AMS Art Studio has a long history of offering art as therapy. Over the years we’ve watched as people have entered the studio bearing the challenges of life, to then transform into happier, more confident versions of themselves because of our classes. We take the therapeutic benefits of engaging in tailored art making experiences very seriously, which is why we’ve recently further improved our approach.

As a collective our teachers and support staff have acquired decades worth of unique skills and experiences, while committed to our personal mission statement:

To engage all participants with tailored creative programs that meet them where they’re at creatively, artistically, physically, and emotionally while also encouraging individualised and appropriately paced skill building and development in these areas.  

OUR AIM  

AMS Art Studio Mission Statement 

To engage NDIS participants with tailored Art as Therapy programs that meet them where they’re at creatively, artistically, physically, and emotionally while also encouraging individualised and appropriately paced skill building and development in these areas.  

ACCESSING NDIS WITH AMS ART STUDIO

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an insurance scheme that is aimed at providing long-term support to Australians with a disability, their families, and careers.

With programming developed by a registered teacher (Double Bachelor’s Degree, Education and Fine Arts), and teachers and staff with Community, Disabilities and Accessibility training, AMS Art Studio can help you understand how to access the benefits of creativity using your NDIS funds.

OUR IMPROVED PROGRAM

Recently our team closely examined areas of BEST PRACTICE demonstrated in our studio over time by leading AMS teachers and support staff. We have collated this wealth of industry excellence to develop new Art as Therapy programming for NDIS participants that is even more informed, intentional, individually tailored, and meaningful.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

–        Teachers and Support Staff with even more specialised training ensuring that participants are supported safely and skillfully in our working studio.

–        More opportunity for teachers to meet and understand the unique needs of new participants.

–        More autonomous art making projects that allow for self-expression, communication, and social interaction.

–        Equal access for participants to assistance with creative micro business opportunities.

–        A fair pricing scale that accurately reflects the level of support required.

–        Program prices with no hidden costs. All required art materials are included.

OUR EXPERT SUPPORT STAFF

AMS Art Studio Support Staff Ethos   

To Safely and Skillfully support members of the community with extra needs in a Working art studio   

AMS Art Studio employs a team of support staff to work in our classes alongside people with extra needs. Prior to employment our support staff are required to have qualifications in Community Support or sufficient working experience relevant to the field, Child Protection Certification, First Aid, and NDIS Induction. At commencement of employment AMS support staff are then required to undergo the following in-house training, upskilling them to be specialists in our particular niche.

Our expert support staff are dedicated to assisting participants when needed.

–        With their executive functioning by slowly repeating and reiterating the teacher’s instructions.

–        By regulating their emotions by providing previously determined strategies.

–        With physical assistance for those with mobility or dexterity issues.

Safely   

To use trained safety procedures when interacting with potential hazards in the art studio reducing the risk of Mechanical hazards – strains, breaks, cuts, burns and Chemical hazards – Inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion.   

Skillfully   

To use trained experiences with diverse art making materials, and art making tools to inform the way that support is given during art making. To have the ability to assist others with their art making process both technically and conceptually.   

Working Art Studio   

A creative space that contains constantly revolving art materials and art makers, where large numbers of art works are always in progress and diverse art materials are regularly in use.   

Our Support Staff in House Training Schedule

–          AMS Site Induction  

–          AMS WHS  

–          AMS WHS (Work Health and Safety) Near Miss Reporting   

–          AMS Chemical Awareness   

–          AMS PPE   

–          AMS Emergency Prepared   

–          Paid Professional Development (PD) “Learning the Mediums”  

–          Voluntary Personal Enrichment (PE) Ongoing free classes of your choosing  

EXTERNAL SUPPORT STAFF

AMS Art Studio acknowledges that some NDIS participants prefer to attend our Art as Therapy programs with their own support workers. These are support workers employed by external providers. While we welcome external support staff, our priority is to always uphold our ethos of Safely and Skillfully supporting members of the community with extra needs in a Working Art Studio.   

Without adequate training external support staff are unable to provide the level of service and support that AMS Art Studio considers to be essential while working with NDIS participants engaged in our Art as Therapy programs. For this reason, when participants are enrolled, they will be allocated an AMS qualified support worker during class time on either a 1:1 or small group basis dependent on their individual needs.

CLASS PRICES

CLASS PRICES FOR OUR NDIS ART AS THERAPY PARTICIPANTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

CLASS PRICE + SUPPORT PRICE PER HOUR X CLASS TUITION/MATERIALS = TOTAL PRICE

Class Price

All AMS Art Studio participants (including the general community and those with funding from the NDIS), are charged the same class prices for their chosen blocks.

Support Price

In addition to the standard class prices, NDIS participants are allocated trained support staff to ensure that they receive high quality, skillful and safe support during their Art as Therapy program. Depending on their individual needs, participants will be allocated AMS trained support staff on a 1:1 or small group basis.

PRICING EXAMPLE

If a participant wanted to enroll in an AMS Art Studio ‘Art as Therapy’ Mosaics for Beginners’ class that went for 5 weeks with 1:2 hourly support, they would pay;

Support Price (5 weeks of class = 12.5 hours) x (1:2 support @ $36.66 per hour) = $458.25

Class Tuition (Materials) NDIS Line: 09_011_0125_6_3  

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Included in the cost of the class prices plus support hours participant will receive: 

–         Creative practice, artistic practice and emotional skill building delivered by   highly qualified art teachers

–          AMS Trained Support Staff  

–          Art making materials relevant to the chosen program  

–          Access to studio tools and infrastructure   

–          Access to creative micro business opportunities   

NDIS SUPPORT LINES WE CAN USE

In accordance with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2023-2024 AMS Art Studio can use the following support lines to pay for class materials and support.

1:1 Support Line

04_104_0125_6_1 Access Community Social and Rec Activities – standard weekday, day

$65.47 ph. page 57 of 101

1:2 Support Line

04_111_0136_6_1 Group Activities in community, 1:2 standard weekday, day

$36.66 ph. page 63 of 101

1:3 Support Line

04_120_0136_6_1 Group Activities in community, 1:3 standard weekday, day

$27.06 ph. page 63 of 101

Class tuition / Materials

09_011_0125_6_3 Community Participation Activities

N/A price page 80 of 101

Life Transition Planning Incl. Mentoring Peer `Support and Individual Skill Development

09_006_0106_6_3 

$74.63 ph. page 78 of 101

Skills Development and Training 

09_009_0117_6_3

$74.63 ph. page 79 of 101