When laughter is the best medicine | Meet the Clown Doctors of Launceston General Hospital

Launceston General Hospital Clown Doctors Katie Hill and Libby Dobson.

March 2023

Imagine being a sick kid in hospital, in need of a friend to play, laugh and smile with – that’s the magic of Clown Doctors!

At the Launceston General Hospital, resident Clown Doctors Katie Hill and Libby Dobson know all too well how important it is to be able to bring a little bit of joy to families facing stressful situations.

Also known as “Dr Saurus-Rex” and “Dr Wing It”, Katie and Libby are specially trained to help calm people using humour therapy. They also work closely with the hospital’s medical staff to distract patients during procedures.

As Clown Doctors, their job is to enhance the wellbeing of patients, parents and staff by connecting with people, encouraging a sense of play, fun and joy, and being the bright spot in someone’s day.

While they work predominantly with children and their families, the pair also get to go on adventures to other wards and see adult patients too, bringing a sense of fun, and usually some music, all over the hospital.

So how does someone become a Clown Doctor?

With a Bachelor in Performing Arts, Libby (Dr Wing It) said she always had a passion to combine her love of performing with the greater good.

“I auditioned to become a Clown Doctor, when the Humour Foundation was looking to establish a Clown Doctor Team that lived in Northern Tasmania,” she explained.

“For a job that is incredibly silly at times, the process was the opposite. The Humour Foundation, take very seriously picking the right people for the task at hand.”

Similarly, Katie (Dr Saurus-Rex) said she always knew she wanted to do something that would help others. Having studies Theatre with Libby, she said it was helpful having a friend to guide her through the audition process of becoming a Clown Doctor.

“I was asked to audition years ago, but the thought of singing made me too nervous to go for it,” Katie explained.

“I saw Libby (Dr Wing It) at a friend’s wedding in 2019 and she told me it was something I needed to do.

“I’m so glad I took the leap, because it feels amazing to use my skills as a performer to do something good and provide a service for the community of Northern Tasmania.”

Libby has now been a Clown Doctor at the LGH for four years and says no one is too old for laughter or music.
”Each time I walk through the doors of the hospital, I know my main job is to bring calmness and some quirky joy. Which usually includes bucket loads of silliness,” she said.

“While 4K and Paediatric Clinics are always our first stop, we love to also visit all areas and wards of the hospital.

“While often you may hear us, before you see us, we can also be very quiet. We are trained to try and calm, distract and bring laughter to all ages and abilities.

“We are always looking at ways to help staff with their patients, and hope they also benefit too from our presence. We see how hardworking the staff are, and literally take our hat off to them often.”

And what is the best part of the job?

Katie said it was hard to name just one thing.

“I’m one of those adults who has never really ‘grown up’, so getting to use my imagination, be creative, play, laugh, even sing (though it still makes me nervous sometimes), and allowing other people the space to feel comfortable enough to have fun, feel less stressed, and feel empowered, is an all-round pretty amazing job,” she said.

Libby said it was wonderful to feel young again.

“Hands down the best part of being a Clown Doctor, is having permission as an adult to play,” she said.
”We are all are born to play, and we seem to lose that ability to use our imagination and thirst to play as we age. It makes you feel young!

“A child will rarely refuse an offer to play, even in the most stressful situations.”