While most children are happy to miss school when they're sick, some children, like 10-year-old Townsville boy Jai McKenzie, are happy to go to school while they're in hospital.
Jai (pictured) attended Brisbane 's Royal Children's Hospital School during a seven-month stay battling leukaemia until he returned home earlier this year.
"Hospital schools are good," he says, "because there are less kids and the teachers like to help you, I didn't have to wear a uniform, and I got to go home (at the hospital's accommodation) for lunch."
Up to 3000 children attend the Royal Children's Hospital School every year about 80 at any given time. A similar number attend the Mater Hospital Special School , also in Brisbane.
The children tend to need treatment and care for such conditions as orthopaedic problems, burns, asthma, infectious diseases, anorexia, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy or cancer. They can attend school in their ward or classrooms and can be enrolled from one day to many months.
Brothers and sisters are also welcome to attend the schools, as are the children of hospitalised patients. Jai's brothers, 13-year-old Danniel and 14-year-old Jamie, also attended the hospital school.
Jai's mum Kate (also pictured) says the Royal Children's school has been extremely supportive and the teachers are wonderful.
"When Jai first arrived in the hospital, he couldn't do very much," Kate says. "His teacher would come to him in the ward and read Harry Potter, his favourite book. We knew Jai would be tired after only 10 minutes, but he still wanted her to keep reading."
"The teachers really helped me keep the boys' schoolwork up to date and more than that, they were an emotional support for my family.
"I'm so happy that my boys received a good education while staying in the hospital. I never really expected all the nice things they did for my family. The school is a wonderful school."
Says Jai, "We also got to watch movies every Friday night and I met the Australian Idols. Even though my favourite singer is Eminem, it was still cool."Principal at the Royal Children's Hospital Special School , Jane Topley, says it takes a special kind of teacher to work in a hospital school.
"Our teachers need to have an incredibly positive outlook, and the professionalism to support families in crisis," she says.
"Hospital teachers meet a lot of sick children and hear a lot of sad stories, but despite this they continue to instil hope in the child and their family.
"With their focus not only on curriculum, the teachers help students get through one of the most difficult times of their young lives."
Jai's ward teacher Gayle Thomas says her job is challenging, rewarding, uplifting and emotional.
"When one of your students sees you and smiles, you know that in some small way you have brought a bit of happiness into that child's life," she says.
"When a student finally gets to go home, I miss them, but I know they are where they belong.
"Being a small part of them getting well again, that is my reward."
Mater Hospital Special School ward teacher Meredith Bubb agrees that hospital schools are a special place for all.
"The strength shown by the children is an inspiration to me," she says. "Despite illness, the children are keen to maintain some semblance of regularity by going to school."Students have fun at their fingertips when school is out.
A multi-media and entertainment centre called The Wonder Factory at the Royal Children's School and the Starlight Room at the Mater School offer time out with games, movies, face painting and performances. At the Mater, children can retreat to an outdoor arena of colour and fantasy in the Circus of Dreams.
Both hospitals have Radio Lollipop, where children act as DJs and request their favourite tunes.
Royal Children's Hospital Foundation CEO Karen Murphy says celebrity visits are a highlight for the children.
"Their faces light up when they meet their favourite celebrities whether it's one of the foundation's ambassadors like world champion swimmer Leisel Jones, one of the boys from the Brisbane Broncos or interstate celebrities like Kasey Chambers or the Australian Idols," Ms Murphy says.
"It's a chance for us to work wonders and help them forget what they are going through, to brighten their lives, to see them smile."
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2008.