George Hunt, Tahlia Trenerry and Tess Munro use their stethoscopes and other medical tools to examine their teddy bear patients.
Big Ted, Donny Martin, Tahlia Trenerry, George Hunt, Reuben Mohrand and Tess Munro enjoyed learning about health and doctors.
Tahlia Trenery and Tess Munro listen to the heartbeat of their teddy bear friends.
Monash Teddy Bear Hospital volunteers, Big Ted and Natania D'Sa, with Darnum Primary School students and their teddy bear friends (L-R) Donny Martin, Tahlia Trenerry, George Hunt, Reuben Mohr, Isla Mumford and Tess Munro.
by Bonnie Collings
Students at Darnum Primary School were able to take their favourite teddy bear friends to school recently when the Monash Teddy Bear Hospital visited.
The Monash Teddy Bear Hospital is run by a group of student volunteers studying different areas of health at Monash University. The students visit primary and preschools to teach young children about taking care of themselves.
"We work with children aged between about four and eight years old," said Gippsland Teddy Bear Hosptial coordinator Natania D'Sa.
"Our main goal is to spread awareness and health education within these younger kids, but along the way we hope to also reduce the stigma that can sometimes come with going to the doctor or going to the dentist and reduce a bit of white coat anxiety. We often wear scrubs to try and introduce the children to that sort of doctor atmosphere."
Students and their cuddly friends spent the day learning about different areas of health, including allergies, healthy eating and x-rays.
The Teddy Bear Hospital provides young students an opportunity to learn and discuss health in a hands-on environment through activity stations. Recently, the Teddy Bear Hospital added a station that discusses emotions and feelings.
"We talk about feelings and mental health, but in a way that's very accessible for such a young demographic," Ms D'Sa said.
"We've been running the Teddy Bear Hospital for quite a while and we pride ourselves on nuancing our different stations so that they're the best they can possibly be for the particular age groups."
Joining the volunteers was Big Ted, the Teddy Bear Hospital mascot, who handed out plenty of high-fives to the excited students.
"The kids always love Big Ted they'll come and give hugs," Ms D'Sa said. "It's a really nice way to ease them into scary topics, like visiting the GP or how to call an ambulance."
As well as teaching young students, the Teddy Bear Hospital also helps the Monash University students with their learning.
"In the first few years of medical degrees, we work mostly with adults, so the Teddy Bear Hospital gives us more of an opportunity to work with children," she said.
"We as medical students are really passionate about our community and are excited to give back to our community as doctors one day. And this is an amazing opportunity to give back before we get to that point."
