Future doctors learn to get hands-on at “bring your kids to work” day at Auckland City Hospital
Children will get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the world of anaesthesia during the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Auckland.
Held on Sunday 3 May at the clinical skills centre at Te Toka Tumai Auckland City Hospital, the “bring your kids to work” session involves 30 children aged 4 to 14 for an immersive experience designed to educate and inspire.
The workshop begins with a fun and engaging introduction to how the human body works, exploring the roles of the heart, lungs and brain. A highlight is a lively “gas exchange game,” where children become red blood cells − transporting oxygen from the lungs to the brain and carbon dioxide back − bringing physiology to life in a memorable way.
Children will then rotate through a series of stations led by anaesthetists, including airway management, CPR, a simulated operating theatre, and fluid management. Activities include CPR ‘races’, using pulse oximeters to see how heart rate changes with exercise, and interactive demonstrations using medical equipment.
Each child will also create their own hospital-style ID badge, complete with an instant photo, and take-home theatre hats, tote bags and lanyards as a reminder of their day.
Auckland anaesthetists Dr Nola Ng, Dr Tom Fernandez and Dr Amber Chisholm, who developed the session, say the workshop is about more than just fun − it plays a key role in education and connection. Dr Fernandez brought the concept back from his time working in San Francisco.
“These sessions are incredibly special. It is part of building on that sense of belonging. We belong to a department, we recognise our kids are part of our lives. Being able to share this for myself personally with my children is special” Dr Ng says.
“They also allow families to connect. Many anaesthetists work long and demanding hours, and this is an opportunity for their children to see their workplace and better understand what their parents do.”
The program is part of an initiative delivered both in hospitals and schools (through the ‘Bring your work to school’ program), aimed at introducing children to basic physiology and healthcare environments.
“Children learn by doing,” Dr Chisholm explains.
“They can see in real time how their body responds such as how their heart rate increases when they exercise and this makes the science meaningful and memorable.”
Feedback from previous sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, with children describing it as “the best day ever” and educators praising its ability to make complex concepts accessible and engaging.
“Having our kids know what we do it part of embracing community. They can take the knowledge that they’ve learnt today and talk about it with their friends and family” says Dr Fernandez.
The workshop emphasises the human side of anaesthesia, highlighting the profession to the next generation while fostering a sense of belonging among clinicians and their families.
The ANZCA ASM is being held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland from Saturday 2 May to Tuesday 5 May. More than 1800 delegates are attending the meeting which has attracted anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians from Australia, New Zealand, the US and the UK to discuss the latest advances in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative care.
