July 2005

Turtles draw kids out of their shells

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Mental Health Service has co-opted creatures called Ripple and George to help make its Travancore campus more relaxing.

Ripple and George live in the Children’s Turtle Enclosure and join a family of fish as aquatic attractions in a private courtyard housing three ponds surrounded by ferns and furniture.

The enclosure provides a quiet, restful, healing environment—more comforting for children than the indoor, office-like alternative.

Donor companies Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd, Landscaping Association of Victoria, Woodbridge Landscape Developments, Reece Irrigation, Bunnings Highpoint, Essendon Garden Centre, Gibbons Nursery contributed to the renovation of the Children’s Turtle Enclosure.

RCH’s Mental Health Service is a free service treating children with emotional, behavioural or psychological difficulties.

The RCH Mental Health Service works with around 1,200 children and their families each year.

Services based at Travancore include Operation Newstart-Western, an adventure-based intervention program for ‘at risk’ teenagers.

The course runs four days a week—with the fifth day back at school—for one school term.