Who we are
The HPSAANZ Executive Committee 2022
Lisa PearsonPRESIDENT
I am a registered Hospital Play Specialist at Waikato DHB. With 16 years in the profession, I have experience in both medical and surgical specialities. My current professional role within our clinical leadership team is strengthening our guidance, mentorship and learning programmes for developing HPS at Waikids. Current clinical focus is developing a model of care and supporting Tamariki with gastroenterological conditions and disorders. I have been a member of the HPSAANZ executive for 3 years supporting various initiatives, policy development and future forward planning. I feel proud to represent our profession working alongside a small but passionate and committed group of professionals. Through my involvement on the exec I have gained a greater awareness of the challenges and impacts of social and political factors on our HPS profession. With the on-going challenges and changes in the Healthcare landscape it is an incredibly important time for us as a professional body to have a clear vision, leadership, connections and a voice in the Health sector. Website development and technical expertise of some of our exec members has presented some exciting opportunities and a platform for professional learning and development opportunities. I am keen to be part of this development and to progress some of the key strategic projects, specifically the national learning package. Let’s continue to grow, inspire and strengthen our collaborative energies. I have submitted my name to act as interim president supporting a transition period for our incumbent President Jemma Thomas. I am looking forward to sharing the responsibility of this leadership role with the supportive guidance of the executive membership. |
Nicola WoollastonOUTGOING PRESIDENT
Kia ora. I hold a number of wonderful roles at present: wife, mum of 4 teenagers, team leader of the diverse and talented team of play specialists at Starship, and for the past 6 years I have had the great privilege of representing our profession as president of our association. As a small association we have made some significant strides in shifting towards the future: re-confirming our title, updating our processes, association rules, policies and website, shifting learning online, as well as adapting to the needs of our members and the wider community during the global COVID pandemic. I am wildly grateful for the time, knowledge, skills, passion, guidance and insight shared within our small executive team, registration council and members of our working groups. The next major move forward will come with a national training package – something I had hoped we would be able to launch at conference this year – but covid has slowed and stalled many things and I look very forward to this particular project picking up steam as we move out of the current pandemic. I look forward to taking on the role of outgoing president and feel very confident in passing over this responsibility to Lisa Pearson and Jemma Thomas who will continue to guide, grow and support our profession. |
Jemma ThomasINCOMING PRESIDENT AND MEMBERSHIP
Kia ora, my name is Jemma Thomas and I have been on the HPSAANZ Executive for the past four years. I have been working as a HPS at Christchurch Hospital for the past five years, most recently working in the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Centre. Throughout my time as an HPS, I gained my HPS registration, a process that I really enjoyed and am very proud of attaining. During my time on the HPS Executive I have been involved in a variety of different projects including being part of the organising committee for our previous conference, website and membership platform development and management, and continuing to strengthen our links between HPS around the country. I truly believe in supporting our HPS members to develop a strong vision for the future that supports everyone to learn together and grow our profession, and would like to continue to this as the new incoming president. Most recently I have been spending time at home with my new born daughter, this has not only been such a joy, it has also strengthened my passion for supporting children and their whānau in the hospital environment. |
Chloe DavidsonTREASURER & REGISTRATION COUNCIL LIASION
Hello my name is Chloe Davidson and I work at Starship Children's hospital in Auckland. I have been a Play Specialist for the past three years and an early childhood teacher for the past 8 years, before that. I have really enjoyed how much I have learnt working on the executive committee for the past two years and getting to know play specialists around NZ. I would love to continue to work on the executive for another term in my role as treasurer as we continue to move our profession forward. |
Vicki DavisEXECUTIVE MEMBER
Kia ora, my name is Vicki Davis and I work at the Wilson Centre for the Children’s National Rehabilitation Service along with Children’s Out of Home Respite Service for Waitemata DHB here in Auckland. I have been at the Wilson Centre for many years and prior to this I was lucky enough to experience working as a Play Specialist for 2 ½ years in a hospital in England. My background is early childhood education and before becoming a Play Specialist I worked for Barnardo’s as a visiting teacher. Even though I have been a Play Specialist for a long time, I am excited about joining the executive team and the opportunities this will bring, especially for learning and contributing. As a service with only 2 Play Specialists, in an environment that is different to a hospital setting, it will be great to be part of the development and growth of our profession. |
Cara Davidson
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Kia ora, my name is Cara Davidson and I work at the Wilson Centre, Children’s Out of Home Respite Service and the National Childhood Rehabilitation Service under Waitemata DHB here in Auckland. I have been at the Wilson Centre for 4.5 years and this is my first role as a Play Specialist. My background is Early Childhood Education, completing my degree in 2008. Previous to being a Play Specialist, I was in an ECE leadership role, where I had the opportunity to learn and support our ECE centre’s governance and systems. I look forward to applying some of these learnt skills to my role on the executive team as well as learning more. I am also eager to support the growth of the association along with representing our specialized service within our hospital play specialist sector. |
Sue Fahey
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Kia ora, my name is Sue Fahey and I work as a Hospital Play Specialist in the Children’s Ward at Nelson Hospital. I have been in this role since December 2016, when the service opened here. My background is in both early childhood teaching and nursing (with a post graduate PICU qualification from RCH Melbourne, and NICU, theatre and practice nursing in NZ). I gained a BTchLn (ECE) in 2010, and immediately prior to taking on my current role as a HPS I was working as a Head Teacher in a kindergarten that included a Teen Parent Unit, as well as both infants and toddlers and young children’s areas. The wellbeing of children and families has always been a priority for me, and I bring skills and knowledge gained in different contexts (including parenting 5 children) to my role. I have a love of ongoing learning and professional growth. I look forward to joining the HPSAANZ Executive Board and contributing a ‘small South Island service’ perspective. |
Sharon Luque
EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Hello my name is Sharon Luque and I work at Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth. I have the pleasure of not just working on the Children's Ward I travel all over the hospital. I have been a Play Specialist for the past thirteen years here in Taranaki and previously a Karitane Nurse on the North Shore for 5 years. Before my move to New Zealand with my husband and children I was an early childhood educator for 8 years in England. Over the years I have always wanted to join the executive committee, but never took the step. But now I feel I could contribute. It's a chance for me to share my skills as a play specialist that is solo. I am looking forward to being part of the executive committee and getting to know play specialists around NZ. I see this as an opportunity to learn from others and share my knowledge and to grow and develop as a Play Specialist. |
The HPSAANZ Registration Council 2022
- Allana Bunting - Invercargill Hospital
- Phillipa French - Starship Hospital
- Paula Perham - Starship Hospital
- Carol Bolton (External Adviser) - Independent HPS Consultant
Additional Support
- Allied Health HPSAANZ Representative: Debbie McDougall - Tauranga Hospital
- Administration Support: Raquael Jones
