The Humour Foundation

The Humour Foundation is an organisation of expertly trained performers who bring laughter, joy and connection to children’s hospitals and aged care facilities. Our Clown Doctors™ and Laughter Care™ programs deliver life-changing results through the art of play. International research and studies prove the numerous physiological and psychological benefits of laughter to health and wellbeing. Humour is an effective coping strategy, relieving fear, stress and pain, and has positive effects on the cardiovascular, immune and respiratory systems. This underpins The Humour Foundation’s programs; creating laughter where it is unexpected but most needed. Clown Doctors™ - The Humour Foundation’s flagship program - works in partnership with medical and health professionals to divert children and young people during painful procedures, help calm and distract in emergency department settings, encourage positivity and resilience during physio and occupational therapy, and generally improve outcomes in what is often a stressful, anguished environment. The Laughter Care™ program is a world-first, bringing together medicine and the arts in a professional partnership that improves the quality of life of aged care residents in a unique, person-centric way. Laughter Care™ performers are chosen for their sensitivity and empathy, and undertake ongoing, professional training to adequately equip them for the unique demands of working with people living with dementia (52% of aged care residents) and those experiencing social isolation and withdrawal.