Engage Playfully

30/12/2025

I’m nuts about play therapy. 😊

🐿️ Absolutely nuts about play therapy! 🌰
There’s something beautifully simple about this little metaphor - just like squirrels instinctively gather what they need to thrive, children naturally turn to play as their primary language for processing, exploring, and making sense of their world

Play therapy recognises and honours this developmental truth - meeting children where they are, speaking their language, and supporting them to thrive

Let’s keep advocating for play therapy as the essential infrastructure it is!

Whether you’re a parent, educator, clinician, or policymaker - let’s get a bit nuts about ensuring every child has access to developmentally appropriate therapeutic support when they need it

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas and warm holiday wishes from Engage Playfully.
We hope your days are filled with joy, rest, and connection. Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in the new year.

18/12/2025

Wishing everyone a wonderful end to the school year!
From all of us at Engage Playfully, Poppy, and Winnie. Thank you for the joy, creativity, and connection you've shared this year. We look forward to seeing you in the new year, ready for more playful adventures and meaningful moments.

15/12/2025

Benefits of trained therapy dogs.

15/12/2025

🐾Now Taking Expressions of Interest for 2026! 🐾

We have limited availability for 1:1 animal-assisted play therapy next year, delivered either in our welcoming clinic space in Frankston or out in the community, including schools and Kindergarten/childcare.

Our sessions are:
✔️ Evidence-based and trauma-informed
✔️ Tailored to each child’s strengths and needs
✔️ Delivered by qualified therapists alongside our gentle certified therapy animals ( can also deliver Child Centered Play Therapy without a Therapy animal.

We welcome:
🌟 NDIS participants (plan- and self-managed)
🌟 Privately funded families

To learn more or express interest, send us a message or enquire via our website. Let’s co-create a playful, safe space where children can thrive.

08/12/2025

The power of Play is healing ❤️💕

Play is our most overlooked natural resource. We protect our water, our forests, our wildlife. But what are we doing to protect children’s right to play?

When did we decide that sitting still and producing work products mattered more than the very thing that builds brains, relationships, and wellbeing?

07/12/2025

🥰🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

New Article 🐾
https://www.icofa-community.com/post/dogs-in-school-how-they-create-safety-and-motivation-in-the-learning-environment

A dog in school can be exactly the support some children need to get through the day 💛

School dogs are not just a cozyaddition – they are an educational resource that influences students’ focus, stress levels, and joy of learning 🎒

This article goes through documented benefits and explains how having a dog in school can strengthen both relationships and the learning environment. Perfect reading for anyone who wants a research-based insight into the role dogs play in schools 📚🐶

05/12/2025

WELCOME TO ENGAGE PLAYFULLY
Where therapy meets creativity, connection, and care.

At Engage Playfully, we believe in the power of play, animals, and relationships to support emotional wellbeing. We offer school-based Animal-Assisted Play Therapy programs and 1:1 child-centred play therapy support for NDIS and private clients. Our services are designed to meet children where they are emotionally, developmentally, and playfully. Whether it’s a quiet moment with a therapy dog, a collaborative game, or a joyful celebration of progress, every session is guided by compassion, evidence, and child-led engagement.

Delivered by qualified, trauma-informed therapists, our programs foster emotional regulation, social connection, and confidence through gentle, strengths-based engagement.

Whether in schools, clinics, or homes, we collaborate with families and educators to ensure continuity of care and meaningful progress.

05/12/2025

💕

The news continues to remind us that children’s wellbeing is always at the center of our most important conversations

Play therapists sit in this vital space: we advocate for children’s mental health needs while providing evidence-based support that enhances their developmental capacity

Our work bridges research, practice, and advocacy because children can’t continue to wait for support they need

30/11/2025

🐾 Client Reflections on Animal-Assisted Therapy with Poppy

Emotional Articulation & Regulation

- Children are expressing specific feelings more clearly in challenging situations.
- Techniques from sessions are helping with anxiety and fear, offering practical tools for emotional regulation.
- The novelty and excitement of animal-assisted therapy supports engagement and helps overcome “school can’t.”

School Attendance & Engagement

- Participants look forward to school on therapy days, with increased motivation and comfort.
- Staying until the end of the school day has become more achievable, supported by Poppy’s calming presence.
- Therapy sessions foster connection with peers, creating a sense of belonging and safety.

Therapeutic Impact & Connection

- Poppy provides comfort, distraction, and calm, helping children open up and feel safe.
- One participant felt disappointed when sessions ended, highlighting the depth of the bond formed.
- Families deeply appreciate the care and time invested, describing the experience as beneficial and highly recommended.

29/11/2025

Amazing work advocating for Play Therapy Thank you 🥰

Historic Play Therapy Milestones in Australian Parliament:

1️⃣ 18 March 2024, the first day Play Therapy was mentioned in Australian Parliament by Dr Sophie Scamps MP. She advocated for the federal government to extend the Better Access mental health-care initiative to include Play Therapy

2️⃣ 28 November 2025, the first day a Registered Play Therapist delivered an address in Australian parliament. As an independent advocate, Dr Kate Renshaw delivered an address to the Thriving Kids Inquiry. She called for Play Therapy to be integrated into both universal programs and specialised supports for children aged conception - 8, families, schools, and communities. Dr Kate emphasised the need for paediatric specialists like Play Therapists to be offered as a choice to children and families across health (through medicare), education, and community services

🇦🇺 Let’s continue to make historic milestones for Play Therapy in Australia, for the benefit of children, families, teachers, and our society. We have highly trained Play Therapists in every state and territory of Australia let’s empower them to do their work that is evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, neuro-affirming, culturally responsive, and child and family centred

Image description: Dr Kate Renshaw in the marble foyer of Parliament House



Natalie Rae Playroom Therapy

28/11/2025

🐾 Engage Playfully in Schools! 🏫✨

We’re proud to offer Animal-Assisted Play Therapy evidence based programs in school settings where connection, regulation, and emotional growth come to life through playful engagement.

🌟 Our services include:
1:1 Animal-Assisted Play Therapy – tailored support for children needing a safe, strengths-based space to explore feelings, build confidence, and regulate emotions.

👫 Social Group Programs – small group sessions that foster peer connection, emotional literacy, and playful problem-solving, all with the support of our therapy animals.

Whether it’s a gentle check-in with Poppy the therapy dog or a creative group activity, our programs are designed to meet children where they’re at supporting wellbeing, inclusion, and joy.

Interested in bringing Engage Playfully to your school? Let’s chat!