Welcome to The Australian Association of Hospital Play Specialists Website
HAPPY HOSPITAL PLAY SPECIALIST WEEK ...
The Australian Association of Hospital Play Specialists is the peak professional body representing Health Care Professionals specialising in child development, who utilize their knowledge and skills to work with children in the hospital setting to:
- Normalise the hospital environment as much as possible
- Reduce anxiety
- Promote self esteem
- Provide education and support around specific procedures
- Provide training and support to other healthcare professionals around child development and best practice to support children’s wellbeing
In the UK & NZ such health care professionals are called Hospital Play Specialists. In the USA they use the title Child Life Specialists. Currently in Australia different hospitals use different titles... Educational Play Therapists, Hospital Play Specialist, Child Life Therapist, Play Therapist... all of these titles refer to professionals...
“employed by a hospital or other healthcare service to “help children engage and subdue fears, misconceptions, anger and profound sadness that hospital experiences provoke, to protect and enhance their developmental integrity, and, wherever possible, use the experiences of illness and hospitalization to build strengths” (Wojatasik & White, 2009, p. 12). This work is done predominantly through various forms of preparatory, therapeutic and diversional play. Most HPS workers are qualified teachers and/or have extensive experience in areas such as childcare or related allied health."
Wojatasik, S. P., & White, C. (2009). The Story of Child Life. In R. H. Thompson (Ed.), The Handbook of Child Life. Illinois: Charles C Thomas Publisher Ltd.
