Two brave buddies found themselves on the same unexpected adventure, landing them both in Newland Ward at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Spending time in the hospital can be daunting. But for Sunny (left) and Clarry (right), their time on Newland Ward turned into an unexpected experience that showcased the incredible power of friendship during challenging times.

Two separate bike accidents at their local bike trail, saw the boys both treated at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH). Sunny suffered a ruptured spleen, followed just days later by Clarry who arrived with a serious liver injury from the very same bike jump.

Separated by circumstance but united by friendship, the two boys were soon sharing not only recovery journeys but a hospital room, too. Recovering from serious injuries as a child isn’t just about physical treatment; it’s often just as much about emotional wellbeing. The staff at WCH’s Newland Ward understood this and went above and beyond to ensure that Sunny and Clarry could go through their recovery side by side.

Their families couldn’t be more grateful for the thoughtful care provided not just for the boys’ injuries but for their overall wellbeing.

Bereavement Care That Supports Families Through the Unthinkable.

Each year, around 100 families in our hospital community face the unimaginable heartbreak of losing a child. Thanks to the dedication and compassion of WCH Foundation supporters and the Cycle 4 Sam community, the Alongside: Grief and Loss Program is now providing vital support to these families.

First launched in April 2024, the Alongside: Grief and Loss program is delivered by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) and funded by the WCH Foundation. It was built on the desire to walk hand in hand with every family experiencing the tragic death of a child. The program combines professional expertise with genuine care and – crucially – accessibility to every single family across the Women’s and Children’s Health Network.

The Impact of Your Generosity

The Cycle 4 Sam community have been instrumental in enabling this life-changing care. Cycle 4 Sam was established by Marty and Michelle Roberts back in 2006 after the loss of their little boy, Sam, who had been under the care of the hospital’s paediatric palliative care service. Last year’s Cycle 4 Sam Spring Challenge saw more than 100 fundraisers coming together to take on a personal challenge and raise vital funds for families.

Their incredible fundraising efforts have since brought life-changing support to 36 families who have now been able to access bereavement care when they have needed it most, making a profound difference. Since the launch of the program:

• 36 families have been referred for bereavement care.
• 20 families were under the care of the hospital’s Paediatric Palliative Care Service.
• 16 additional families received support after being referred by other hospital departments including the emergency, paediatric and neonatal intensive care units, and maternal fetal medicine.
• 100% of families accessing the program were able to receive equitable bereavement care.

Prior to this program coming into effect, these additional families would not have had the opportunity for any ongoing follow up and support.

About the Alongside: Grief and Loss Program

Losing a child affects every aspect of a family’s life, from mental health and relationships to finances and wellbeing. The Alongside program has been designed to provide holistic care that spans the emotional, psychological, and practical challenges of grief. Every bereaved family in the WCHN community is offered this essential support, regardless of their circumstances.

The Difference Your Support Makes

The Alongside: Grief and Loss program provides a comprehensive approach to bereavement care, addressing both immediate needs and ongoing support for as long as a family requires it. Key aspects of the program include:

• Practical Resources
  Families receive early grief support, including help with funeral arrangements and financial assistance through the WCH Foundation. Educational materials help loved ones understand the grieving process and learn how to support each other.
• Grief Counselling
  Individual and family counselling is tailored to each family’s needs, with options for in-person or telephone support from trauma-informed WCHN staff. Referrals to community resources also ensure cultural and spiritual needs are met.
• Support Groups
  Peer-led groups give parents and siblings a safe space to connect, share experiences, and build coping strategies with others who understand their loss.
• Rituals and Memory Making
  Families can honour and remember their child through opportunities like art therapy for siblings and keepsakes such as fingerprint jewellery.
• Long-term Follow-up
  The program offers ongoing support, including check-ins during difficult anniversaries, invitations to WCHN family gatherings, and opportunities for respite and healing at the WCH Foundation Laklinyeri Beach House.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Sam Roberts Family Fund and the CMV Foundation for their generous contributions to the Alongside: Grief and Loss program.This multi-faceted care wouldn’t be possible without the support of generous individuals and organisations. Their involvement ensures that no family has to grieve alone..

For patient referrals and enquiries, please contact the WCHN Alongside Grief and Loss Team via Health.WCHBereavementService@sa.gov.au“

We came together recently with our supporters, partners, and community members to celebrate an evening of connection, gratitude, and shared purpose. It was a truly inspiring event that highlighted how much we can achieve when we join forces to create brighter futures for women, children, and families.

