2019-2020 Celebrating Impact

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July
2019

"When we arrived at the Beach House, we felt an immediate sense of calm and tranquillity. Every part of the House has been thoughtfully designed and built with love and empathy," Sue Knight said.

The ‘Laklinyeri’ Beach House

July 2019 marked the opening of the WCH Foundation ‘Laklinyeri’ Beach House, SA’s first purpose-built holiday home for children with complex medical needs and their families.

Since its opening, more than 100 people have now stayed at the extraordinary home on the Fleurieu Peninsula with their time at the Beach House providing the chance to relax and create treasured memories. Their stays are fully-funded by generous donations and gifts in wills to the WCH Foundation.

The ‘Laklinyeri’ Beach House

July 2019 marked the opening of the WCH Foundation ‘Laklinyeri’ Beach House, SA’s first purpose-built holiday home for children with complex medical needs and their families.

Since its opening, more than 100 people have now stayed at the extraordinary home on the Fleurieu Peninsula with their time at the Beach House providing the chance to relax and create treasured memories. Their stays are fully-funded by generous donations and gifts in wills to the WCH Foundation.

August
2019

Family Support Fund

Each year as part of the WCH Foundation’s Family Support Fund, tens of thousands of dollars are provided to offer short-term financial support to families who have sick children and are experiencing financial crisis.

Working in collaboration with the Hospital’s social work team, more than 60 families have been supported through the Fund over the past 12 months.

The Fund assists families in covering the costs of transport and accommodation related to their child’s hospitalisation, as well as maintenance of medical equipment to use at home.

Family Support Fund

Each year as part of the WCH Foundation’s Family Support Fund, tens of thousands of dollars are provided to offer short-term financial support to families who have sick children and are experiencing financial crisis.

Working in collaboration with the Hospital’s social work team, more than 60 families have been supported through the Fund over the past 12 months.

The Fund assists families in covering the costs of transport and accommodation related to their child’s hospitalisation, as well as maintenance of medical equipment to use at home.

September
2019

Animal Assisted Therapy

Therapy dogs Harper (pictured) and Teddy are common visitors to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital! These beautiful furry friends visit the Hospital twice a week to assist in patients’ rehab as part of Animal Assisted Therapy, a wonderful collaboration with the Hospital’s Paediatric Rehabilitation Department and the Foundation’s Arts in Health team.

Patients who engage with therapy dogs experience a reduction in stress and anxiety, gain physiological and social benefits, and improve their communication and social interaction to help them recover sooner.

Animal Assisted Therapy

Therapy dogs Harper (pictured) and Teddy are common visitors to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital! These beautiful furry friends visit the Hospital twice a week to assist in patients’ rehab as part of Animal Assisted Therapy, a wonderful collaboration with the Hospital’s Paediatric Rehabilitation Department and the Foundation’s Arts in Health team.

Patients who engage with therapy dogs experience a reduction in stress and anxiety, gain physiological and social benefits, and improve their communication and social interaction to help them recover sooner.

October
2019

"It was really good to meet people in the same situation as me and it was fun making things to help me through sad and difficult times," a young participant shared.

Supporting siblings

The Paediatric Palliative Care Siblings Program is a two-day Art Therapy session, held in April and October, for children aged seven to 12 whose siblings have a life-limiting illness or have passed away.

Through the Program and by engaging in art therapy processes, siblings can explore, understand and unpack their feelings. Art provides an outlet for the children to explore their emotions and help communicate thoughts and feelings, which are sometimes difficult to talk about.

The Program encourages siblings to have fun, connect with others in similar situations and develop coping strategies to support difficult and somewhat unpredictable circumstances.

Supporting siblings

The Paediatric Palliative Care Siblings Program is a two-day Art Therapy session, held in April and October, for children aged seven to 12 whose siblings have a life-limiting illness or have passed away.

Through the Program and by engaging in art therapy processes, siblings can explore, understand and unpack their feelings. Art provides an outlet for the children to explore their emotions and help communicate thoughts and feelings, which are sometimes difficult to talk about.

The Program encourages siblings to have fun, connect with others in similar situations and develop coping strategies to support difficult and somewhat unpredictable circumstances.

November
2019

Our community

The Golden Angels, one of the WCH Foundation’s most dedicated community fundraising groups, held their fourth High Tea raising a staggering $186,314.

The funds established the Golden Angels Palliative Care Support Fund to financially help children and their families being cared for by the Hospital’s palliative care service. Each year the service cares for about 40 children and their families. In its first eight months the Fund assisted more than 20 families.

Community fundraisers are integral to the WCH Foundation. For many their children, family members or friends have been cared for at the Hospital and as a result are passionate about giving back.

Our community

The Golden Angels, one of the WCH Foundation’s most dedicated community fundraising groups, held their fourth High Tea raising a staggering $186,314.

The funds established the Golden Angels Palliative Care Support Fund to financially help children and their families being cared for by the Hospital’s palliative care service. Each year the service cares for about 40 children and their families. In its first eight months the Fund assisted more than 20 families.

Community fundraisers are integral to the WCH Foundation. For many their children, family members or friends have been cared for at the Hospital and as a result are passionate about giving back.

December
2019

Redevelopment of the Home Equipment Centre

Thanks to support from our corporate partners and the WCH Foundation community, the redevelopment of the Home Equipment Centre is possible.

