Core, Intermediate and Advanced Psychodrama Training
Brisbane 2027
Who: Through the year-long Program, we form a cohort enabling deep work to be undertaken. This group method develops us as human beings in the helping professions where we are working as psychotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, General Practitioners, counsellors, educators, teachers, School Principals, trainers, pastoral care workers, community developers, leadership coaches, supervisors, organisational and human resource developers. People who are entering these arenas of work will also benefit.
Ideally, those entering training have a workplace where they can immediately use the psychodrama methodology as it is learnt. We require that professional supervision in applying this method is scheduled to develop capability and to ensure ethical practice as trainees. This training is designed as post graduate training.
Training is not for the faint hearted. Display of oneself, doing the work to stay in reciprocal relationship with one another is essential. Making a commitment to attend all workshops in the year-long program is an indispensable element.
Why: The purpose of this training is to develop trainees as human beings who can apply this methodology in their work and other life contexts. The standards are set by the AANZPA Board of Examiners and are published in the Psychodrama Standards and Training Manual to be found on the AANZPA website. This year, 2026, the curriculum emphasises Moreno's unique contribution, spontaneity, where our warm up to life in the contexts in which we work and live, will be a continuous focus. This relational methodology, that is heuristic and wisdom-based, focusses on:
(i) creating and maintaining cooperative and interactive relationships, viz. reciprocal relationships with fellow trainees that flow onto relationships with clients and colleagues,
(ii) becoming purposeful and developing adequacy in our responses in an ever-widening set of circumstances and contexts, and
(iii) broadening and refining our ways of thinking, feeling and behaving in service of healing and helping others’ well-being and progression in their lives and work.
What: In 2027, there will be emphasis on trainees developing as:
(i) group workers, sociometrists, psychodramatists, role trainers and sociodramatists;
(ii) as Therapeutic Guides, writing a professional paper on a client’s functioning over time and measuring the client’s progress applying psychodramatic analysis and methodology;
(iii) developing trainee’s psychodrama identity through expanding as an effective group member, being a protagonist for the group and directing enactments;
The Program will involve oral reporting on sessions conducted, discussions, group supervision and writing papers required for certification that will support development in these areas. The particulars of the curriculum will be developed anticipating the requirements of those enrolled in the training program, attending to what emerges moment by moment during training, and covering the training required for certification set out in the AANZPA Standards and Training Manual.
At a minimum, it takes four years to qualify. Many trainees take ten years or so to integrate this methodology in their work and in their professional identity. Other trainees include the psychodrama methodology into their work with supervision and do not seek full membership of this profession.
Where and when: You will see from the dates set out below that the Program is comprised of weekend workshops and a five-day psychodrama and group work training program in October. Attendance at other recommended events is optional and encouraged and does not entail further fees. Training hours are recognised by your attendance at each event in this Program. See details below.
The venue for all the training will be at 1A, 55 Clarence Street, Coorparoo QLD 4151. The Coorparoo Railway station is a three-minute walk from the venue. Those coming by car can anticipate up to ten minutes securing a car park on the street and walking to the venue. All the car parking spaces on the property are permanently allocated to other tenants in the complex. Please park legally on the street.
Included in the training program fee:
- Required interview in February 2027 with the workshop leaders, Elizabeth Synnot or Patricia O’Rourke, prior to training beginning on 20th February. Contact Elizabeth on 0411876969 or Patricia on 0415244858 to organise.
- Required attendance at the 9 weekends,
- Required attendance at the five-day group and psychodrama training program in October,
- Optional attendance at Psychodrama Essentials weekends,
- Optional attendance at the writing supervision sessions.
Fee and enrolment: To register interest or enrol, click on the green Register Interest or Enrol Here button above.
The fee for Core, Intermediate and Advanced Training for 2027 is $3,820. An invoice will be provided once arrangements with Elizabeth or Patricia have been made. A payment schedule can be negotiated.
Please pay Psychodrama Australia Brisbane Campus at Westpac Bank online: Account name Psychodrama Australia, BSB 034058, Account Number 320192. Reference your name and Core 2027.
Commitment to the full year’s Program is mandatory. You will be required to sign a contract that includes this commitment, a commitment to adhere to the ethics of AANZPA, and that you have been alerted to the potency of this method and the disruption which is usually experienced for the better and builds stable relationships outside of the training group.
About the leaders:
Elizabeth Synnot is the main trainer for this program. Elizabeth has been conducting psychodrama training, and supervision in its ethical application, for many years. She has a particular interest in trainees applying this methodology early on in their work contexts and in completing written tasks early on. She delights in the experiential learning process, that includes in-the-moment supervision, as group life and enactments unfold. You can expect that this experiential learning will be accompanied by discussions, supervision and oral reports. Writing papers in a timely fashion that develop trainee’s professional psychodrama identity will be encouraged. Her application of this methodology is in organisational settings, some community settings, with families and some individuals working psychotherapeutically. Contact Elizabeth by text or phone on +61 411 876 969 or via email dizzysynnot@gmail.com.
