Carlie Alicastro is a Senior Child Life Therapist in the Medical Imaging Department at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne, where she supports children, young people, and their families through their hospital experiences. In addition to her therapeutic work, Carlie is the host and co-producer of RCH TV, an in-house television program designed to reduce stress and anxiety for children and families within the hospital and the broader community. Carlie recently completed a Master of Child Play Therapy and is passionate about the power of play and the therapeutic relationship in building trust with children and their families. With a background in primary school teaching and nannying, both in Australia and internationally, Carlie brings a wealth of experience to her work in Child Life Therapy.

Lucinda Jones is an enthusiastic and passionate Key Worker, Early Interventionist and Sector Capacity Building Project Officer at Bathurst Early Childhood Intervention Service (BECIS) in regional NSW. Graduating with a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood- Special Education) from CSU Bathurst in 2001, Lucinda has had over 25 years of extensive experience in a diverse range of Early Childhood Services and Tertiary Education before embarking on her multi-faceted role at BECIS Often described by her peers as a passionate and persuasive Early Childhood Professional, all aspects of Lucinda’s work are driven by a dedication to play advocacy for children, especially those with developmental concerns, delays or disabilities, their family and community. Embedded in this passion is her advocacy for play to be entrenched with connection, nature, loose parts, real world resources, practicality and unhurriedness. Lucinda’s role within BECIS provides her with the opportunity to advocate that play is an essential element in a child’s early intervention journey. She is committed to empowering all stakeholders to recognise that each child’s play is as diverse, individual, joyful and amazing as the child. Lucinda is able to do this through direct key worker involvement with children and their families as well as building the capacity of current and emerging Early Childhood Professionals within her community. 2024 saw Lucinda undertake the Certificate in Playwork Practice (Foundation) with Play Australia. This solidified Lucinda’s certainty that Early Interventionists held a vital and significant role in promoting and advocating that children with developmental concerns, delays and disabilities flourish when interventions are provided through play. Lucinda’s thrives in sharing her passions in Early Childhood and has the ability to deliver with enthusiasm, excitement, practicality, all with a splash of humour. She avidly advocates from the heart, promoting that play must be accessible, inclusive and equitable, with diversity in play celebrated. It is important for Lucinda to inspire peers to prioritise, promote and celebrate play as the most successful early intervention approach for each child.