Too Cute to Bear! The popular Teddy Bear Hospital is returning to Chadstone – The Fashion Capital for its fourth year just in time for teddies annual Winter Check-up, proudly supported by The University of Melbourne and The Royal Children’s Hospital. 

The Teddy Bear Hospital aims to reduce childhood anxiety about a trip to the doctor or hospital, while giving medical and allied health students experience in communicating and engaging with younger patients and dealing with the unexpected. All funds raised go to The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. 

The program will be staffed by more than 800 student volunteers from medical and allied health schools, where children can interact and learn through fun activities such as taking their teddies to Teddy Doctors, Teddy X-rays, Teddy ICU, Teddy Surgery, and Teddy Physiotherapy on Saturday 25, August and Sunday 26, August. 

Last year the charity initiative saw over 2,000 children visit the Teddy Bear Hospital with medical and allied health student volunteers tending to the sniffles, coughs and colds of sick teddies, raising over $30,000 for The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. 

Lauren Newton has been appointed as the 2018 Ambassador for The Royal Children’s Hospital Winter Check-up Program at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital and has experienced the hard work of the Royal Children’s Hospital first hand. 

“We are very fortunate to have a happy and healthy family, but you never know when you might need The Royal Children’s Hospital and so many children are scared of a visit to the doctor or hospital. Newton said. 

“Watching medical students care for my child’s teddy by checking its pulse or mending a broken leg is a fun and engaging way prepare them for potential medical visits and procedures” she said. 

Children can bring in their teddy for the Winter Check-up anytime between 10am and 5pm over the weekend, for a cost of $5 per child or $10 for a family admission which goes to The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.