Hospital Awareness Program
The Hospital Awareness Program (HAP) is designed to allow young children to visit a hospital and have a positive experience within the security of their kindergarten/school group. For children who have never been inside a large hospital a first visit when they are the patient can be a traumatic experience if unprepared.
The HAP provides the opportunity for children to:
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Walk through the emergency department;
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walk through a paediatric ward;
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see where Mum or Dad can sleep next to them if admitted;
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handle real medical equipment;
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play with the equipment using life-size dolls as ‘patients’
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have their blood pressure taken;
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have a real “hands on” positive experience in a hospital setting;
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ask questions and explore ideas through dramatic play;
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take home with them a small bag of real resources.
The children do not interact with patients and strict infection control protocols are in place. Although the majority of the program does take place in the Patient’s Playroom (during in patient their rest time) the equipment used in the HAP Program is not used by patients.
The program operates four days per week – Mon/Wed/Thur/Fri between 12.15pm and 1.55pm. One session only per day is available.
If you are interested in this program please do not hesitate to seek further information. Bookings are limited and the program is very popular so please contact us early in the school year if you have a specific date or day you would like to book. Bookings open October 1st each year for the following year.
The program is designed for children four years and over. We cater for kindergarten groups, Prep and junior Primary children and we can design an individual program for a year group or a group with specific needs if time permits.
The playroom size allows for a maximum of 30 children at one time and a maximum of 6 – 8 adults with the group.
Income from the HAP Program funds the work of the Play Education Department at Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital. The cost of a program is $142.00 per group (including each child’s resource bag) - borrowing a Hospital Play Kit ($30 for a 2 week loan) or a child size Anatomy Doll ($60 for a 2 week loan) can be arranged with the visit or borrowed separately for centres/schools not able to access HAP.