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UWS Japanese students

Eriko Kinoshita
Master of Art Therapy - Penrith campus
eriko kinoshitafrom Chiba Prefecture, Japan

In Japan, I majored in international economics and studied English for my university degree. As a personal interest I also worked as a professional in the traditional arts of Japanese dance and tea ceremony, and then I started teaching English to children.

As Japanese traditional arts was something I enjoyed, I started searching the Internet for what I really wanted to do and I found information about Art Therapy. I felt that it would be an area that I wanted to study and work in for the rest of my life.

In Japan, art therapy has just started to be recognised and it was difficult to find a university which offers an academic degree in this area so I started looking for a place in other countries. In Australia only a few universities offered a course in art therapy and I decided to select the University of Western Sydney (UWS).

Art Therapy includes the area of psychology and it is often necessary to have skills to conduct counselling. I want to recommend this field to a wide range of people from those who like the area of psychology to those who are interested in arts.

In the Master of Art Therapy at UWS, a student can acquire applied skills which are useful for practical situations as well as professional knowledge. UWS offers the opportunity of undertaking 800 hours of work experience as a trainee art therapist. I am now working at an institution called 'Refugee' which is a place for spouse and children who are victims of domestic violence. It is truly interesting and challenging.

Once you have finished the course, you automatically receive the globally-recognised accreditation from the Australian Art Therapy Association.

Studying in Australia, I am surprised to know that the educational systems are so different from those in Japan. At UWS, the relationship between teachers and students is so close, and there is no obstacle to communicate with them. Students can freely ask any questions varied from a small question to a substantial one. It is completely different from the situation in Japan where we feel relentless pressure of trying to refrain from asking an irrelevant question in class. As the classes are mainly based on communication between the teachers and students, I could improve my speaking skills by making efforts to take part in the class activities. It was pleasant and challenging.

Studying in Sydney, where many people form varied backgrounds are living together, has made me learn more through communication with them. It comes as a surprise to me, not only when I find the differences from the Japanese culture but the unexpected similarity with other cultures. I have learnt more about myself through the experience in this country.

After finishing my study at UWS, I want to continue being involved in the area of Art Therapy in Japan. Before my life of Art Therapy started at UWS, I couldn't see any future in this area because it is so unfamiliar in Japan. But now I hope to be a pioneer in this field.