The evening began with a poignant Welcome to Country by Uncle Tamaru. His storytelling brought depth and reflection, grounding the event in the significance of community, culture, and care as we gathered near the beautiful River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri. His words reminded us all of the power of unity and the shared values that guide our work.

A key moment in the evening was paying tribute to the extraordinary career of Jane Scotcher. With 50 years dedicated to healthcare and nearly eight years of remarkable leadership at the WCH Foundation, Jane’s contributions have been nothing short of transformative. Surrounded by those she’s worked alongside and impacted deeply, we reflected on her commitment, resilience, and the legacy she leaves behind.

We were also privileged to hear from Associate Professor Christine Dennis, Chair of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Governing Board. She spoke about the extraordinary partnership between our organisations, celebrating what we’ve achieved together and looking ahead to the potential for even greater impact. Her words reinforced the importance of collaboration in making lasting, meaningful change.

Our CEO, Verity Gobbett, shared a bold and exciting vision for the future. She spoke passionately about the initiatives we are working to bring to life—innovations and programs designed to deliver exceptional care and support for families when they need it most. Verity’s message reflected the spirit of hope and determination that’s at the heart of what we do every day.

This celebration was also an opportunity to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our Board of Directors, our dedicated team, and the unwavering generosity of our donors and partners. Together, we are building a healthier, happier future for every family who turns to us for support.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, enabling us to reflect on the impact we’ve made and the endless possibilities ahead. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished as a community and look forward to continuing this meaningful work together, united in purpose and passion.

Until no family needs us.

The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation is thrilled to announce that it will lead a new major project delivering a transformative Community Health and Wellbeing Hub, serving families in the North.

The visionary project which aims to address vital needs in the community has been made possible thanks to the funding announced today as part of the Australian Government’s urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP).

The WCH Foundation secured land within Adelaide’s Northern Health and Wellbeing Precinct thanks to a generous philanthropic donor with a desire to build capacity for people of the North. The WCH Foundation, working with values-aligned partners across sectors, has developed the vision for the Community Health and Wellbeing Hub which will positively impact the health outcomes of families in Adelaide’s northern region. The project will strengthen and extend our support of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network’s statewide reach, with the aligned goal of delivering care “closer to home”.

Today it was announced that the WCH Foundation’s application for additional funding to develop this vision was awarded by the urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP).

• The uPPP seeks to support transformative investment in urban precincts based on the principles of unifying urban places, growing economies and serving communities.
• The program focuses on a partnership approach, bringing together governments, businesses and communities to deliver multi-purpose urban precincts that are place-based, tailored to local needs and positioned around a shared vision, need or theme.

Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Adelaide’s North. Image is for illustration purposes only.

This funding will enable the Foundation and its collaborators to create a welcoming space dedicated to improving family health and wellbeing. The facility will offer a wide range of services, with a focus on early child development, pregnancy and parenting support, and programs designed to strengthen community connections.

Key features include a student-led allied health clinic offering affordable care, facilities for trialing new models of care, and sleep rooms to support parents of babies in LMH’s Special Care Baby Unit. Additionally, parents will have the opportunity to engage in programs designed to build valuable lifelong skills.

The project represents a collaborative effort to address vital needs in the community, particularly for families in the formative first five years of a child’s life.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Australian Government for their contribution to this project. This milestone is a testament to the commitment of everyone involved and the belief in the power of partnership and collaboration. The Community Health and Wellbeing Hub has the potential to make a profound difference to a region experiencing entrenched disadvantage. We are excited to be one step closer to bringing to life our vision of a vibrant community resource that fosters health, learning, and connection to the people who need it most,” says Verity Gobbett, CEO WCH Foundation.

Stay tuned as we progress on this exciting journey to create a brighter future for families in the North!

All Images are for illustration purposes only.

The Chad Hancock Support Program, administered through the WCH Foundation, was established in partnership with the Chad Hancock Cancer Foundation for Young Adults.

The Chad Hancock Cancer Foundation, which wound down earlier this year, was established in 2005, in memory of Chad Hancock. Chad was a young adult who battled with cancer for four years before passing away in 2004 at the age of 22.

Through the ongoing support of the founders, the program provides funding to assist with support services for young adults in South Australia and the Northern Territory, aged 15-28, who have been diagnosed with cancer.

This includes financial assistance or things such as utility bills like rent and power, vehicle registration or transport for treatment, accommodation and travel costs, food and fuel vouchers, wigs, education expenses and physio intervention.

As well as this, we support gym memberships and exercise physiology as part of the Youth Cancer Service SA/NT cancer and exercise program.

