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Senior Lecturer, Child Play Therapy, Deakin University

Dr Judi Parson is a paediatric qualified Registered Nurse, Play Therapist and Discipline Lead, Course Director and Senior Lecturer in Play Therapy, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University.

She has experienced a clinically diverse nursing career which has taken her across a number of Australian states and to the United Kingdom. She has practiced in various general and specialty fields including, transplant care, radiology, child and adolescent health and acute paediatrics. Her doctoral thesis was titled “Integration of procedural play for children undergoing cystic fibrosis treatment: A nursing perspective”. The results of Judi’s thesis then lead her to investigate further play therapy knowledge and techniques. She completed her MA Play Therapy (with Distinction), at Roehampton University London, United Kingdom, to become a fully qualified play therapist and is actively involved in the development of play therapy in Australia.

Judi is often invited as an invited keynote presenter Nationally and Internationally. She has a strong interest in teaching and researching in field of psychosocial and mental health of children, including medical play therapy and advances in technology. She has over 20 publications and recently co-edited the book Eileen Prendiville and Judi A. Parson (2021) Clinical applications of the therapeutic powers of play: Case studies in child and adolescent psychotherapy. London; Routledge.

Experience

  • 2017–present
    Senior Lecturer in Play Therapy, Deakin University
  • 2014–2017
    Lecturer in Mental Health , Deakin University
  • 2012–2014
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Tasmania
  • 2004–2008
    PhD Candidate , CQUniversity
  • 2000–2004
    Associate Lecturer in Nursing , CQUniversity