Contact details
Teacher: Tania Moevao
Telephone: (07) 4226 8690
Email: tcmoe0@eq.edu.au
The Cairns Hospital Class is located in the Children’s Ward at the Cairns Hospital. Woree State High School provides the administrative base for this service.
Cairns Hospital Class Vision
For hospitalised children and young people with chronic health conditions to remain engaged as learners.
The purpose of educational services for hospitalized students is to:
Facilitate the continuity of the educational programs being offered by the student's school with particular emphasis on re-entry and transition
Incorporate focused teaching programs to meet the learning needs of hospitalised students
Contribute to the students’ well-being, treatment and recovery in a caring, supportive environment
Respond to information from hospital teams, parents, original schools and other agencies to facilitate the continuing education of students and their re-entry into a regular educational program.
Why a hospital class?
School provides a familiar experience in what can sometimes be a challenging and unfamiliar environment
A teacher and teacher aide provide a program, assisting students to complete school work provided by their own school or by the hospital class staff
Learning experiences take into account the student’s medical needs and can be done at the bedside or in the classroom area located in the paediatric ward
Contact with the student’s own school ensures continuity of education particularly when students are hospitalized for an extended period or on a regular basis
Completing school work and maintaining school friendships help students to stay confident, positive and motivated.
Eligibility
Educational services may be delivered in hospital settings to students who would currently be enrolled in a school, who are medically cleared by hospital staff to receive the service where:
are anticipated to be absent from their base school for four or more school days
they have a chronic or acute health condition that is anticipated to require more than one period of hospitalization, or
they have chronic conditions and require frequent outpatient visits, or
they are a family member of a hospitalised patient who is receiving extended medical attention in a hospital setting and are absent from their normal place of residence (this service is at the discretion of the principal based on student needs), or
exceptional circumstances exist and written authorisation from the Regional Director including the support of the enrolling principal and the student's clinician.
What schools can do...
Maintain contact with the student and family
Organise a meeting with parents/carers and school to share information about the child's medical condition and to establish expectations and responsibilities of everyone involved
Decide who will be responsible for sharing information with whom, in what way, and when
Establish the best method of contact between home, school and hospital (e.g. phone calls, email) and how school work will be exchanged
Be sensitive and responsive to the student’s needs. There may be changes in behaviour, learning and side effects of treatment
Be aware of the needs of siblings and provide support if needed
Advocate for the student’s educational needs and make allowances for assessment if required
Contact health professionals for further support and information.