Rate My Professor Natalie Hadiprodjo

Dr. Natalie Hadiprodjo is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director for the Master of Child Play Therapy program in the School of Health and Social Development within the Faculty of Health at Deakin University, Australia. She holds an MA and PhD in Play Therapy from the University of Roehampton, London, where her doctoral thesis, 'Clinical applications of the polyvagal theory and attachment theory to Play Therapy for children with Developmental Trauma' (2018), introduced physiological monitoring into play therapy research, integrating attachment theory, trauma, and neuroscience perspectives. Her career spans over 25 years, beginning as an occupational therapist, followed by a master's in counselling, and advanced play therapy training during eight years living, studying, and working in London. This extensive background in child and family welfare, mental health, paediatric care, and school-based settings provides her with substantial clinical, supervisory, and educational experience in her current academic appointment.

Dr. Hadiprodjo's research interests focus on therapeutic play therapy applications, including post-traumatic play, humour in child therapy, polyvagal theory in pandemic contexts, attachment in paediatric health care, disaster recovery support, and supervision practices. Notable contributions include co-editing the book Integrating Therapeutic Play Into Nursing and Allied Health Practice (Springer, 2023) with Judi Parson and Belinda Dean; book chapters such as 'Plagues, Pandemics, and the Polyvagal Theory in the Playroom' (2024), 'Attachment Theory in Paediatric Health Care' (2023), and 'Integrating the Use of the Placement Assessment and Review (PAR) in Play Therapy Supervision' (2024); conference presentations like 'Getting to the heart of post-traumatic play' (2022); and peer-reviewed scoping reviews including 'The role of the play therapist in supporting children and families following a natural disaster' (Australian Journal of Rural Health, 2024, with Nicole Nilsson and Judi Parson) and 'Holding space for children's humour: How is humour used within play and child therapy?' (2025). She serves on the editorial boards of the British Journal of Play Therapy and the forthcoming Australian Journal of Play Therapy, is an APPTA Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, and a member of the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations, advancing global play therapy education and practice.