Josephine Lange
‘Laughing Porch Thoughts’
The Humour Foundation is an Australian charity founded in 1997 by General Practitioner Dr Peter Spitzer and professional performer John Paul Bell who wanted to give something back to the community. They had often talked about the 'art of medicine'. Clown Doctors were created and work alongside health professionals and parody the hospital routine helping children adapt to hospital life, diverting their attention during procedures, instilling calm in emergency and providing encouragement during physiotherapy.
The Clown Doctors program does not receive government funding, yet, the foundation remains dedicated to promoting and delivering the health benefits of humour to patients through community support including, fundraising events, sponsorship and grants. Research has shown that there are many health benefits to humour including the relief of fear and stress to aid recovery, boosting the immune system, benefiting the heart and respiratory system and creating endorphins often alleviating pain.
Currently there are 55 highly skilled, colourful and engaging Clown Doctors that work in 21 hospitals around Australia and make positive differences to 135, 000 people each year. Clown Doctors visit all major Victorian children’s hospitals including, The Royal Children's Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, The Northern Hospital Victoria and in the Geelong Hospital Children’s Ward. In between ‘Clown Rounds’, I caught up with Josephine Lange, who since 2007, continues to create smiles for hundreds of patients each week as the singing, ukulele playing and bubble blowing, Dr Fantastic.
What inspired you to become a Clown Doctor?
I was inspired by the possibility of taking care of the parts of a child that medicine can't always get to. As a child smiles, you can feel a lightness in the room.
What is your take on clowning around?
Clowning is less about trying to be funny and more about finding play. I need to be open to my vulnerability and stupidity.
What is the art of being a Clown Doctor?
Having 360 degree vision. Within a second, I need to be aware of my surroundings and know how a child is reacting to me, their parents, doctors, siblings, other patients and I need to work out how incorporate them all.
Do you have a performance background?
Yes, I trained at The John Bolton Theatre School with a focus on physical theatre including mask, clown and improvisation. I also have a strong background in music. While there are no official qualifications to be a clown doctor, we all have performance backgrounds. It's important to understand the craft of play and performance, as well as having a strong sense of empathy.
How did you create Dr Fantastic?
I created a costume that inspired me to play in. Dr Fantastic is a constantly growing, the more I work, the more I find what works. There is a lot of self-reflection and we have regular professional development classes to expand what we do.
What do you think children feel when a clown first appears?
Each child has a different reaction. You can never be sure of how you're going to be received, so I never burst into a room. Our routines start with doing something fairly small from a distance or in a doorway. What we do after that will depend on the reaction we receive.
What makes for a great day for Dr Fantastic?
Changing an outcome. I met one boy in pathology and while he was having his blood taken I did some slapstick which he enjoyed. For some reason Dr Fantastic couldn't find the door and kept walking into the walls. At the end of the visit, his dad told me at his last blood test, they had to hold his son down.
What is the best reaction to Dr Fantastic you recall?
It came from a dad. I'd been told his daughter was gravely ill. As I was playing with his daughter he made a phone call. I heard him say to the person on the line, "Listen to this, she's laughing. She's laughing!"
Clown Doctors visit all wards, including burns, oncology, emergency and intensive care and foyers, where do you enjoy spreading your humour the most?
I love the distraction work we do in burns and pathology. We make a huge difference there. But I also love the wards. Especially when parents tell you it's the first time their child has smiled in a week or more.
What is the key for a clown working alongside health professionals?
Find out what they need from you and then try to provide it. Because we're not doctors, we can sometimes get kids to do things they wouldn't do for 'serious' grown-ups. If a doctor needs to see if a child can reach out or walk or move in a certain way, we can set up toys for them to reach for or bubbles to catch.
Who else can benefit from Clown Doctors?
The elderly. We're starting an Elders Clown program in aged-care facilities. It's a different kind of clowning, but one that's very effective.
The Humour Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation, how can people or businesses support the work of Clown Doctors?
The best support is regular support. The Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund is a Founding Partner and has been supporting The Humour Foundation since 1999. Cadbury became Principal and Strategic Partner in 2003. Businesses and individuals can sponsor Clown Doctors.
What is your Porch Thought of The Day?
“Our vulnerability is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and the world.”
What is Dr Fantastic’s Porch joke of the Day?
“What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.”