Australia's so-called "clown-doctors" have forged a reputation for bringing much-needed smiles to the faces of the sickest children across the country.
And it seems they are not alone.
Other medico funnymen are buoying spirits in some of the world's most fragmented and devastated places.
One of those is visiting Australia to share his experiences working in one of the world's most volatile countries.
This clown-of-sorts will not venture far without his bag of tricks, filled with a red clown nose, finger puppets, even nail polish.
"Sometimes, children ... girls ... they want to be pretty. So I just come, and I sit, and put (on) colours."
All the way from Israel, David Barashi, known as "Dush," is right at home plying his humour and message in Australia.
His life as a clown-doctor in one of the world's most volatile countries gives him a unique perspective.
"Any hospital, the way I see it, is like a small country. I work in the same day, sometimes in the same room, with people Arab, Jewish, Christian, people who live in Jerusalem, people who live in Gaza, people who came from other countries."
David Barashi's work includes humanitarian missions and relief efforts, even accompanying the Israeli Defence Force to earthquake-devastated Nepal with its emergency-relief team.
The so-called clown-doctors are not actually medicos, just performers.
But in some of the world's most hostile and disaster-affected environments, their role of lightening the mood is profound.
"In a place where life and death play who will win, at the end of the day, you always can find somebody that wants to smile, that wants to create the game of life."
Mr Barashi is in Australia to share his ideas and experience with his Australian counterparts.
The local Humour Foundation's David Symons says the broader, so-called "clown-movement" brings much-needed laughter to children with a wide range of needs.
"From zero to 18 years old, so that's patients who are just coming in for in-patient checks right through to patients who are long-term patients who have life-threatening illnesses. So we go everywhere in hospitals, we go to every single ward, we go to intensive care, we go to the emergency department, we go to oncology, we go to general medical, we go to outpatient clinics."
It is estimated 70,000 children interact with clown-doctors in Australia each year.
Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital is one of 22 around the country to engage the services of the clowns.
David Symons, who performs there, says there is no doubting the impact they have on the young patients.
"Laughter's great for improving the immune system, and it has a similar effect to exercise on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Also, great psychological impacts of making people cope better in difficult situations, creating bonds between people, making people feel more in control."
Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Stephen Parnis says the association hopes the program can be expanded to reach even more hospitals and patients.
"There's certainly evidence that it improves things for kids, and we think that should be available wherever possible and use the examples of places where it is currently in use now as a guide."
Share
