Ikon Insitute of Victoria

The Ikon Institute of Australia is a private higher education, international education and vocational education provider, leading education in mental health and wellbeing. Established in 1988, Ikon has been helping people help others for over 25 years. Today Ikon is the largest provider of art therapy training in Australia and a leading provider of humanistic and therapeutic training. Ikon represents education specialists in creative therapies, psychotherapy, counselling and community services. With course offerings across all these areas, Ikon supports the learning of students across Australia, in a multitude of ways.

Since inception, Ikon has been a nationally accredited Registered Training Organisation (RTO), started primarily as an institute to study and educate practitioners in the transpersonal worlds, through a therapeutic framework. In the main, the inspiration for the original courses came from Dr. Locke’s extensive experience gained through research, training and practice in anthropology, psychoanalysis, humanistic and transpersonal psychotherapy, holistic and nutritional medicine, behavioural medicine as well as parapsychology and neuroscience.

Ikon is a unique organisation with a strong focus on the cultivation of professionals that support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians. Ikon is both a Vocational Education and a Higher Education Institution of which there are only around 25 such institutions in Australia. Ikon is also unique in being an organisation that delivers both national training package qualifications whilst having extensive experience in the development and accreditation of unique, specialised qualifications.

Ikon’s educational philosophy is grounded in functional and evidence-based humanism, whilst validating and utilising the wisdom and experience of global intellectual and spiritual traditions. In addition, Ikon embraces emerging technologies and digital learning techniques. Ikon provides a blended learning environment, that provides a combination of classroom learning and online study.

Ikon aims to create a difference through learning and has a strong commitment to faciliating a process of ongoing education for graduates. Ikon’s ultimate goal is to develop professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute to an international community committed to social change, community building and individual healing.

Ikon is an institution dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding in humanistic studies through vocational and higher education, leadership and practice. Ikon’s educational philosophy is a grounded, functional and evidence-based humanism, based on free intellectual enquiry. Ikon aims to produce graduates who are enabled to continually develop their own potential, and whose skills, knowledge and therapeutic client-centred practice contribute to the creation of an international community of people and practitioners committed to social change, community building and individual healing.

Our vision is To be Australia’s leading provider of therapeutic and human services training. OR To continue leading mental health and wellbeing in an international context. Through being Australia’s leading provider of therapeutic and human services training, Ikon is creating social change, building strong communities and facilitating individual healing and growth throughout Australia.

In order to fulfill its Vision and Mission, Ikon provides unique qualifications in the human services fields of: Art Therapy, Counselling, Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Youth Work, Mental Health, Disability; as well as professional development in these areas. Ikon courses are conducted in a workshop style environment allowing you to express yourself in an open forum of like- minded people. You will be exposed to a broad range of contrasting theories and therapeutic modalities that will enable you to select the appropriate techniques and methods for your clients.

Imagine working in an industry, which is exciting, rewarding and growing. Over the years the Ikon Institute of Australia has successfully helped thousands of people like you find their new vocation or supplement their skills to open up additional opportunities in their existing field. Ikon graduates can be found working in private practice, or in specialist roles within Aged Care, Hospitals, Schools, Community Services or General Health Services. The opportunities are endless. Ikon’s strong relationships within industry and community services ensures the course material is reflective of current industry needs. It also means we are often the first to hear of placement and graduate opportunities.

Ikon values and recognises existing skills, knowledge and qualifications. Graduates of vocational qualifications i.e. Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas may receive either specified credit or unspecified credit towards completion of a higher education program. The volume and application of this credit is individual to each higher education and program of study in that institution. Ikon will provide the necessary information to support these credit applications. Students who complete a qualification with Ikon can access a number of pathways for further education.