With the help of the community, Bendigo Health's new fundraising appeal 'Sanctuary for Kids' will improve and upgrade children's health services for the Loddon Mallee community.

The 'Sanctuary for Kids' appeal will focus on four key areas of the hospital before expanding into other Bendigo Health children's services.

The four areas are:

• Child and Adolescent Unit
• Emergency Department
• Outpatients
• Special Care Baby Unit

How can you help the kids?

Your donation towards 'Sanctuary for Kids' appeal will:

• Help to purchase specialised children's medical equipment, new furniture for the children's ward and create play and waiting areas designed just for kids.
• Because a hospital can be a scary place for kids, new signage using a native animal theme is planned; this will help create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
• Help to provide new specialist nursing training opportunities for our paediatric nurses. With this expertise we will be able to treat more children here in Bendigo, rather than referring them onto Melbourne.
• Help us to research and adapt new technologies that can assist in the treatment of very sick children.
• Expand services to help families cope with sick children in their own homes.

With a vibrant children's service here in Bendigo we are hoping to attract new paediatricians and nurses to our hospital into the future; this will ensure that together we are caring for the children of our community.