New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapists

04/10/2026

🌟 A day to learn, connect and grow your practice!

The South Canterbury DT Support Group invites diversional therapists, activity staff and healthcare assistants to its upcoming Professional Development Day in Timaru! 💙

Explore topics including dementia communication, living with Motor Neuron Disease, dignity and meaningful activity in secure aged care, seated exercise programmes, and NZSDRT updates and registration.

📅 Saturday, 17 October 2026
🕘 9:00 am–4:30 pm
📍 Strathallan Healthcare Community Centre, 31 Konini Street, Timaru
🎟️ $65 per person, including food

📣 Registrations have been extended until Friday, 9 October!

To register, email your completed registration form and confirmation of payment to [email protected].

For enquiries, contact:
📞 Gillian Allan: 027 348 1930
📞 Lee Heron: 027 433 2220

Spaces are limited! See the flyer for more details and share this with a colleague who may be keen. ✨

04/10/2026

🎉💙 A little late to our feed, but far too special not to share! As they say, better late than never. 😊

From 18–24 September, Bupa New Zealand celebrated National Lifestyle Week alongside Aotearoa’s Diversional and Recreational Therapy Week, recognising the outstanding contributions of its Activities Assistants, Activities Coordinators and Diversional Therapists.

Across Bupa care homes, Lifestyle teams were celebrated through acknowledgements, prizes, virtual gatherings and stories highlighting the meaningful difference they make every day.

Lifestyle is about so much more than activities. It is about creating opportunities for connection, belonging, purpose and meaningful engagement. Through person-led support, these dedicated professionals help residents maintain their identity, pursue their interests, honour their culture and spirituality, strengthen relationships and continue living meaningful lives.

To every member of Bupa’s Lifestyle teams, thank you for bringing creativity, compassion, energy and heart into your mahi. Your work continues to create sparks that lead to infinite possibilities. ✨

Thank you, Bupa New Zealand, for sharing these wonderful celebration photos with us. We are delighted to recognise and celebrate your incredible Lifestyle teams even if our post arrived fashionably late! 💙🎉

02/10/2026

🥁 Bringing the spark to new spaces!

DRT Week may be over, but the stories and smiles continue. 💛

On 24 September, Spectrum Care’s annual Filipino Fiesta brought together more than 400 disabled people and whānau on Auckland’s North Shore. This year’s MassKara theme brought the spirit of Bacolod’s “City of Smiles” into a celebration filled with Filipino food, dancing, performances and games.

NZSDRT was delighted to open the celebration with an energetic cardio drumming session, supported by student volunteers from Kauri Academy, part of AKA Education Group. Attendees enthusiastically joined in, filling the room with rhythm, movement and connection!

What a fitting way to close DRT Week and show the possibilities of Therapeutic Recreation across disability services and community spaces.

Thank you to the Spectrum Care community, our DRT team and student volunteers for helping that spark grow. ✨

📖 Read the full story:
https://www.diversionaltherapy.net.nz/post/bringing-the-spark-to-new-spaces-cardio-drumming-with-spectrum-care-s-filipino-fiesta

Sometimes a spark begins with a beat. And when people join in, that beat becomes a shared experience of movement, connection and joy. On 24 September 2026, Spectrum Care team led by their Filipino community brought that spirit to The Y recreation centre on Auckland’s North Shore, welcoming more th...

30/09/2026

✨ New on the NZSDRT Blog ✨

Sometimes, the best way to understand the power of Therapeutic Recreation is to experience it.

During DRT Week 2026, the Selwyn Village DRT Expo brought together residents, whānau, practitioners, students, educators and organisational leaders for a vibrant celebration of connection, wellbeing and meaningful recreation.

Through interactive experiences, including music therapy, laughter yoga, Tai Chi, arts and crafts, pet therapy and an energetic cardio-drumming session, visitors saw how recreation can strengthen movement, creativity, confidence, relationships and quality of life.

More than a celebration, the Expo helped make our profession visible. It showed what becomes possible when practitioners, residents, whānau and leaders come together to recognise and support the value of Diversional and Recreational Therapy.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped create this inspiring event! 🌟

Read the full story:
https://www.diversionaltherapy.net.nz/post/shining-a-light-on-the-power-of-therapeutic-recreation-the-selwyn-village-drt-expo-2026

Sometimes the best way to understand Therapeutic Recreation is to experience it.During DRT Week 2026, The Selwyn Foundation created exactly that opportunity, bringing residents, whānau, practitioners, students, educators and leaders together for its first DRT Week Expo.This was Selwyn’s second ye...

