Who we are at ACLTA

I am a Child Life Therapist at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. I work in the Medical Imaging Department and have previously worked in Oncology, Day Medical and Emergency. I am also the host and co-producer of RCHTV; RCH’s in-house TV show that provides live games for the patients and their families to engage with as well as videos that help to prepare, educate and empower children for their healthcare experiences.

Tammy Young I have worked at Monash Children’s Hospital for the past 7 years. Prior to this I worked in early childhood services for over 20 years across a range of early childhood education and intervention within kindergarten, community health settings and TAFE. I am passionate about family centre practice and including the child’s voice within the hospital setting.

I am the current treasurer for the ACLTA. I have worked as a Child Life Therapist at the Children's Hospital at Westmead for the past 10 years across a variety of caseloads, with a particular focus on supporting children with cardiac conditions. I enjoy working with the executive team to support Child Life Therapists currently working within the field and to explore ways of advancing our profession in the future.

I have worked as a Child Life Therapist at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for the past 8 years across a variety of clinical caseloads. I am currently working in the clinical areas of rehabilitation and palliative care. As the Secretary of the Association I support the effective functioning of the management committee and I look forward to assisting in the further development and promotion of the profession.

I have worked as a child life therapist and sole practitioner for the past 20 years in the children’s ward at Nepean Hospital. Before this I was a primary school teacher for 8 years working at a number of different schools in my local area. My passions as a therapist are child empowerment and giving young people a sense of control throughout their hospital journey, non pharmacological pain management strategies and mindfulness techniques. Working with our chronic and complex patients, many, having life limiting illnesses also holds a special place in my heart. Constantly improving the services we provide through ward and area health service through quality improvement initiatives also keeps me very busy. Currently I’m completing my graduate certificate in professional practice before commencing my graduate diploma in counselling/child and adolescent counselling in 2023. I am looking forward to working more closely with like minded professionals continuing to move forward with our wonderful child life profession.

I work as a sole practitioner Child Life Therapist on the Child and Adolescent ward at Royal North Shore Hospital located in St Leonards, Sydney and am the current Membership Coordinator. I have been a Play/ Child Life Therapist for 19 years. I commenced my role at RNSH in January 2018 and prior to this worked at Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick in 2002.

I am very excited to have joined the ACLTA committee to learn and work alongside professionals with the same passions - helping children. I am very lucky to be working as a Child Life Therapist at Royal Children's Hospital in the Medical Imaging department. I have a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and then went on to complete my Masters in Sensory Disability. From there over the past ten years I have worked in a variety of early childhood settings and with Ronald McDonald House Charities in Newcastle. I have always wanted to become a Child Life Therapist and I am very much enjoying the demands of the role and how rewarding it is helping children in their time of need.

My name is Kylie and I have been a Child Life Therapist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, for the past 14 years! I am currently on maternity leave, exploring my new role as a first time Mum! However when on the job, I cover our Oncology service including Radiotherapy, and am the Deputy Manager of our department. My background is in Early Childhood Education and I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Early Childhood) from the University of Wollongong.

I started my child life journey as a teacher for 5 years, after completing my honours thesis on CLT at university. Teaching was always intended as my foundation to enter the child life field. I have now been a child life therapist for 6.5 years. During that time I have worked across many clinical areas including Respiratory, Long Term Ventilation and Paediatric Intensive Care. However, Burns and plastics became my first, unexpected love and has become my passion and specialist area, remaining steadfast for the entirety of my child life work so far. I now share the role of Head of Department for Child Life and Music Therapy at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead alongside my work in burns. I am grateful to have this opportunity to be a member of the association as it aligns with my desire to be part of our collaborative force, driving our future forward as an industry.

I have been a Child Life Therapist for four years. I am currently working Full Time at Monash Children's Hospital. I am very grateful to have previously worked as a Child Life Therapist at The Royal Children's Hospital. I have specialised Child Life Therapy experience in Emergency and Oncology. I wish to be on the committee to help connect Child Life Therapists across Victoria and to be an advocate for the incredible work we do as Child Life Therapists to improve the hospital experience for children, their families and the healthcare team. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, cooking and playing tennis.