PACFA PD: The Ceremony of Indigenous Facilitation Practice - Country Holds the Space

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PACFA PD: The Ceremony of Indigenous Facilitation Practice - Country Holds the Space

PACFA

Category A - 2 Hours

Date:

16/07/2026 – 16/07/2026

Time:

1/01/1900 – 16/07/2026

Event Summary

PACFA College of Creative and Experiential Therapies invites you to join Dr Carlie Atkinson for a 2-hour online presentation exploring Indigenous Facilitation Practice as a Country-led, trauma-integrated healing process. Guided by the principle that Country holds the space, participants will explore how the natural world is not simply a backdrop for creative expression but an active collaborator, witnessing, guiding and transforming the healing process.

Event Information

Drawing from First Nations ways of knowing and the We Al-li Culturally Informed Trauma Integrated Healing Approach (CITIHA), this session explores how ceremony, creativity, and storytelling intertwine to restore connection between body, emotion, and spirit. Through artful reflection, movement, sound, and guided sensory awareness, participants will experience how creative processes can become pathways to cultural safety, truth-telling and deep emotional release.

By centring Country as the creative and therapeutic heart, this presentation opens a space where art, spirit, and place come together in ceremony, reminding us that healing is a collective, creative act.

Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding the role of Country as co-creator and co-therapist in expressive healing practices.
  • Using ceremony, rhythm, and narrative to re-story trauma and reconnect to belonging.
  • Engaging creative modalities — art, movement, sound, and storytelling — as culturally informed tools for transformation.
  • Building facilitator capacity for cultural humility, embodied awareness and community care.

Participants will leave with creative, culturally grounded tools for fostering trauma-integrated healing that honours the reciprocity between people, story and the living land.

Who is this event for?

This session is aimed at creative arts therapists, somatic practitioners and facilitators of expressive, nature-based, or community arts practices. The session offers both conceptual and experiential learning.

Event Details

Date: Thursday 16 July 2026
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online via Zoom

Please check your time zone to avoid disappointment
Recording provided to all registrants

Presenter: Dr Carlie Atkinson

Dr Caroline (Carlie) Atkinson, a Bundjalung and Yiman woman and accredited Social Worker (PhD CDU, 2009), is a national leader in culturally informed, trauma-integrated healing. As CEO of We Al-li, she designs and delivers CITIHA training and resources to transform systems and communities across Australia. She developed the first Aboriginal trauma assessment tool and is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne and Chief Investigator on five major MRFF, NHMRC and ARC grants. Her work bridges research, policy and healing practice.

* Please note that presenter bios are prepared by the presenters and are shared as provided without modification. They reflect each presenter's own professional journey and perspective.

CPD

Attending this webinar counts as 2 hours of Category A CPD (Continuing Professional Development). Watching a recording of this webinar, which will be provided to registrants, can be used towards 2 hours of Category B CPD.

You must attend 75% of a webinar to receive a CPD certificate for Category A CPD.

Ticket Prices

PACFA Members: $35.00 + GST ($38.50)
Student Members: $25.00 + GST ($27.50)
Non-Members: $50.00 + GST ($55.00)

What to Expect After You Register

Once registered, your personal Zoom link will be dispatched directly to you via email from Zoom within 1 hour of registration and 1 hour prior to the event. Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Zoom ([email protected]). All future correspondence pertaining to this event, including event recordings, will be communicated through the PACFA email address ([email protected]). To ensure a seamless experience, we recommend adding both email addresses to your safe sender list to prevent missed communications.

Alternatively, you can find the Zoom link if you log into your account under the "My events" tab.

Event Cancellations

Customers seeking to cancel their registration more than 5 working days (for courses) and 48 hours (for webinars) prior to the event date may request a credit to be applied to their account. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Cancellations made with less notice than this are non-refundable or exchangeable. Credits are valid for up to a year from the purchase date. This policy is at PACFA's discretion and may change.

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Canine Assisted Therapy in Practice

This self-paced online course will provide all the information you need to understand how AAT works, what you need to consider before going down the certification pathway, and importantly how to practically implement Animal Assisted Therapy in your work.  The course includes video content as well as additional readings and role plays, so you can learn all you need to know before taking the leap into certification and practice.

 

This course introduces counsellors to the foundations and practical application of canine-assisted therapy, with a focus on how the presence of a therapy dog can support engagement, emotional regulation, attachment-focused work, and the development of safe, trusting therapeutic relationships. Topics include the common therapeutic goals, the role of attachment and trauma in client engagement, ethical integration of therapy dogs, animal welfare considerations, risk management, professional boundaries, and practical strategies for planning and delivery. 


Throughout the course, you will learn through video content as well as additional readings and role plays how to: 
-  apply ethical and effective Animal Assisted Therapy or Education in your work
- enhance and develop your existing practice
- pursue your passion for animals and the therapeutic benefits they bring
- understand whether or not AAT is the right fit for you and your dog
- grow your confidence in using your existing Animal Assisted Therapy certification with clients


Throughout the training, you will also have access to our course creator and experienced Animal Assisted Therapist, Anita Geary, to answer any questions you 

Presenter:
Anita Geary

Bachelor of Social Work, Diploma of Applied Social Science, Diploma of Animal Assisted Therapies, Diploma of Community Services (Child Care), Certificate in Expressive Therapies, Certificate in Play Therapy Studies, Advanced Supervision Program (Mental Health) – AASW

Animal Assisted Therapy Committee member - Animal therapies Limited

Anita Geary is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, registered Counsellor and experienced Certified Animal Assisted Therapist, based in Wodonga, Victoria. A committee member of Animal Therapies Limited (ATL), Anita has been recognised for her ongoing contribution to the development of the profession in Australia, presenting at various conferences across Australia on topics related to AAT and trauma therapies, ethics and practice. 

In her role as Director and Lead Therapist at Insight Therapies Counselling and Consultancy, Anita combines high quality trauma therapy with her fully trained and certified therapy dogs Bacardi and Kaluah,  to engaging her clients by delivering a therapeutic team of self, client, and therapy dog. Anita is also an experienced clinical supervisor and trainer.

 

Disclaimer:
The content of this endorsed CPD course is provided by the external course provider. Attendees are encouraged to approach the material with an open mind and consider diverse perspectives, particularly those from lived experiences related to the topics discussed. For feedback regarding the course, please contact the course provider directly.
When
17/02/2026 - 17/02/2027