25-year-old Jackson was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at the age of 24 and is part of the Youth Cancer Service exercise program.

“He says, “I was doing small movement up until about seven months ago, when I was good enough to start doing this stuff. Before that, they would come to my place and to the hospital, and it was just a lot catch with a kilo medicine ball and things like that. I was down to about 50 kilos, so I was very limited, I couldn’t do a whole lot. Some days, they would just move me around, just lifting my legs and things like that because I couldn’t.”

“Then when I was fit enough, and I got the tick from my hematologist to start coming to gym, we started coming and doing this. It’s been good in the past six months to start putting on weight and being able to do more actual strength work.”

“It’s good meeting people through the Youth Cancer Service too, that’s been really nice meeting people who have gone through similar sorts of things.”

21-year-old Elias started with the program just over two years ago after doing some rehabilitation after surgery.

He says, “There have been two different kinds of benefits, both physical and personal.”

“When I joined the gym group, I was very shy and reserved, and I didn’t really have an opportunity to meet anyone in my situation – young people going through cancer health treatment. So I was able to develop friendships, meet other people, kind of network and gain new friends, but also physically learn how to exercise safely in a manner that benefits me and isn’t at risk of putting myself in danger with my different health parameters.”

“As my individual journey has progressed, it’s kind of developed into more of a mentorship program in which I can experience and receive quality mentorship and guidance in a safe, controlled environment where my individual needs are met, with the ability to have access to good equipment and very highly trained professionals.”

“I think it’s very important that we’re supporting people to have access to this kind of support.”

Young people can access the Chad Hancock Support Program upon referral by the Youth Cancer Service.

The staff and customers of BIG W have been long-time supporters of the WCH Foundation. This festive season, they’re helping spread cheer to women, children and families cared for by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network in a number of ways.

Find out how you can get involved!

Wrapping paper and tokens in store

Next time you head into your local BIG W store, keep an eye out for opportunities to support families.

Purchase a roll or two of BIG W’s new charity wrapping paper, featuring drawings from children’s hospital patients from across Australia! There are a few designs to choose from for $5 each.

On your way through the checkout, pick up a $2 token. Designed by Women’s and Children’s Hospital patients, these tokens can either be taken home to be hung on your own tree, or added to the in-store display.

Both options will see 100% of proceeds from South Australian stores being donated to the WCH Foundation.

Wrapathon

Join BIG W in a world-record attempt with their BIG W Wrapathon!

On Saturday 7 December, 10am-4pm,  they’ll be hosting Australia’s biggest wrapathon by wrapping gifts for customers throughout the day. For a donation to the WCH Foundation, you can save yourself the hassle of wrapping presents and get one of the friendly staff members or volunteers at your local BIG W to take it off your hands.

Bringing the holidays to the Hospital

Patients and families will also get to experience the holiday spirit during their visit to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital thanks to the team at BIG W.

They’ll be decorating Christmas trees in the lobbies of the Hospital, and are sending their good buddy, Santa, for a visit to patients on Christmas Eve before he starts his trip around the rest of the world.

Thank you so much BIG W for spreading such BIG cheer this festive season!

The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation has teamed up with Hospitals United for Sick Kids – Australia’s only national alliance of hospitals for children, foundations, and paediatric services to help sick kids get home, back to the things they miss.

They are committed to reducing the disruption that being in hospital can have on children and their families by investing in the latest research, treatments, programs and equipment to decrease the amount of time they are away from the familiarity and comforts of everyday life.

Hospitals United for Sick Kids is here for all kids, all diseases and all injuries.

To learn more about how you can help, follow @hospitalsunitedforsickkids.

Hospitals United for Sick Kids raises funds through their partnership with Coles Supermarkets and other major national retailers. Whenever someone purchases a select “purposeful product”, that retailer makes a donation to Hospitals United for Sick Kids, who then supports programs that help us to keep kids out of hospital where possible, and make the experience less disruptive where it is not.

This year, HUSK is supporting the Music for Wellness program at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, providing specialized music to alleviate symptoms of trauma by integrating into the soundscape of an Intensive Care Unit.

Funds will also support research to develop a diagnostic tool to rapidly diagnose and treat chronic lung infections in rural and remote communities across South Australia and Northern Territory.

Purchase a jar of ‘Mum’s Sause’ from your local Coles supermarket

Buy a bottle of limited edition Mum’s Sause from your local Coles supermarket and 50c from every sale will support Curing Homesickness.

Find nearest store

Purchase a bucket hat from Lowes

You look good. Kids feel better. Lowes will donate $10 from every bucket hat sale to Hospitals United for Sick Kids.

