Arts Therapist
Shortage Now
JSA currently reports no national or state/territory shortage signal for this occupation.
Snapshot
Median salary
Not available
People employed
1,200
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Uses the creative process to facilitate the exploration of feelings, improve self-awareness and self-expression, and reduce anxiety for clients.
Scope note: Music Therapists are excluded from this occupation. Music Therapists are included in Occupation 261933 Music Therapist.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Works with clients to identify problems or conditions they wish to overcome, and uses the creative process to help clients explore their feelings
- Assists clients to resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and achieve insight
- Develops arts therapy programs based on clients' emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual wellbeing needs, objectives and preferred forms of artistic expression
- Conducts arts therapy sessions with individuals or groups using a range of creative modalities, such as visual art, drama, dance and movement
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
72%
Female rate
78%
Median age
45
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+19%
1,802 projected jobs
to 2035
+34%
3,223 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing may be required.
Official VET pathways
Diploma of Arts and Health
Progression pathway
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
SA · May 2026
9
VIC · May 2026
16
QLD · May 2026
8
TAS · May 2026
4
NSW · May 2026
12
AUST · May 2026
55
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Arts Therapist.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Sunshine Coast
619 estimated employed
- 1
Sunshine Coast
619 employed
QLD
+10.14%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - Inner East
479 employed
VIC
-36.81%
year on year
- 3
Perth - South East
399 employed
WA
-6.12%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - Inner South
362 employed
VIC
-23.63%
year on year
- 5
Richmond - Tweed
349 employed
NSW
-24.3%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
2,410
Moved in from another occupation
695
Moved to another occupation
340
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
6
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 261931
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List matched via ABS OSCA 2024 v1.0 correspondence Table 2
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: official-profile-and-csol.