Students will learn alongside horses in a new mental health training program starting in Western Australia next month.
Equine Assisted Therapy Australia (EATA), a Queensland-based Registered Training Organisation, will launch its first WA cohort on February 17 in Gidgegannup this year.
EATA has been a leader in counselling and equine-assisted mental health education in Australia for the past 10 years.
It offers aspiring counselling students a unique 19-month course that incorporates a nationally recognised Diploma of Counselling with Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT).
Qualified mental health practitioners, who are interested in the role of horses in the therapy space, can also study a specialised equine-assisted mental health course.
As part of their training, students study basic neuroscience, equine ethology, trauma theory and trauma-informed practice and different counselling modalities.
Students also participate in close to 300 hours of responsible and responsive equine interactions during the practical component of the course, known as workshops.
This includes, learning how horses communicate with their body language and the similarities between the human and horse’s nervous system.
All interactions with the horses take place on the ground, with no riding involved. This approach prioritises the horses’s natural behaviours, choice and wellbeing.
Director and founder of EATA Jane Faulkner established the RTO in 2016 on the Gold Coast, QLD, after she was approached by people who wanted to work in the Equine Assisted Therapy field.
Ms Faulkner said she identified a lack of professional standards in Australia’s unregulated Equine Assisted Therapy sector and went down the path of becoming an RTO to offer nationally recognised and ACA-accredited training.
EATA’s comprehensive and professional equine-assisted mental health training program has since expanded to NSW and VIC.
Last year, Ms Faulkner discovered a strong interest in Equine Assisted Therapy in WA, but limited access to quality training.
“WA has been calling for this for a long time.
We’ve had so many people reach out – not just asking if we could run training here, but explaining why it matters to them and the communities they work in.
We decided to bring EATA to WA because the demand is genuine, the need is strong, and we want to make sure local practitioners don’t have to travel interstate to access the learning and support they deserve.”
Ms Faulkner said she hopes an EATA training program in WA will strengthen capability and confidence across the Equine Assisted Therapy sector.
“It will give people practical tools they can use immediately to build a shared approach to best practice and create an ongoing network of support.
Ultimately, it’s about better outcomes for individuals and families, and a stronger, more connected workforce across the state.”
Equine Assisted Therapy has continued to grow in popularity as more people turn towards complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for a wide range of mental health conditions – from high-functioning neurodiversity to complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
It has been cited in scientific studies that more than 70 per cent of Australians use CAM, which Equine Assisted Therapy generally falls under.
Science also continues to recognise the therapeutic benefits of the human-horse relationship.
Research has shown that horses can detect the emotions of humans and even fine-tune their own emotional state with that of others.
Ms Faulkner said there were many reasons why horses work so well in therapy.
“Horses are curious, they respond to us in the moment, and for some people horses provide a safer way to be in a relationship than people do.
They don’t need you to talk, they don’t need you to perform – they meet you exactly where you are.
Horses are incredibly sensitive to our body language, breathing and emotional energy, and they give immediate feedback without judgement.
For people who have experienced anxiety, trauma or difficulty trusting others, it can make connection feel possible again.
It creates space to practise calm communication, boundaries and self-regulation in a way that feels natural and supportive.”
As more individuals benefit from Equine Assisted Therapy, growing numbers of people have become interested in studying the science behind it.
Ms Faulkner said prospective equine-assisted mental health practitioners are also more aware of the need to have high-quality training and the right credentials behind them.
“This is structured, therapeutic work grounded in trauma-informed theory, neuroscience and ethical horse practices.
Students learn how to safely and ethically incorporate horses into the therapy space during our courses.
This includes a strong understanding of equine ethology – from how a horse communicates through its body language to understanding their physiological responses.
All our students complete supervised hands-on practice with horses and clients, which includes the facilitation of individual and group equine-assisted therapy sessions.”
As the launch of EATA’s first WA cohort approaches, interest remains strong, with final applications closing on February 14, 2026.
Ms Faulkner said she looked forward to welcoming students and supporting the growth of a skilled equine-assisted mental health workforce in Western Australia.
“We’re excited to begin this next chapter in WA and to work alongside students who are passionate about ethical, evidence-based equine-assisted mental health practice.”
For further information about EATA or our programs, please contact us here.
Further details about Equine Assisted Therapy Australia (EATA)
Equine Assisted Therapy Australia (EATA) is a Registered Training Organisation, based on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
It offers specialised and ACA-accredited training in counselling and equine-assisted mental health. Cohorts are run yearly in QLD, NSW, VIC and WA.
EATA offers two courses:
Entry-level course: Counselling with Equine Assisted Mental Health. (which includes a nationally recognised Diploma of Counselling).
Postgraduate course: Equine Assisted Mental Health for already qualified mental health practitioners.
Equine Assisted Mental Health involves the counsellor working with a horse, or a herd of horses, to assist clients in working through their issues and becoming more aware of their responses and behaviours.
Over the past decade, EATA has trained practitioners who now operate professional equine-assisted mental health services across Australia, particularly in regional areas where traditional mental-health support is limited.
Media contact:
Sarah Waters: 0411 377 531 Email: info@eata.net.au
Director and Founder of EATA, Jane Faulkner, is available for interviews/additional quotes on request