Arts in Health

Improved health outcomes for women, children and families.

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.

Through art, play, music and literature, we encourage curiosity and creativity to reduce the stress and anxiety of being in hospital, provide moments of calm in a busy health environment and use creative approaches to healthcare and wellbeing.

Our Arts in Health activities

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.

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.

Book Buddies

The Book Buddies program makes a child’s hospital experience more enjoyable and encourages reading to improve literacy skills. Qualified Book Readers visit the wards, engaging children with the many adventures that can be had through reading books.

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.

Celebrating 10 years of Arts in Health

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