About Clown Doctors

What do Clown Doctors do?

Clown Doctors  dose their patients with fun and laughter!  Hospital can be scary, confusing or just plain boring for kids. This is where Clown Doctors can help. The person matters, not the illness. Even when kids are very sick they are still kids and Clown Doctors can help them forget they are sick for a moment. Just a smile is enough for the Clown Doctors to know that they have helped. Clown Doctors visit children in their beds, or stay with them while they are having treatment. They  ‘play with the moment’ and improvise around each child’s situation and interests. Kids are encouraged to join in Sometimes they just feel like watching. Families and staff are included in the fun.

Clown Doctors make fun of the hospital routine. They wear doctor’s white coats, but theirs are decorated and have colourful pockets, stuffed with gadgets and tricks with colourful stethoscopes around their necks. They do silly medical procedures such as  ‘red-nose transplants’ and ‘funny-bone checks.’

How does laughter help?

When people laugh or smile, they feel better. Laughter can help people get better more quickly. The benefits are similar to exercise…laughter helps the respiratory and cardiovascular system. It relaxes the muscles, lessens stress and reduces pain. Laughter can help people cope with difficult situations.

Laughter should be shared laughter, not laughing at someone or being mean. Sometimes laughter isn’t the right prescription. If someone has stitches or they are having difficulty breathing, Clown Doctors don’t dose their patients with laughter. Sometimes they are very quiet and gentle, and a smile can help children feel better.

Where are Clown Doctors?

Clown Doctors are at major children’s hospitals around Australia. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. They visit each hospital between three and five days a week.  They visit all the wards including emergency and intensive care. Clown Doctors also are at general hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Hobart, Lismore and Alice Springs.

What skills do Clown Doctors need?

Clown Doctors are specially selected, highly skilled professional performers. Some have a theatre background, others are solo performers. They are all very good at improvisation. Clown Doctors also are skilled are in magic, music, mime or puppetry. Some have studied drama at university, and others have studied Clowning overseas. They also need to be sensitive, caring and have good judgement.

The Humour Foundation trains the performers in working in the hospital setting. They also have on-going training in hospital issues and skills.