The Child Life Therapy team (previously known as Educational Play Therapy)  helps to ensure that life remains as normal as possible for children and young people across the hospital.  The Child Life Therapy team provide individualised support to children and young people to promote effective coping in the following ways:

• Developmental play opportunities
• Medical play
• Procedural support
• Preparation for procedures (including surgery, imaging and pathology)
• Development of coping strategies (comfort positioning, breathing techniques, cognitive distraction)  

In order to do this, members of the Child Life Therapy team have a minimum of Bachelor of Education/Teaching or Child Life Certification and extensive knowledge in the following areas:

• stress and hospitalisation
• family systems theory and family dynamics
• therapeutic and other play forms

The CLT team triages referrals across the Emergency Department, Specialist Clinics, Medical Imaging and most inpatient areas. Referrals can be requested by RCH treating teams.