Hospital play specialists — Otago and Southland
Dunedin and Southland hospitals have registered early learning centres connected to them that are staffed by qualified teachers known as hospital play specialists.
Contact us
If your tamaiti is admitted to a children's ward, speak to one of the nurses who can put you in touch with a Hospital play specialist.
Where to find us
Dunedin Hospital
Dunedin Hospital
201 Great King Street
Dunedin
Otago 9016
Southland Hospital
Southland Hospital
Kew Road
Kew
Invercargill 9812
Operating hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Services we provide
Hospital play specialists are teachers with qualifications endorsed in early childhood or primary education. They help tamariki in children's wards adjust to hospital settings by reducing stress and anxiety around their treatments and stays through play.
Our goals are to:
- provide programmes, experiences, education and focused learning for tamariki
- make sure our play areas are a safe space for tamariki and provide them with activities that encourage creativity, exploration and fun.
Play is how tamariki make sense of the world around them. In hospital it helps them to:
- express their feelings and worries
- understand what is happening
- cope with treatment
- continue an aspect of their normal life.
As a parent or caregiver you can:
- visit our playrooms and enjoy activities with your tamariki
- talk to a Hospital play specialist to check how they can help your tamariki.
Our hospital play specialist teams also provide general support to all tamariki aged 0 to 15 who are inpatients and outpatients at these hospitals, as well as their whānau.
You can find out more about Hospital play specialists on the Hospital play specialist association website.
Donating to a playroom
Hospital play specialists are thankful for the regular donations to the playrooms from members of their communities.
Contact a play specialist at our hospitals first if you are considering donating any items to the playrooms.