For nearly 20 years, the playground at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital has supported hundreds of thousands of families. But it no longer meets the needs of the children who rely on it.
The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation is raising $200,000 to help build a new, inclusive playground that matches the exceptional care provided to more than 300,000 patients and families each year.
Hospitals can be overwhelming places for children. Medical procedures, strange environments and long stays can increase stress and anxiety, which in turn can impact recovery. A well-designed, accessible playground provides a much-needed retreat where children, siblings and families can relax, play and reset between appointments or during extended stays.
This is not just about new equipment. It is about emotional wellbeing, physical movement, therapy and healing. Research shows that play is a powerful tool in supporting children’s health outcomes, improving mood, reducing fear and providing a sense of control in medical settings.
Every contribution counts. To thank those making particularly generous gifts, we will acknowledge donors on a Donor Recognition Board near the playground. This includes gifts of $1,000 or more from individuals, $5,000 or more from organisations, and $10,000 or more from organisations with logo inclusion.
The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation partners with the community to ensure that every child and family thrives. Dedicated to families, we go the extra mile, providing essential care and support when it is needed the most. Our commitment to making a meaningful difference is evident at every stage of their experience. We enable research that improves health and wellbeing outcomes, enhance the quality of care, and support families in creating precious memories.
The WCH Foundation relies upon generous partnerships with our community to support the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment, deliver our Laklinyeri Beach House Program, provide immediate emergency support to families in need, reduce distress and anxiety of patients through our extensive Arts in Health Program, and invest in vital medical research.
Our ongoing support has a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of children and families who rely on the services of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network. Our support reaches families all over South Australia, as well as families from the Northern Territory, and rural and remote cross-border communities in NSW and Victoria who need to travel to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for specialist treatment.
Together, we make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of families.
The Henry James Fund was established to help raise vital funds for multiple limb-reconstructive surgeries overseas.
Henry is a 2-year-old boy born with CFD and requires a SUPERHip procedure in February 2026 and his first of 3 leg lengthenings in 2028. Henry is predicted to have a leg-length discrepancy of 23cm at full maturity, and currently stands at 11cm.
Without intervention, Henry’s orthotic options will become more limited and will have more difficulty ambulating and keeping up with his peers.
The CFD Foundation was formed in June 2024 to begin fundraising for children and their families impacted by Congenital Femoral Deficiency; a congenital limb deformity affecting the thigh bone, resulting in an underdeveloped hip, short thigh bone and an increasing leg-length discrepancy. Children with CFD require multiple limb-reconstructive surgeries to correct deformities in the hip and potentially in the knee and ankle, to then begin lengthening the leg.
There are very few disabilities where surgery can play a role in correcting the core impairment, however thanks to innovative surgeries offered at the Paley Clinic in West Palm Beach, Florida, children and can and have the opportunity to undergo limb-saving, life-changing surgery and rehabilitation. Our focus is on helping one child/family at a time receive this life-changing treatment. Whether it’s a Rotationplastly, a SUPERHip, a SUPERKnee procedure or a leg-lengthening, we want to support families in pursuing alternative options to amputation; which remains the most common intervention undertaken.
Because CFD is so rare and its treatment relatively new, adequate treatment in Australia is not currently offered. For now, the best available treatment is available overseas at medical tourism centres like the Paley Clinic, West Palm Beach, Florida. The CFD Foundation also prides itself on providing education and advocacy for CFD so that families can make informed decisions surrounding their child’s treatment.
GROW is a community-based organisation that has helped thousands of Australians with their recovery from mental ill-health through a unique program of mutual support and personal development.
The Grow Program is based on a 12-step program of personal growth of mutual help and support. The program is all-inclusive and draws on many principles for mental, social and spiritual health.
Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) is a registered not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the development of cellular agriculture in Australia.
Cellular agriculture uses cells and biotechnology to create new food, ingredients, and agricultural products. With global food demand projected to rise by up to 50% by 2050, current production methods alone won’t meet this need sustainably or ethically. We believe cellular agriculture can play a critical role in diversifying food production, enhancing food security, and meeting global protein demand in a sustainable way.
