Graduate Research
Fostering an academic community of graduate researchers conducting high-quality creative arts (drama, dance movement, and art) therapy and music therapy.
Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit
Our vision is to establish a culture of excellence in music therapy and creative arts therapies research and training, grounded in a supportive and inspiring research milieu and fostered in international collaboration.
The Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit (CAMTRU) supports the development of creative arts therapy disciplines across Australia through research and research training. The National Music Therapy Research Unit (NaMTRU) established by Emeritus Professor Denise Grocke in 1999 was merged with CAMTRU in 2016 to include graduate research (PhD) training program for creative arts therapists. CAMTRU researchers collaborate with local, national, and international stakeholders and creative arts and music therapy academic institutions around the world.
Graduate training programs in Drama Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy (Master in Creative Arts Therapy) were offered for the first time in 2020. Music Therapy training has been offered at The University of Melbourne since 1975.
Our Goals
To contribute strategically and substantively to the global evidence base for creative arts and music therapies. We do this by:
Our People and Research Groups
CAMTRU news and events
‘Active Factors in Creative Arts Therapies - An embodied aesthetic perspective’
Professor Sabine Koch, Germany.
CAMTRU’s Annual Public Lecture for 2019 was presented by Professor. Dr. Sabine Koch, psychologist and dance movement therapist, Director of the Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies at Alanus University Alfter, and Head of the DMT Masters Program at SRH University Heidelberg, Germany.
The question of how creative arts therapies work is an exciting and critical area of investigation. This lecture introduced active factors, also known as therapeutic mechanisms, that are fundamental in the working of creative arts therapies. Professor Koch explained findings from her research into active factors that help explain mechanisms that are shared and different across the creative arts therapy modalities. This understanding has the potential to improve professional practice, training and research outcomes for all creative arts therapies. The lecture presented a model of active factors illustrated by examples from dance movement therapy, along with recommendations for research and practice.
Work with us
PhD research in Creative Arts Therapy or Music Therapy
Interested in research in creative arts therapy or music therapy? Find out more about our PhD program and how you can contribute to the growing body of creative arts and music therapy research.
Music Therapy coursework programs
As well as research programs, we also offer pathways for students to become music therapists through our Master of Music Therapy program.
Find out more about other music therapy programs at the Conservatorium, and meet our teaching staff.
View Master of Music Therapy Coursework Program
Creative Arts Therapy coursework programs
We also offer pathways for students to become dance and drama therapists through our Master of Creative Arts Therapy program.
Find out more about other creative arts therapy programs, and meet our teaching staff.
Contact us
- Masters of Music Therapy - A/Prof Grace Thompson
- Masters of Creative Arts Therapy (Dance/Drama) - A/Prof Drew Bird
Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit (PhD Program) - Prof Kat McFerran