Arts in Health

Brightening Lives Through Arts in Health

The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Arts in Health program creates an interactive and vibrant hospital environment that improves the health and wellbeing of patients, their families and staff at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Over the past 10 years, our Arts in Health program has brightened the lives of thousands of children visiting the Hospital.

This vital program helps to relieve suffering, anxiety, and depression and improve hospital patients’ recovery. It focuses on encouraging creativity, providing moments of calm in a busy health environment, and easing the distress of patients and their families.

Artwork and activities serve as a distraction from the pain and discomfort that young patients endure, and contribute positively to the emotional, social and psychological health and wellbeing of patients, their families and Hospital staff.

Celebrating 10 years of Arts in Health

Find out more about the Arts in Health Program through our 10 Year Report below.

Making the difference through Arts in Health

From funding the Play Therapy team, providing pencils and colouring books in waiting areas, managing gallery spaces and artist workshops, and collaborating with Hospital School, the Arts in Health program is a critical service in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Throughout 2020 the WCH Foundation celebrated 10 years of Arts in Health. Learn more about what the program has achieved over the last decade.

Play Therapy

Since 2011, the Foundation’s Arts in Health program has funded the Play Therapy service at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Our support extends to providing resources, such as arts, crafts, books and toys, for the Play Therapists to use in activities with patients.

Animal Assisted Therapy

The Animal Assisted Therapy program was launched in the Hospital’s Paediatric Rehabilitation Department in 2016. The ‘Dog Team’ has become another ‘tool’ that the Department’s staff can access as part of the rehabilitation program for children receiving treatment at the Hospital. Read on to find out more information about our Animal Assisted Therapy program and how you can support this initiative.

Gallery & Exhibition Program

Our Arts in Health program coordinates a changing visual art exhibition program across five galleries located in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The Heart Galleries bring visual art to the Hospital community to provide a space away from the stresses of treatment to distract, entertain and inspire, improving the Hospital environment.