There was plenty of energy in the Primary Classroom at Hospital School at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, as Book Buddies Maggie, Cathie and Shauna joined students for a special National Simultaneous Storytime session.

Together, they shared Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller before leading fun activities inspired by the story, creating a warm and engaging experience for students. It offered simple but meaningful moments to listen, imagine, join in and enjoy a story together.

For children learning in hospital, these opportunities matter. Stories can offer comfort, spark creativity and bring a sense of connection to the school day. They can also provide a welcome distraction and support literacy in ways that feel natural and enjoyable.

A national celebration of reading

National Simultaneous Storytime is held annually in May and is now in its 26th year. The much-loved initiative brings children together across the country to read the same book at the same time, celebrating the value of stories, literacy and shared learning.

Its reach continues to grow. In 2024, more than 2.3 million children took part at over 21,000 locations across Australia, highlighting the important role reading plays in children’s learning and wellbeing.

At Hospital School, this year’s session gave students the chance to be part of that wider national moment while enjoying an experience designed just for them.

Creating brighter moments through reading

For the WCH Foundation, supporting programs that enrich the hospital experience for children and families is central to our work, and Book Buddies is an important part of that commitment.

Through this joint initiative with Hospital School SA, delivered with expertise from members of the Children’s Book Council of South Australia, qualified book readers visit the wards to encourage reading, build literacy skills and provide a positive distraction for patients, creating moments of comfort, connection and joy in hospital.

With the support of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation (WCH Foundation), students from Hospital School at the WCH recently had the unique opportunity to combine art and environmental education in a two-day workshop led by renowned community artist and educator, Deb Twining.

The workshop was part of the inspiring Great Southern Reef installation, ‘We Speak for the Seas’, and brought together creativity, learning, and a shared passion for protecting our oceans.

Junior and Senior students engaged in cross-curricular activities, exploring the extraordinary biodiversity of the Southern Ocean while learning printmaking techniques using recycled materials. Printed sea creatures were created using recycled Tetra Pak milk cartons, transformed through scratching, tearing, inking and repeated printing using the traditional intaglio process. Marine plants were formed using leftover paint, scraped and collaged into layered compositions.

The result? Stunning collaborative collages that now proudly adorn the corridors outside the Hospital School.

One student shared, “This art represents the love and care for the sea,” with another sharing that “The art makes me think that I can help look after the sea and the animals that live there.”

Deb Twining, an established artist with a background in visual arts and installation work, is known for her thoughtful and nurturing approach to creativity. Her passion and expertise shone through as she guided students and teachers in creating meaningful art that speaks to the importance of ocean conservation.

This workshop, proudly supported by the WCH Foundation Arts in Health program, not only allowed every student to contribute to the collaborative artwork but also left a lasting impression on the Hospital Community.  

The completed collages are now on display in the Blue Gallery at the Hospital, located on the Ground Floor outside Hospital School.

A heartfelt thank you to Deb Twining for sharing her skills and passion, and to the students and teachers who brought this project to life. 

To learn more about the Galleries or to purchase an artwork head to www.wchfoundation.org.au/galleryprogram or email artsinhealth@wchfoundation.org.au.