Synopsis

The opportunity to play is a fundamental interest of children and play is also recognised as a child’s right (article 31 of the Convention on Rights of the Child). Play is necessary for a child’s development, their healing and to mediate their experience of medical care and procedures. In this Grand Rounds, we discuss how and why play should be a key feature of a child’s experience of care at The Royal Children’s Hospital, and how children, young people, families and staff might benefit from an intentional playful culture at RCH.

Speakers

Associate Professor Jill Sewell AM, is a senior consultant paediatrician in the Centre for Community Child Health, specialising in developmental and behavioural paediatrics. Her interests include medical education, accreditation and regulation, safety and quality in health care, health service delivery, bioethics and women in medicine. Jill was Clinical Director of the Children’s Bioethics Centre for 5 years. Jill sat on the Paediatric Advisory Group for Safer Care Victoria (SCV) during the pandemic, particularly advocating for children’s needs in the community, including play. Jill is Chair of the Quality and Safety Executive Council for SCV, was chair of the Victorian Clinical Council, and was an inaugural chair of the Victorian Paediatric Clinical Network. She was a board member at Alfred Health for 9 years. Amongst other national roles, Jill was previous President of the Australian Medical Council and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. In 2005 Jill was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to child health.

Catherine Sewell is an artist, facilitator and educator. Her work as a Play Specialist with schools, kindergartens and playgroups sees her not only running play-based sessions with children but also providing professional development sessions for families and teachers, as well as consulting in key strategic roles. Cat has worked with organisations, government, councils and NGO’s to create resources to promote play and creativity in written, online and video formats. Cat creates participatory theatre and installations for children and families and is Co-Artistic Director of The Ball Room Projects. Cat is incoming Artistic Director and co-CEO of Polyglot Theatre, beginning January 2023.

Carlie Alicastro is a Child Life Therapist at The Royal Children’s Hospital. She works predominantly in the Medical Imaging Department to engage, educate and empower children and their families during their healthcare experience. Her role as a Child Life Therapist also sees her working as the host and co-producer of the in-house TV show, RCHTV. She helps to produce peer modelled videos that support children’s understanding of hospital experiences. She also hosts the live game show, Hospital Lingo, where inpatients have an opportunity to learn about hospital equipment and have a chance to win a prize. She is currently completing a Master of Child Play Therapy.

Professor Clare Delany is a clinical ethicist and acting academic director of the Children’s Bioethics Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital and a clinical ethicist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Professor Lynn Gillam is a clinical ethicist at the Children’s Bioethics Centre, RCH and Professor of Health Ethics in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne.