Online Workshop

Advanced Learn to Play Therapy (2 Day Workshop) 19-20 Nov 2020

Presenter: Emeritus Professor Karen Stagnitti

Co-host: Dr Chloe Wadley

PRESENTER’S PROFILE – KAREN STAGNITTI

Karen Stagnitti is Emeritus Professor in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. She is retired from full time teaching and research but continues to run workshops and write. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland. For over 35 years she has mainly worked in early childhood intervention programs in community-based settings as part of a specialist paediatric multidisciplinary team. In 2003 she graduated from LaTrobe University with a Doctor of Philosophy. Her area of research is children’s play. Karen has over 120 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and books. She has developed several play assessments including: Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment, the Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist and the Animated Movie Test. From this research, Learn to Play Therapy was developed.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE – CHLOE WADLEY

Dr Chloe Wadley is a paediatric Occupational Therapist who has recently completed her PhD in the Learn to Play Program within Specialist Schools for children with developmental delay and disability, supervised by Dr Karen Stagnitti. Chloe works as a paediatric occupational therapist within the community, home, clinic, school, kindergarten and childcare settings. Chloe specialises in occupational therapy intervention for children aged 2-12 years. Chloe runs group Learn to Play for pre-school and primary school children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental delay within her clinical practice. Chloe has a passion for working with children on the Autism Spectrum in both individual and group therapy.  Chloe is also a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Deakin University and involved in the supervision of Masters of Play Therapy students. Chloe has extensive training and clinical practice in the use of play assessment tools and Learn to Play therapy. Chloe enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through delivering workshops to a range of audiences interested in Learn to Play. Chloe’s research to date has focused on Learn to Play group programs within specialist school settings for children with developmental delay and disability. Chloe is passionate in supporting schools to implement Learn to Play Programs within their curriculums in order to support childhood development and learning.