Dr Judi Parson is a strong advocate for the therapeutic benefits of play, no matter what your age.
And according to one of the world's greatest academics, Albert Einstein, "play is the highest form of research".
Einstein's belief lies at the heart of Dr Parson's work, whose career has been built on play. Her therapeutic use of play includes role play, using puppets, sand play, drawing and expressive art therapies.
"In play you suspend reality and become free to explore without a fixed agenda, which fits well with qualitative research," Dr Parson said.
"The focus is on hearing the data through others.
"Play therapy is based on the premise that play is a form of communication, a symbolic form of expression. Play therapists demonstrate an accepting, permissive manner in observing the play in detail – tracking behaviour, reflecting emotions and understanding themes. Thus my clinical play therapy practice informs my research skills, which then feeds back into my professional work.
"...play therapy decreases depression, improves socialisation skills and can resolve issues in elderly populations."
"In play there is no right or wrong, but rather ways of generating new knowledge and deeper understanding.
"Research can sometimes be perceived as rather dry; however, if taking a playful approach (as I try to in all aspects of my life), research becomes a fun space where curiosity and new insights flourish."
Dr Parson is employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow by the UTAS School of Nursing and Midwifery and is based at the Rural Clinical School in Burnie. Her position is funded by a generous philanthropic donation to the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation.
Her current research project, Humanistic expressions: Caring for a person with dementia, is an ethnographic study into the role of family carers and how they communicate and connect to their loved ones through alternative means of expression.
"My research is unique because play therapy is really cutting-edge in Australia," Dr Parson said.
The research is indicating the need for a therapeutic relationship training program to be developed and assessed for effectiveness.
Such a program would teach carers principles, found in humanistic play therapy, that can facilitate and enhance relationships.
"Play therapy is based on the relationship between the therapist and their client - who can be of any age," Dr Parson said.
"In fact, research shows that play therapy decreases depression, improves socialisation skills and can resolve issues in elderly populations.
"Play therapy helps individuals access states of wellbeing and calm, as well as silliness and joy."
Dr Parson holds qualifications in paediatric nursing and play therapy and is currently one of the directors for the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA). Although she is Tasmania's only APPTA registered play therapist-supervisor, interest in this field is growing.
She is responsible for attracting three higher degree by research students from the mainland to study play therapy with her at the Rural Clinical School in Burnie.