CAA works across the entire Australian cellular agriculture sector, identifying shared, non-competitive priorities and driving collective progress. Our approach is inclusive, participatory, and rooted in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders.
Our Focus Areas:
– Unlocking government support for essential research, infrastructure, and industry growth
– Advocating for fit-for-purpose regulation of emerging food technologies and products
– Building public understanding and trust in cellular agriculture
– Supporting effective impact measurement and communication across the sector
Our unique value:
– We are the only NFP with a specialised focus on cellular agriculture as a key future food solution and represent an independent, neutral voice of the sector.
– We carry deep capability, technical expertise and networks across the sector; including a formal partnership with the leading global think tank, The Good Food Institute APAC.
SANE is a recognised leader in digital mental health, providing innovative and effective support services across Australia for adults living with complex mental health needs and the family and friends that care for them. Led by the voices of its community, SANE is working to bridge gaps in support, reduce the burden on the health and disability systems, and most importantly, improve health outcomes and quality of life.
Strength Potential is a Queensland charity established in 2016, dedicated to empowering young people aged 10 to 19 who face various mental health challenges that limit their opportunity to engage with confidence in their daily life and their communities. The organisation focuses on helping them discover their strengths and reach their potential through a variety of services.
We provide one-on-one, face to face, strengths focused mentoring services to young people across South-East Queensland. We are expanding this service beyond the current 350 weekly hours and are further extending our impact through telemonitoring , initially offered to homeschooling families in rural and remote areas across NSW & Queensland, and initially focused on anxiety.
Our telemonitoring program is designed to capitalise on our face to face mentoring experience, including documentation, and also the two programs mentioned below….MiiND & HCC.
– MiiND: Our free interactive online platform addressing key wellbeing challenges facing young people
– Hot Chocolate Circle (HCC): A group program where trained facilitators meet for an hour each week over an eight-week period with a small group of early teen girls around issues such as coping with stress, building resilience, and overcoming low mood. We are currently expanding HCC via licensing agreements with qualified facilitators.
The National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Hornsby, New South Wales. It supports children aged 3 to 17 and their families after the death of a parent, sibling, or other close person.
NCCG was founded in 1994 by Dianne McKissock OAM and Mal McKissock OAM, who are well-known for their work in child bereavement. The centre’s main goal is to help children and their families manage grief, build resilience and develop healthy coping skills.
Services:
– Free, specialist grief counselling for children and their families
– Group programs for children and adults
– Adventure camps for children
– Support for parents and families
– Community outreach and education for schools and organisations
– Training for professionals who work with bereaved children
– Grief counselling for adults.
Approach:
NCCG offers a safe, supportive environment for families. All services for children are free, and the number of sessions is not limited. The centre helps more than 430 children and their families each year.
The NCCG is one of the few organisations in Australia focused solely on childhood bereavement. The centre works to make sure all bereaved children get the support they need to recover and thrive.
With One Voice is a national movement of inclusive choirs which brings communities together to experience joy and connection. People from all walks of life are welcomed to our non-auditioned choirs where we gather each week, building friendships through song. Our choirs help build joyful, supportive, welcoming communities where everyone can belong.
With One Voice is supported by Creativity Australia, a not-for-profit charity, which provides support and structure to the choirs.
Creativity Australia was founded in 2008 and started with one choir in Melbourne’s CBD. We now have more than 25 choirs across Australia with over 1,000 members!
Our vision: Inspiring a movement of inclusive and sustainable communities where people belong.
Our mission: Creating inclusive spaces which increase joy, wellbeing and social connection through singing.
WHAT WE DO
– Gather weekly to celebrate the joy of singing together
– Build and maintain a supportive, welcoming community
– Give everyone a platform to use, improve, and celebrate their voice
– Invite involvement, not just participation, in the community
– Value everyone’s knowledge, ideas, experience and skills