Play and Beyond - Therapy 4 Kids

08/03/2026

✨𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬✨

Following on from my recent post about FND, over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing information about rare and lesser-understood conditions ,particularly those that can impact how a person looks, communicates, or moves through the world.

💛𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔.
💛𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒎𝒂.
💛𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏.

Today, I want to bring awareness to 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞.

Goldenhar syndrome is a rare congenital condition that affects the development of the face, ears, and sometimes the spine.

It can result in:
• Facial asymmetry
• Differences in ear development
• Hearing challenges
• Eye differences
• Variations in jaw growth

Every person with Goldenhar syndrome is unique. The presentation and impact vary widely.

👉A facial difference does not define ability.
👉It does not define intelligence.
👉It does not define worth.

Children and adults with visible differences often navigate questions, assumptions, or curiosity from others ... sometimes before they even understand their own diagnosis.

The more we understand, the more compassionate we become.
And compassion creates belonging.

🙋‍♀️If there is a rare condition you would like help raising awareness about, I am more than happy to create space for that here. Sometimes education simply begins with being seen.

07/03/2026

💙𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Experience matters.
Training matters.
Years in the field matter.

These things build knowledge, understanding, and professional growth.

But while experience is incredibly valuable, experience alone doesn’t always equal connection.

Someone may have 30 years of experience, yet still struggle to truly connect with a child.

Another practitioner may have far fewer years, yet naturally create a space where a child feels safe, seen, and understood.

𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.

💜Without connection, strategies often don’t land.
💙Without connection, children may remain guarded or express distrust.
🧡Without connection, meaningful change becomes much harder.

This is why approaches such as child-centred play therapy place the therapeutic relationship at the very heart of the work.

At Play and Beyond, connection comes first.

We continually reflect on our practice and are willing to adapt when needed ... ensuring that connection always remains at the centre of what we do.

Because before strategies, programs, or outcomes…
children need connection. 💜

07/03/2026

✨ 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧

Play and Beyond is proud to offer professional development sessions for kindergartens, childcare centres, and schools.

Delivered by an experienced educator, play therapist and Learn to Play facilitator, these sessions focus on practical strategies that support children’s emotional wellbeing, strengthen connection, and deepen educator–child relationships.

Programs can also be tailored to suit the specific needs of your team.

We currently offer several professional learning programs, including:

• Relationship Focused Educator Training
• Play-Based Strategies for Emotional Wellbeing
• Brain Development, Stress & Play
• Learn to Play – Supporting Pretend Play Development
• Using Play to Support Student Wellbeing
• From Survival to Learning

📩 Reach out if your service would like to learn more or discuss a tailored session for your team.

💙𝑨𝒕 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 - 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓.

05/03/2026

💛A big thank you to HBNC for the opportunity yesterday to connect with other local agencies and share a little about the work we do at Play and Beyond and our not-for-profit Play 4 Change at their Interagency Meeting.

Public speaking has never been my natural comfort zone ... by the end of it my notes looked more like a seismograph recording thanks to my shaking hands! Despite the nerves, it was a great opportunity to share why supporting children early matters and how play-based, developmentally appropriate therapy can help rewrite a child’s story and break cycles.

I also had to exercise some serious self-control when I was handed the microphone… old karaoke and SingStar memories nearly had me breaking into “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Thankfully, I resisted!🎤🤐😁

It was wonderful hearing about the incredible work other organisations are doing across our community. Opportunities like this really highlight the value of connection and collaboration.💛

04/03/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 💭 ⭐

While many of us wait with uncertainty about the new 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 scheme, there are understandably a lot of questions and mixed emotions across the community.

Families, caregivers, and service providers are all wondering what this change will mean for the children we support.

As both a service provider and an autistic person raising autistic children, one particular statement stood out to me and personally left me feeling a little unsettled.

It was noted that the advisory group included 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬.

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.

The success of any new scheme will depend not only on policy decisions, but on genuinely hearing the community it is designed to support.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing - for children and families to be heard, supported, and given the best possible chance to thrive.💙

Fingers crossed🤞

04/03/2026

A friendly reminder ...

✨ 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲?✨

Many professionals thoughtfully incorporate toys, games, or creative activities when working with children, and this can be a wonderful way to help children feel comfortable and engaged.

However, play therapy is a specialised, evidence-based therapeutic approach that requires specific training, supervision, and a deep understanding of the therapeutic play process.

While play may be used in many types of therapy with children, play therapy itself involves specialised training in how children communicate, process experiences, and heal through play.

🌟If you are seeking play therapy for your child, it’s always a good idea to ask about a practitioner’s training and credentials. Ideally, a play therapist will also be registered with a recognised play therapy association.

02/03/2026

✨ “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭?” ✨

I’m asked this often.

Play therapy isn’t a short course or a weekend workshop.

Clinically trained play therapists are Bachelor-qualified (teaching, psychology, counselling, social work or a related field), followed by specialised postgraduate training in play therapy.

From there, it involves:
👉 Supervised clinical practice
👉 Ongoing professional supervision
👉Continued professional development
👉Meeting registration requirements

It takes years of study, reflection, and supported practice to become fully registered.

Because play therapy isn’t just playing.

It’s a carefully trained, evidence-based therapeutic approach that honours how children naturally communicate - through play.

Children deserve therapists who are trained to hold their stories safely 💛

And if you’ve been considering becoming a play therapist yourself - there are several pathways available in Australia.
Do your research, explore your options, and if you’d like guidance or support, you’re always welcome to reach out to us 😊

02/03/2026

🌿 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 - 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭

At Play and Beyond, we continue to listen to our community and families and are exploring small group sessions for home-schooled children.

These sessions would be facilitated by a registered and qualified teacher, focused on supporting social connection, independence, and participation alongside peers - complementing each child’s developmental and learning journey.

Private clients welcome. NDIS funding 𝒎𝒂𝒚 be used where supports align with a participant’s individual plan goals.

✨ We are currently seeking Expressions of Interest to guide planning.

If this sounds like something your child may benefit from, we’d love to hear from you.

01/03/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐎 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬… 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🧱🧱

01/03/2026

Thank you Island View Connect Magazine for supporting Play and Beyond and providing a wonderful platform to help our community learn more about what we offer.💙

Healing Through Creativity

Not every child can explain what they’re feeling.

This month, we explore how creative arts are helping young people build confidence and process big emotions, thanks to the beautiful work being done at Play and Beyond Pty Ltd.

Sometimes paint, clay and imagination say more than words ever could.

It’s a gentle, powerful feature for families to read.

Read the full article in the comments

28/02/2026

🌟For those who didn't get to read about our amazing Creative Arts Guru, Bella, in the latest Island View Connect Magazine, this is her story here!

Book in with Bella today💙

28/02/2026

🌟 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥… 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲!🌟

We’re excited to welcome Bridgette to Play and Beyond as our Support Coordinator, alongside providing casual administration support.

🔹Bridgette brings a wealth of knowledge and experience within the NDIS, including strong understanding of plans, supports, and navigating the system, something many families find overwhelming.

🔹In her role as Support Coordinator, Bridgette will work alongside children, teenagers, and families to help them understand and implement their NDIS plans, connect with appropriate supports, build independence, and ensure services truly meet their individual goals and needs.

🔹Most importantly, Bridgette’s role is to support families to make informed choices about the providers and services that are right for them. Her focus is always on empowering families and advocating for outcomes that best support each participant, wherever those supports may sit within the community.

💙We’re so excited to have Bridgette joining our growing team and look forward to the support she will bring to families across our community.

Referrals and enquiries for Support Coordination are now welcome. Please contact us to connect with Bridgette.