Diversional therapy

In Australia, Diversional Therapy “is a client centred practice [that] recognises that leisure and recreational experiences are the right of all individuals.” Diversional Therapists promote the involvement in leisure, recreation and play by reducing barriers to their client's participation and providing opportunities where the individual may choose to participate. Ideally these recreational activities promote self-esteem and personal fulfillment, through an emphasis on holistic care; providing physical, psychological, social, intellectual and spiritual/cultural support.

Diversional Therapists work in a wide variety of settings, such as Rehabilitation & hospital units, Justice Centres, Community Centres, Day and Respite services, Aged Care Residential Facilities, Ethnic Specific Services, Palliative Care Units and Outreach Programmes, Mental Health Services, Specialist Organisations, Private Practice, Consultancy & Management

The diversional therapist works with a client to achieve positive health outcomes by incorporating leisure programmes into their lifestyles. He or she assists decision-making and participation when developing and managing these programmes. These are often quite diverse and can range from:
· Games, outings, gardening, computers, gentle exercise, music, arts and crafts.
· Individual emotional and social support
· Sensory enrichment, activities like massage and aromatherapy, pet therapy
· Discussion groups, education sessions like grooming, beauty care, cooking
· Social, cultural and spiritual activities

Diversional Therapy is not just about passing the time, about being entertainers or babysitters. As an unknown author once said "Recreation's purpose is not to kill time, but to make time live; not to keep people occupied, but to keep them refreshed; not to offer an escape from life, but to provide a discovery of life."

Becoming a Diversional Therapist

To become a diversional therapist in Australia you must complete a diploma or degree in diversional therapy or leisure and health studies and this course needs to be recognised by the Diversional Therapy Association of Australia. Entry to the degree courses usually requires completion of your HSC/ACT Year 12 with prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, chemistry or biology. The various universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

Benefits of Leisure

Leisure has many well documented health related benefits.
Physical Benefits can include:

• Decrease in blood pressure
• Decrease in heart rate
• Increase in bone mass and strength
• Increase in lung capacity
• Reduction in incidence of diabetes
• Increase in muscle strength
• Increase in sense of well being
• Increase in flexibility, balance and coordination
• Improvement in immune system

Emotional Benefits can include:

• Happiness
• Life satisfaction
• Morale
• Self-concept
• Self-esteem
• Perceived sense of freedom
• Independence
• Autonomy
• Self-confidence
• Leadership skills
• Tolerance/Understanding
• Problem solving skills

Case Study: How can a diversional therapy programme influence someone’s life?

When Edna Smith (name changed to ensure confidentiality) came to the nursing home, and started partipation in the Diversional Therapy programme, she was quiet and withdrawn. She did not want to participate in activities and was grieving and feeling depressed at her sudden loss of freedom.

Now, Edna is a bright bubbly lady who always has a joke to share or a song to sing. Because of the Diversional Therapist’s encouragement, she now regularly participates in leisure, and enjoys it. She is no longer depressed and when asked if she enjoys life, retorts with “Are you crackers? I love it!” She acknowledges that her slowly decreasing mobility makes things harder, but that the Diversional Therapy programme has certainly improved her quality of life.

But it doesn’t stop there:

Edna is regularly assessed and evaluated so her care is constantly evolving to fit her changing abilities.

For example, her impaired mobility and balance. In order for Edna to maintain confidence in her physical abilities the diversional therapists encourage her to attend the nursing home exercise programme at least three times a week for 30 minutes.

To overcome the problem of reduced opportunities for cognitive stimulation, the diversional therapists provide the opportunity for Edna to be involved in reminiscence groups at least once a week and as she is a keen Scrabbler, a volunteer has been recruited to play Scrabble with her for an hour or so weekly.

She goes to social events and concerts for an hour at least once a fortnight so her access to meaningful social interaction is increased.

The diversional therapy programme has definitely had a positive influence on Edna’s life and will continue to do so for as long as she is living at the nursing home.

Further information

• Diversional Therapy Association NSW Inc
• Human Resource Management, ACT Health
• NSW Health
• Diversional Therapy Resources

See also

• Recreational therapy
• Leisure