Purchase bucket hat

Cooking with Mum’s Sause!

We love this pasta dish featuring Mum’s Sause! It’s the perfect winter-warmer meal, PLUS by purchasing Mum’s Sause you’re helping sick kids in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Sausage and Mushroom Pasta

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

375g pasta shells

500g Coles No Added Hormones Australian Beef Sausage with Herbs & Garlic, casings removed

200g cup mushrooms, sliced

500g bottle Mum’s Sause Bolognese

60g packet Coles Australian Baby Spinach

Flat-leaf parsley leaves, to serve

Shaved parmesan, to serve

Method

1. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water following packet directions or until al dente. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break into lumps, for 5 mins or until golden brown and cooked through.
3. Add the mushroom to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 mins or until mushroom is tender. Add Mum’s Sause. Bring to a simmer. Stir in the spinach. Remove from heat. Season.
4. Add the pasta to the sauce mixture. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with parsley and parmesan.

ANZ holds a Community Ball each year that benefits several charities in the local area. We are delighted to be chosen as one of the five major charities supported for the past three years.

A group of ANZ Team Members spearhead an event planning committee to arrange the event, supported with an initial gift from ANZ.  The proceeds from ticket sales, silent and live auctions, a car raffle and other activities are split amongst the charities.  This event has been known to provide between $25,000 and $35,000 to each of the major charities, and promises to grow with each passing year!

The ANZ Ball takes place in March each year. Be sure to join our mailing list to get notified the next time tickets go on sale.

The start of 2024 has seen a rush of corporate support for the WCH Foundation.

A number of our corporate partners have run campaigns that have allowed the community to show their support for women, children and families cared for by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network.

Check out the work of these amazing organisations!

BIG W

BIG W held an Easter token campaign that raised $23,000 to support a dedicated breastfeeding space in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Customers could purchase a bunny token to be added to the wall of their local store.

The company also donated chocolate bunnies to help patients celebrate Easter in the Hospital.

Coles and Hospitals United for Sick Kids

Customers could purchase a $2 donation card at the checkout of Coles stores to help sick kids get back home to the things they miss.

Money raised in South Australia and the Northern Territory will go towards our Cocoon Program – a dedicated clinic for babies under 12 months old who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care.

Costco

Costco held three VIP non-member shopping nights again this year.

For a donation upon entry, anyone who was not already a Costco member could experience a shopping spree at the Adelaide store.

Existing members could also donate by purchasing a token at the checkout.

ANZ

We were thrilled to be this year’s charity host for the ANZ Community Ball.

The night was great fun and raised over $200,000 for a host of local charities, including the WCH Foundation, Guide Dogs SA, Lifeline SA, Childhood Cancer Association of SA and Cure4CF.

Bunnings

Bunnings held a statewide community sausage sizzle as part of their Easter Family Night that raised over $6,000. The company then made an additional donation, which brought the total to $7,500 which will support children and families in our community.

Trading Metals

For another year, Trading Metals has generously donated a portion of proceeds from their scrap metal business, providing around $25,000 again over the past year.

Learn more about our corporate partnerships

After moving to Adelaide from Sydney in 2015, Dilraj and his family quickly became familiar with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

16-year-old Dilraj has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe type of muscular dystrophy, and is cared for by the Hospital.

His family found out about our Laklinyeri Beach House through a disability group they are a part of, and were keen to visit after hearing that it was a fully accessible holiday home – something that is a rarity for them.

Dilraj’s mum, Manpreet, explains, “Most places are not accessible for holidays, and if you do go for an accessible house, it’s very expensive. We can’t afford it. So we were very lucky to get into the Beach House.”

The Beach House in Victor Harbor is purpose-built and medically equipped for families of children in palliative care, or with complex medical needs.

Dilraj and his grandparents at the Beach House.

The size and layout of the house allowed the family to invite others to join them, including Dilraj’s grandparents, and a friend who also has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Despite visiting in summer, the group caught some bad weather but took the opportunity to make the most of the house, playing games and watching movies. The teenagers especially loved the excuse to video game.

In between the rain, they got out to experience Urimbirra Wildlife Park with the memory-making vouchers provided by HAS Foundation, and took a trip to the jetty.

The highlight of the trip though was just being able to get away to a place they knew Dilraj could fully enjoy.

Manpreet says, “Dilraj liked the room because it’s very big – he doesn’t have this much space at home!

“Most of all he liked the bathroom because everything is accessible.”

Dilraj with his dad, mum and sister in the Beach House cubby house.