Royal Darwin Hospital School celebrates 40 years helping NT’s sick kids

A tiny classroom on the fifth floor of the Royal Darwin Hospital plays a critical role in providing a ‘sanctuary’ for sick kids and parents.

Royal Darwin Hospital school teacher Ruth Furbey, nursing director of operations division of women, children, and youth Sara Harn, Education Minister Mark Monaghan with staff and families. Picture: Sierra Haigh

A tiny school on the fifth floor of the Royal Darwin Hospital has created a “sanctuary” for thousands of children over the past 40 years.

Territory mum Claire Loughman said daughter Ivy joined the hospital school’s program when she was seven, shortly after the young girl was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in late 2022.

Ivy Loughman and mum Claire. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Ms Loughman said Ivy stayed in hospital for about a week while Health staff taught her how to keep her daughter alive

“She goes to Nakara Primary School and this is affiliated with Nakara,” she said.

“It was this really nice connection which I think really helped her because she was really unwell and very in shock and traumatised, so this was her little sanctuary.

“They just did lots of crafts and gave her lots of books and love and kept us sane throughout the day.”

Ms Loughman said the school was “sometimes more for the parents and the kids”.

She said during one “out of the blue” hospital visit, she had felt like a “wreck” but the school staff supported her during the visit.

“They took me aside and brought me into their kitchen and just fed me some really beautiful food,” Ms Loughman said.

“They go above and beyond.”

Royal Darwin Hospital school teacher in charge Ruth Furbey alongside art created by some of her students. picture: Sierra Haigh

Teacher in charge Ruth Furbey said the transience of her class meant she needed to connect with students “really quickly” to help them learn as well as process any trauma associated with their hospital visit.

She recalled working with two students with animal injuries earlier in the year – a Numbulwar student who was attacked by a crocodile and another who had been bitten by a police dog just before the school holidays.

Ms Furbey said sitting down with the children to play one of the school’s board games – each carefully selected for different learning outcomes – helped her build a relationship with her students.

Education Minister Mark Monaghan reads to a Royal Darwin Hospital school student. Picture: Sierra Haigh

“We can start talking about, ‘how did you manage to get bitten by a police dog?’ ‘Because I stole a car’,” she said.

“(Ask) why did you need to steal a car? Because I’ve got an ankle bracelet and I had to get home before curfew.

“Who was in the car with you? There were friends but they ran off.”

Ms Furbey said her role as a teacher meant it was important to create a safe space for kids to talk about these issues and how they can learn from past mistakes.

“Talk about different choices without being judgmental, and also talk about (how) you can turn things around.”

Nakara Primary principal and hospital school guiding principal Liza Parr. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Hospital School guiding principal Liza Parr said Ms Furbey was onboarded as the head teacher to drive a new approach to learning.

“(Ruth) came in and met with me and we developed an action plan for what we felt that the hospital school needed,” Ms Parr said.

“We did that in conjunction with Sara (Harn) from the hospital so that we could make sure we were all on the same page.”

Ms Parr said the school’s revamped programs focused on social and emotional wellbeing, staying connected to students’ usual schools, and better support for secondary students.

“Ruth has been doing a whole lot of different things this year – building connections with Starlight Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, the hostel across the road from the hospital where some of our students are outpatients, and also building that connection with some of our young people who are actually not in hospital because they’re sick, they’re there to support family members.”

Artwork made by Royal Darwin Hospital school students. It will be displayed in the Casuarina Library at a later date. Picture: Sierra Haigh

RDH Nursing Director of Operations, Division of Women, Children and Youth Sara Harn said the school was a holistic approach to kids’ care.

Ms Harn said children aged four to 17 were able to access the school, as well as students enrolled in the Territory’s home school program.

She said the school accepted students who presented to the hospital with a range of ailments, from broken bones to chronic illness.

“We really value this partnership (with the Department of Education), it’s really important to us because it serves our children and our families,” Ms Harn said.

“I just think it’s a really fantastic example – and it’s been a privilege to be a part of – to see how we can work together across departments to provide the best care and service to Territorians.”