The Beginnings
I began my health care journey over 20 years ago completing my Bachelor of Occupational Therapy where I specialised in Mental Health care and worked in a variety of community settings. Following this, I gained my Diploma of Education and began my teaching career. I always loved working with children and found a particular draw to working with children who had additional needs. Wanting to combine both my Occupational Therapy and Education skills, I began working at the Royal Children’s Hospital as a Child Life Therapist. It was here that I found my passion!
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After my initial training, I moved into working with the Cardiac Department with infants, children and young people who were impacted by Childhood-Onset Heart Disease. I saw firsthand the challenges faced by these amazing little people and their families who were coping with tremendous stress, pressure and uncertainty
I initially worked on the Cardiac Ward and the PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) where I supported children by engaging them in medical and therapeutic play sessions and providing procedural preparation, planning and support. I could clearly see the difference that the service made to these children and their families. I became aware though, that children were arriving at the hospital having already been through a pre-admission process that required multiple investigations. I could see the challenges that this posed to all children but particularly those with additional needs. I decided to set up the Cardiac Pre-Admission Project whereby I sought to identify these children at an earlier phase of their hospital experience and spent time creating connections with the families before they even arrived at the hospital to establish ways that we could provide better support. I was able to conduct assessments and create individualised support plans to make the process easier. It also allowed me to develop ongoing trusting relationships that continued through their pre-admission, surgery, admission and finally discharge. The feedback was very positive, and it became a permanent part of our Child Life Therapy service.
When patients were discharged and came back in for review, parents would often ask me, ‘what now?' Every individual had a different perception of their experience. Despite the hard work of all the health care teams, the child had experienced distress and now they were home, parents were reporting difficulties in the child’s coping and emotional regulation. I was able to provide some advice, however I was unable to continue the work that I knew would benefit these children in the community. And this is how Healing Hearts Beyond has been established. To provide ongoing care for children with medical conditions. To optimise support prior to medical encounters, to provide support plans and coping tools and resources that may help their experience. To provide after care when dealing with medical trauma through play-based interventions. To support new parents on how to help their infants through their medical journey. To support families and siblings in their understanding and a safe place to come together and explore big feelings. It is a passion that I have, and I feel incredibly lucky and in awe of the phenomenal little people and families that I have been involved with and continue to work with.
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Founder and Director, Kate Strickland.
