skills and functional independence, and Physiotherapy (PT) focuses on movement, strength, and physical rehabilitation — Recreational Therapy centres on using meaningful recreational and leisure experiences to improve physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing.

There is strong crossover between professions.
We share common goals:
✔ Improving functional skills
✔ Enhancing quality of life
✔ Increasing independence

However, Recreational Therapy uniquely focuses on:
• Therapeutic recreation interventions
• Leisure education and social participation
• Community integration and engagement
• Strengths-based, person-centred wellbeing approaches

RT complements OT and Physiotherapy by addressing participation, motivation, identity, and quality of life outcomes.

Together, allied health professionals work collaboratively to support holistic health across the lifespan.

Let’s continue raising awareness of the distinct and valuable contribution Recreational Therapists bring to multidisciplinary teams.