Sara Crane is a Trainer, Educator and Practitioner who has been a trainer with the Christchurch Institute in New Zealand for the past 20 years. Currently she is involved in the training programs in Christchurch and Dunedin and has a particular interest in family systems and group work. She works as a Psychodramatist based in Christchurch running groups and working with a wide range of people including young children and families (often with help from her dog).
Patricia O’Rourke PhD is a Psychodramatist, Educator and child psychotherapist. She has worked as a psychotherapist for over thirty years with infants, children and their families, individual adults and groups. Creating relationships and applying psychodrama method is the heart of her work. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit, University of Adelaide and a supervisor/trainer in private practice.
Chris Hosking is a Psychodramatist, Trainer, Educator and Practitioner (TEP). Chris has worked for many years as a psychodrama trainer, counsellor, individual supervisor and group work supervisor. She leads training workshops in Australia, New Zealand and Greece and for non-government organizations in South East Asia. Chris is active in AANZPA Inc. as a member of the Ethics Committee.
Dates and times for 2027
Year-long Program with 9 weekend workshops, 5 day intensive workshop, access to supervised writing sessions and Psychodrama Essentials.
Pre-training interviews:
Learning agreements are made by all trainees with a PABC staff member, either Elizabeth Synnot or Patricia O’Rourke, during an interview in February before training begins on 20 February 2027.
Program Details:
Theme for Term 1: Group Work and Psychodrama, exploring cultural and social atom; applying the full range of psychodrama production techniques; and a focus on the ‘repair’ in each drama.
- Psychodrama Essentials (optional)
- 13-14 February 2027
- Timing: 10.00am – 4.00pm
- Trainers: Elizabeth Synnot and Neil Simmons
- Weekend workshops
- 20 and 21 February 2027
- 20 and 21 March 2027
- Timing: Sat 10.00am - 6.00pm and Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm
- Trainers: to be advised
Theme for Term 2: Group work and Sociometry, including this work group; how, when and why to make a wide range of sociometric interventions.
- Weekend workshops
- 17 and 18 April 2027
- 15 and 16 May 2027
- 19 and 20 June 2027
- Timing: Sat 10.00am - 6.00pm and Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm
- Trainers: to be advised
- Writing Workshop (optional attendance)
- Dates to be advised
- Timing: 10.00am – 2.00pm
- Trainer: Elizabeth Synnot
Theme for Term 3: Group work and Sociodrama, including social issues impinging on this work group; directing, being an auxiliary and creating a unifying warm up in sociodrama.
- Weekend workshops
- 17 and 18 July 2027
- 21 and 22 August 2027
- 18 and 19 September 2027
- Timing: Sat 10.00am - 6.00pm and Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm
- Trainers: to be advised
- Writing Workshop (optional attendance)
- Dates to be advised
- Timing: 10.00am - 2.00pm
- Trainers: Elizabeth Synnot
- Psychodrama Essentials (optional attendance)
- 11 and 12 September 2027
- Timing: 10.00am - 4.00pm
- Trainers: Elizabeth Synnot and Neil Simmons
Theme for Term 4: Group Work and Role Training, including warm up and other elements of spontaneity; creating a blurb for a role training group in community and organisational contexts, directing role training, sharpening role analysis as a basis for being a therapeutic guide.
- Group Work and Psychodrama Workshop (essential component of Core plus open to other interested participants)
- Cost: $1180 (for people not enrolled in Core)
- 20 to 24 October 2027
- Timing: 10.00am to 8.00pm daily, except Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm
- Trainers: Elizabeth Synnot and Sara Crane
- Weekend workshop
- 20 and 21 November 2027
- Timing: Sat 10.00am - 6.00pm and Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm
- Trainer: Elizabeth Synnot
- Writing Workshop (optional attendance)
- Dates to be advised
- Timing: 10.00am – 2.00pm
- Trainer: Elizabeth Synnot
Other information:
It is our policy to only accept people for training who are up to date with previous fees and have pre-paid for this training, or who have come to other arrangements with Elizabeth.
Contact Elizabeth Synnot on 0411 876 969 and organise an interview with her prior to the commencement of the program. To enrol, please email Elizabeth with the following details: name, address, phone (including mobile) and best times to call, and whom to address the invoice to.
Call her on 0411 876 969 if you have any queries and questions as regards the work done here generally.
The training run though Psychodrama Australia, psychodramaaustralia.edu.au, is accredited through the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Psychodrama Association Inc (AANZPA). For further details go to their website at aanzpa.org. If you have further questions about psychodrama or psychodrama training, you could send us a general enquiry or question direct to Elizabeth Synnot on dizzysynnot@gmail.com or text to 0411876969.
Tea and coffee will be available all day. There is a kitchen with fridge and microwave for your use. Please bring what you will enjoy eating and will sustain you through each day.