Evolving Play: A Game-Changing Organisation
And a solution to the rising rates of mental health illnesses in children.
Children are natural scientists. Their curious minds love to learn and explore. That’s why playing is one of the most powerful ways to connect with them.
At Evolving Play, we successfully use play to strengthen children’s minds and bodies, helping kids across Australia improve their mental and physical health. We take the most impactful health research findings to create video games and programs that mirror the neurological process of learning skills and forming habits.
Our Programs are fun, innovative and revolutionary.
Our computer games and programs reduce the lag between research and the positive impact we can make on children’s mental health and physical wellbeing.
We combine research, tech and play-based learning programs inspiring children to train their minds, bodies and emotions. And we do it when it matters most—during crucial stages of their cognitive development. So when our kids face difficult times of stress, fear, worry or sadness, they are equipped with the skills to overcome them.
Our Team of Game-Changers
Jamie Anderson
Founder
Jamie built a career specialising in juvenile behaviour, combining a background in social research with experience in program design and delivery.
Alberto Solfrini
Technical Lead
Alberto brings a wealth of engineering, Not for Profit and start up experience to the team.
Orla Kurtini
Product Manager
Niall Byrne
Operational Lead
Alice Anderson
Marketing
Alice leads the media and communications elements of the project. Helping to connect families with the Evolving Play project.
Peter Dumbleton
Director of JOC R&D
Andrew Marriot
Director
One of the Directors of The Evolving Play Foundation, responsible for service delivery to at risk groups.
Contributors
Practitioners
Christopher Agostino
Physiologist for The National Children’s Mental Health Foundation
Laura Brennan
Head of Wellbeing, Independent Schools NSW
Luisana Ochoa Petit
Nueroscience and Creativity Lead
Marcel Noronha
Psychologist
Steven Albert
Consultant Psychologist
Consultant Psychologist, MAPS, AHPRA-registered and Psychology Board-approved supervisor, with over 40 years’ experience in psychotherapy, mental health services, clinical supervision and evidence-based process-oriented therapies.
Advisors
Joey Eggar
Executive Director Games & Emerging Tech – Two Moos Playful Engineer
Cinnamon Pollard
Established and led the Insights & Innovation Centre of Excellence at Beyond Blue
Professor Shelli McAlpine
Academic Advisor
Technology
Krish Shrikumar
Meditation Gaming Expert
Henrik Intat
Computer Vision Engineer
Leila Morad
Sensory Gaming Expert
Ken Wong
Artist – Sensory Awareness
Our Game-Changing Mission and Vision
Our dream is to foster a new generation of healthy children who, through play, learn to protect their minds, hearts and bodies. We want all kids, parents and educators to access free, evidence-based, preventative mental health programs and video games so they can develop the skills to cope with fear, loss, and difficult situations.
Our Game-Changing Credentials
The Evolving Play project was born in 2018. Since then, we have partnered with research and development organisations worldwide to improve children’s mental health, including the European Union, the New South Wales Government, Google and Microsoft.
We designed programs for some of Australia’s largest organisations.
We created programs for Headspace, Mission Australia, The University of NSW, The Departments of NSW Health and Education, The National Children’s Mental Health Foundation and schools around NSW.
Our programs engaged thousands of vulnerable children, giving them the tools to train their minds and bodies to manage stress, pressure, fear and failure. You can read more about our program’s positive impact and practitioner references here and here.
Our Game-Changing Research.
Our research demonstrates the pure power of play. It shows the positive impact that learning through play has on children’s mental and physical wellbeing. So, dive in and discover the science behind our programs and games.
Sponsor Section
Investing in Impact: Our Sponsor Partners
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