Master to Mentor: Leadership, Connection & Growth in Play Therapy
Schedule
Mon, 16 Feb, 2026 at 09:00 am to Tue, 17 Feb, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC+11:00Location
Deakin Downtown | Melbourne, VI
About this Event
Monday, February 16, 2026
09:00 Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
09:20 Australian Journal of Play Therapy
09:30 Keynote Address - Dr Lorri Yasenik
Mentors without boarders: Using the play therapy dimensions model as a map for navigating play therapy decision making.
11:00 Morning tea
11:30 Jess Bishop & Danae Armstrong
Integrative Play Therapy in the Family Violence Context
12:30 Nicky Nilsson & Leanne Elliston
Food for Thought Play
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Michelle Smith & Adriana Sorbo
A Reflective Exploration of the Therapist’s Cultural Use of Self in the Playroom
15:00 Afternoon tea
15:30
Lucy Griffin
“Play is a child’s language”: Enhancing play therapy to support communication development
Raelene Dundon
Supporting children with Pathological Demand Avoidance using Humanistic Play Therapy
16:30 -17.00
Alisa Tanaka-King
Drawing the Unspoken: Using Illustration as Reflective Practice in the Playroom
Nicky Nilsson
Play Therapist’s Can Support Children and Families Post Natural Disaster Research
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Tuesday, 17 February,2026
09:00 Keynote address - Dr Natalie Hadiprodjo
Navigating the Professional Landscape of Play Therapy in Australia and beyond.
10:30 Morning tea
11:00 Lesley Harvey
Working in Silos: The Experience of a Play Therapist in Geographical and Team Isolation.
11:30 Amy Cox
Reimaging the Power of Play for 21st Century Children
12:30 Lunch
13:30
Alyce Goss, Lucy Griffin, & A/Prof Judi Parson
Tele play therapy
Belinda Dean & Michelle Perrin
Reflections of medical play therapy in practice: case conceptualisation and therapeutic processes.
14:00 Dr Siobhan Casey & Bridget Sarah
Revisiting Winnicott and the transitional space: Informing clinical decision making.
15:00 Afternoon tea
15:30 – 17.00
Spotlight 1 – Connection
Facilitated by
Dr Siobhan Casey & Rhiannon Breguet
Spotlight 2 – Leadership
Facilitated by
Dr Natalie Hadiprdjo & Sarah Hickson
CONTACT INFORMATION
Judi Parson - Email: [email protected]
Where is it happening?
Deakin Downtown, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, AustraliaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
AUD 750.00 to AUD 850.00



















