Bio

Based in Australia, Özlem's early tertiary education was in Fine Arts and later, Community Welfare, which led her to gain a Bachelor of Social Work. After working in the field of NGO community services for a decade, she studied the Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice at the Miecat Institute in order to support people through creative expression.

She practiced for 6 years as a studio-based creative arts therapist in rural regional Australia and in that time worked with individuals, groups and organisations. Her role included facilitating many workshops, mural painting, open studios, zine making for women and running an art therapy studio on the Far South Coast of NSW, Australia. 

In her diverse work, Özlem has provided assemblage and banner painting workshops to bushfire-affected communities, mosaics to women in refuge accommodation, drawing and introductory printmaking to young people responding to bushfires. Throughout these projects, she continued to support many individuals in creative therapy to kick-start their own creative practice as a way to process their personal experiences.​

Özlem has been contracted by both grassroots organisations and established services including Bega Valley Shire Council, Women's Resource Centre Bega, South East Women and Children's Services, Charles Sturt University, and the South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA). She retired from therapy work in mid-2024 to focus on her own arts practice and take community arts projects on consideration. 


CV

2018-2024_Private Practice, Interface Therapeutic Arts
2018_Master of Therapeutic Arts Practice (Community Arts and Health), MIECAT Institute VIC
2012_Bachelor of Social Science (Social Work), CSU NSW
2011_Fine Art, Statement of Attainment, NSW TAFE, Bega
2006_Ceramic Studio Techniques, Statement of Attainment, NSW TAFE, Bega
2006_Diploma of Community Services Work (Welfare), NSW TAFE, Bega
2005_Certificate IV of Community Services Work (Welfare), NSW TAFE, Bega
1993_Fine Art Diploma, NSW TAFE, Meadowbank
1991_Fine Art Certificate, NSW TAFE, Penrith
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