Kids on the coast

Volunteers from a new "baby buddy" program at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) are cuddling some of Queensland's sickest kids to a brighter future. Premier Anna Bligh says international research shows that cuddling neo-natal babies can lessen the time they have to spend in hospital and can promote their growth. "While the volunteers will be overseen by medical staff, it will make the cuddling less labour intensive on hospital resources and will also give parents a well-earned break to attend to other commitments, including their other children,” she says. People wanting to volunteer at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital can phone 3636 7151.