29/09/2026

✨ DRT WEEK 2026: THE SPARKS WE SHARED ✨

DRT Week may have officially ended, but the connections, learning and inspiration it created continue to shine.

Across our regional celebrations, we shared kai, stories, creativity, laughter and some incredible costumes. Our online sessions opened new opportunities to learn and reflect, while your greetings and messages helped keep the celebration glowing across our community.

We also celebrated the release of our official DRT Week song by our Vice President Nika Manuera and saw possibility brought to life through an inclusive cardio drumming session at the Spectrum Care event.

Every gathering, conversation, presentation, rhythm and shared experience reminded us of what can grow when one spark is encouraged.

Thank you to all our DRTs, presenters, organisers, participants, partners and supporters for making this celebration so meaningful.

Swipe through some of the moments that made DRT Week special. 💛

The week may be over, but the possibilities continue.

24/09/2026

✨️🌟Infinite Sparks🌟✨️
Thank you to everyone who has engaged in the last week of DRT celebration, engagement and igniting!

To close off the last 7 days, we present this years DRT week theme song with special thanks to the DRT students of kalandra for their work in making this video and to Justin Calalang for duetting this toanga for our society.

Go forth with your sparks... ignite possibilities and shine bright!🤩🎇🎆

24/09/2026

✨ CONNECTION IN ACTION — NORTH SHORE SUPPORT GROUP

The North Shore Regional Support Group came together last night for a joyful DRT Week celebration filled with delicious kai, shared stories, inspiring ideas and plenty of dancing!

Two dedicated DRT practitioners presented initiatives they have introduced in their workplaces, giving everyone an opportunity to learn from real examples of creativity, commitment and meaningful practice.

It was also wonderful to welcome some new faces into the group. Every conversation, presentation and shared moment helped strengthen the connections within our professional community.

And, of course, no celebration would be complete without more food, laughter and dancing! 💃🕺

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, contributed and helped create such a welcoming evening.

When we share our stories and ideas, our individual sparks become something much brighter.

23/09/2026

🧶 WEAVING IS MY HEALING

Culture and connection are foundations for wellness, growth and prosperity.

During this deeply moving online session, Ahi Nyx guided us through a journey of Mātauranga Māori and shared how raranga can nurture connection, identity and holistic wellbeing.

The session was emotional, thoughtful and rich with learning. It reminded us that weaving is not only about what is created with our hands it can also carry stories, strengthen relationships and connect us with culture, community and ourselves.

A heartfelt thank you to Ahi for sharing this journey with such openness, knowledge and aroha, and to everyone who joined us for this meaningful learning experience.

Some learning is understood by the mind.
Some is felt deeply in the heart.

What message from the session stayed with you?

22/09/2026

✨ IGNITE CONNECTION

Connection lies at the heart of Diversional and Recreational Therapy. Through whakawhanaungatanga, shared experiences and genuine relationships, we help create spaces where people feel seen, supported and that they belong.

Today, we invite our members to explore two activities from the DRT Week Resource Booklet:

📝 My Journey of Connection
Complete the poem using words and feelings that reflect your own journey. Read it aloud to yourself or share it with someone you trust, and notice how it makes you feel.

💌 Ignite Pen-Pal Programme
Connect with a fellow practitioner through friendly and encouraging written correspondence. It is an opportunity to build camaraderie, exchange thoughts and strengthen relationships beyond your immediate workplace.

To participate in the Pen-Pal Programme, complete the sign-up form in your booklet and email it to : [email protected]

How will you ignite connection today?

22/09/2026

💡LIGHT UP LEARNING

Learning can come from formal education, professional development, a colleague, a conversation or an experience that changes how we approach our practice.

For today’s DRT Week activation, we invite you to reflect:

What is something you have learned that has strengthened your DRT practice?

Share your learning in the comments. Your experience may provide the spark that inspires another practitioner. ✨

Today, we also recognise our first online learning opportunity, Negotiation & Professional Communication*, presented by Anna Tennent.

A heartfelt thank you to Anna for sharing her knowledge with our members and helping us reflect on professional communication, healthy boundaries and continued growth.

Thank you as well to everyone who joined the session and made professional learning part of their DRT Week celebration.

When we share what we learn, one spark can light the way for many others.