Very Special Kids is seeking urgent funding to purchase and install a generator for its free holiday accommodation in Woodend, Victoria. This site provides a rare opportunity for families caring for a child with a life limiting condition to take a break as a family in a safe, accessible, and supportive environment. Many of these ...
Very Special Kids
Critical Backup Power for Very Special Kids Holiday Accommodation
GOAL
$28,715
Australia > VIC > Regional
Field of Interest
- Health/wellbeing and medical research
- Individual/family services and support
Target Population
- Early years (0-5)
- General population
Very Special Kids
Very Special Kids provides holistic palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and tailored support for their families through life, death and grief. Its integrated approach includes emotional, clinical and practical support to help improve quality of life and create positive, lasting memories.
Very Special Kids understands every child’s experience with a life-limiting condition is unique, and every family requires tailored support specific to their family’s journey. As Victoria’s only children’s hospice, its services support close to 800 families across Victoria. Very Special Kids House was the first children's hospice in Australia and remains the only one in Victoria.
We advocate for better policies and education so that society can better deal with, and talk about, life and death, creating more supportive communities for sick children and bereaved families.
Very Special Kids relies on the generosity of its community to ensure seriously ill children, young people and their families don’t have to endure their difficult journey alone. Its empathetic and dedicated supporters are the reason sick children, and their families, have access to comfort, respite and the very best care in the most difficult times.
Project Summary
Very Special Kids is seeking urgent funding to purchase and install a generator for its free holiday accommodation in Woodend, Victoria. This site provides a rare opportunity for families caring for a child with a life limiting condition to take a break as a family in a safe, accessible, and supportive environment. Many of these children have complex disabilities and rely on life sustaining medical equipment such as ventilators, feeding pumps, and mobility aids, all of which require an uninterrupted power supply.
The need for a generator has become critical, particularly following the January 2026 bushfires, when a power outage affected families staying at the accommodation. While no emergencies occurred, the incident highlighted the significant risk to children who depend on continuous electricity for their medical needs and access to the property via an electric gate. A generator, costed at $28,000 (with a detailed quote available), would ensure constant power during outages or emergencies, providing essential safety and reliability.
The beneficiaries of this project are Victorian families with children aged 0–18 years and their families currently being supported by Very Special Kids through our specialised care and services. The holiday accommodation program is provided at no cost to families, ensuring equitable access regardless of socioeconomic circumstances.
Investing in a generator will strengthen the safety and resilience of this vital respite service. It will allow families to experience moments of rest, joy, and connection in an environment specifically designed to support their child’s complex needs, ensuring that care is never compromised.
Project Outcomes
Very Special Kids is working to ensure the ongoing safety of children with life limiting conditions who stay at our free holiday accommodation, Glen Osmond Farm, in Woodend, Victoria. The accommodation provides fully accessible, purpose built cottages where families caring for a seriously ill child can rest, reconnect, and enjoy time together. Many of the children we support rely on essential, life sustaining medical equipment that requires continuous power, including ventilators, feeding pumps, lifting hoists, and specialised mobility devices.
During the January 2026 Victorian bushfires, the Woodend property experienced a power outage, highlighting the urgent need for a reliable backup power solution. Installing a generator will ensure uninterrupted electricity during emergencies, protecting the health and safety of the children, and reliable access to the property through the electric gate.
We aim to:
- Guarantee uninterrupted power during outages and extreme weather events
- Reduce risk for children dependent on medical equipment
- Reduce safety risks by ensuring families can always safely access or exit the property, even during power outages
- Provide families with confidence that their child’s needs will be safely met during their stay.
We will know this project has succeeded when:
- The generator is fully installed, tested, and operational
- Power outages no longer disrupt medical equipment or care
- Power outages no longer disrupt access to or from the property via the electric gate
- Families report increased feelings of safety
- All families can families access free respite holidays without concerns about power reliability.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $28,715
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funding Gap | $28,715 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Generator | $28,715 |
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