Hi! I’m Jess

I've spent over 10 years as a Child Life Therapist, holding a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor's in Occupational Therapy and Psychological Science. But what exactly does a Child Life Therapist do, you might ask?

Essentially, my role is to support children and adolescents throughout their hospital experiences, spanning from infancy to age 18. This could involve anything from undergoing a blood test, cardiac surgery, or having a MRI, to simply adjusting to the hospital environment. The support each child needs varies significantly based on their age and developmental stage. For example, the way we would prepare and support a three-year-old differs greatly from how we would approach a ten-year-old, and even more so from how we would work with an eighteen-year-old. Our expertise lies in tailoring our approach to meet each child's unique needs, with the ultimate goal of reducing distress, enhancing coping, and fostering a sense of mastery.

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working in various departments within two major Australian Paediatric Hospitals, including Palliative Care, Chronic Pain, Burns, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Stomal Therapy, Intensive Care, and Pathology (plus more!). I've worked extensively in both inpatient, outpatient, and community settings, engaging with children of all ages and their families. I've also had the opportunity to share my project work at national and international conferences- winning two awards.