Play Therapist

Palliative Care SA; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 66,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging benefits

Fitness Passport

Free public transport for staff

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The Women’s and Children’s Health Network invites applications for a Play Therapist to support children during hospitalisation through developmentally appropriate, therapeutic play.

Working with the Coordinator, Play Therapy and health teams, you will deliver engaging activities, tailor programs to each child’s age and medical needs, and advocate for the benefits of play therapy. The role requires a solid understanding of child development and strong collaboration with families.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with children and adolescents in a healthcare, community or educational setting.
• Experience developing structured programmes to meet individual cultural, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of children and adolescents.
• Ability to identify the needs of children and their families.
• Well-developed interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work independently and creatively.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement play therapy programs for individual children and for groups.
• Ensure play therapy programs are flexible and adaptable to medical and nursing care.
• Encourage and foster a positive culture and safe work environment.
• Develop and implement play therapy teaching/education sessions.
• Participate in quality management, quality assurance and risk management activities.

Skills

Experience with children

Play therapy development

Program development

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Job no: 948796
Work type: Full time
Location: Adelaide CBD
Categories: Administration, Business and Management

• Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Allied Health and Aboriginal Liaison, North Adelaide 5006
• Salary – OPS2 - Operational Services Officer L2, $66,441 to $69,504 + 12% Superannuation and Salary Sacrifice Benefits
• Full Time, Fixed term (Temporary) contract until 28 May 2027

About WCHN
Join the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN), South Australia’s leading provider of care for women, babies, children and young people. We’re shaping the future of healthcare through compassion, innovation and excellence — with our communities at the heart of everything we do.

What WCHN Can Offer You

• Access to salary packaging benefits of up to $9,010 each FBT year for living expenses (e.g. mortgage, rent, utilities, groceries), plus an additional $2,650 each FBT year for meal entertainment expenses.
• Access to Fitness Passport (workplace health and fitness program that gives you and your family access to a wide choice of gyms and pools across South Australia.)
• Free public transport to and from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for SA Health metropolitan hospital staff (excludes network community sites).
• Support for you and your family via our Employee Assistance Program.
• Relocation financial support may be negotiated, subject to eligibility. Click here for details and contact the enquires person for further information.

About the role

The Play Therapist is responsible for minimising the stress and trauma associated with hospitalisation by providing developmentally appropriate, therapeutic and enjoyable activities for children. In consultation with the Coordinator, Play Therapy, and the medical, nursing and allied health teams, the Play Therapist delivers stimulating activity programs that support children to enjoy, express themselves and cope with their hospital experience. The role requires a sound understanding of child development and an active commitment to advocating for the importance and benefits of play therapy.

Key duties of the role

• Planning and implementation of play therapy programs for individual children and for groups, taking into account their illness, age and abilities
• Ensuring that play therapy programs are flexible and adaptable to accommodate children’s medical and nursing care
• Encourage and foster a positive culture and safe work environment
• Developing and implementing relevant play therapy teaching and/or education sessions
• Participate in quality management, quality assurance and risk management activities and ongoing improvement of services

Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience working with children and adolescents in a healthcare, community or educational setting.
• Experience in developing appropriate structured programmes to meet the individual cultural, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of children and adolescents.
• Ability to identify the needs of children and their families.
• Well-developed interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work independently and creatively.

Enquiries can be directed to

Marisa Salvati

Play Therapy Coordinator

8161 8391

[e-mail]

To learn more about this role — including key selection criteria, special conditions and minimum requirements — please refer to the attached role description and the document checklists below:

• OPS2 - Play Therapist - AHAL - Role Description - 948796.pdf
• Immunisation Requirements Checklist
• Applicant Documents Checklist

If you would like further information on applying and winning this role, go to our SA Health Careers Site for the Australian Applicant Guide or if you are an international applicant, check out the International Application Guide .

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply.

Application Closing Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026 11:55PM