The redevelopment will see the size of the Centre increased and the location moved for greater accessibility for patients and families.

The Centre is accessed by more than 1,200 patients and their families each year. Having access to loan or to buy medical equipment through the Centre means patients can go home sooner and live their lives outside the walls of the Hospital.

Redevelopment of the Home Equipment Centre

Thanks to support from our corporate partners and the WCH Foundation community, the redevelopment of the Home Equipment Centre is possible.

The redevelopment will see the size of the Centre increased and the location moved for greater accessibility for patients and families.

The Centre is accessed by more than 1,200 patients and their families each year. Having access to loan or to buy medical equipment through the Centre means patients can go home sooner and live their lives outside the walls of the Hospital.

January
2020

Oncology School Visit Program

School is a vital part of every child’s development. But when a child is diagnosed with cancer, how their education will continue can become difficult to navigate for the patient, their family and educators.

The Oncology School Visit Program creates greater connections between cancer patients’ kindergartens or schools and the Hospital.

“Children who are diagnosed with cancer are possibly missing out on a lot of school, as well as experiencing disengagement with education and peers. There is research showing there are less desirable educational outcomes for kids who have gone through oncology treatment. By having this program in place, we are trying to minimise this,” the Program’s School Liaison Nurse Rob Ellinger said.

Oncology School Visit Program

School is a vital part of every child’s development. But when a child is diagnosed with cancer, how their education will continue can become difficult to navigate for the patient, their family and educators.

The Oncology School Visit Program creates greater connections between cancer patients’ kindergartens or schools and the Hospital.

“Children who are diagnosed with cancer are possibly missing out on a lot of school, as well as experiencing disengagement with education and peers. There is research showing there are less desirable educational outcomes for kids who have gone through oncology treatment. By having this program in place, we are trying to minimise this,” the Program’s School Liaison Nurse Rob Ellinger said.

February
2020

Celebrating 10 years of Arts in Health

This year the WCH Foundation is celebrating 10 years of Arts in Health. Arts in Health is about encouraging creative therapies that ease anxiety, improve mental health and support rehabilitation in young patients.

A beautiful wall mural ‘Animals went in by A-Z‘, designed by South Australian artist Anna Cherkasova, was a key project in launching the celebrations.

Anna spent 30 hours drawing the illustration, featuring 65 animals, onto a wall at the Hospital. Once she was finished the Hospital community was invited to bring the mural to life with colour and imagination.

Celebrating 10 years of Arts in Health

This year the WCH Foundation is celebrating 10 years of Arts in Health. Arts in Health is about encouraging creative therapies that ease anxiety, improve mental health and support rehabilitation in young patients.

A beautiful wall mural ‘Animals went in by A-Z‘, designed by South Australian artist Anna Cherkasova, was a key project in launching the celebrations.

Anna spent 30 hours drawing the illustration, featuring 65 animals, onto a wall at the Hospital. Once she was finished the Hospital community was invited to bring the mural to life with colour and imagination.

March
2020

Improving the Hospital environment

The Hospital is a big and busy place! But patients and their families can now navigate their way around much easier thanks to newly installed digital Wayfinder machines. The machines have been installed at the three main entrances to the Hospital.

Each year on average the WCH Foundation provides the Hospital with $1.5 million to invest in upgrades and equipment, helping to make the Hospital look and feel better for patients and their families.

Improving the Hospital environment

The Hospital is a big and busy place! But patients and their families can now navigate their way around much easier thanks to newly installed digital Wayfinder machines. The machines have been installed at the three main entrances to the Hospital.

Each year on average the WCH Foundation provides the Hospital with $1.5 million to invest in upgrades and equipment, helping to make the Hospital look and feel better for patients and their families.

April
2020

Investing in medical research

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have provided $75,000 in funding to a group of South Australian researchers to begin vital COVID-19 research with one aspect of the study looking exclusively at the effect of the virus in pregnant women and children.

“There’s an awful lot we don’t know about why some people are asymptomatic, why some people get very sick and why some people get moderately sick. We are looking to build up a very high-resolution picture of how people’s immune systems respond to the virus and why,” Professor Simon Barry said.

Each year on average the WCH Foundation provides $1.5 million in funding critical medical research.

Investing in medical research

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have provided $75,000 in funding to a group of South Australian researchers to begin vital COVID-19 research with one aspect of the study looking exclusively at the effect of the virus in pregnant women and children.

“There’s an awful lot we don’t know about why some people are asymptomatic, why some people get very sick and why some people get moderately sick. We are looking to build up a very high-resolution picture of how people’s immune systems respond to the virus and why,” Professor Simon Barry said.

Each year on average the WCH Foundation provides $1.5 million in funding critical medical research.

May
2020

Responding to COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, the Hospital introduced necessary infection prevention measures, which saw the closure of its gift shops, the removal of some toys and restrictions on visitor numbers.

To help patients and caregivers in the Hospital at this time, the Foundation delivered 150 emergency overnight packs complete with toiletries, slippers and activity books.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of our health, the health of our loved ones and having access to excellent healthcare – these values are at the heart of the Foundation.

We continue to work closely with your Hospital every day to provide critical support and resources.

Responding to COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, the Hospital introduced necessary infection prevention measures, which saw the closure of its gift shops, the removal of some toys and restrictions on visitor numbers.

To help patients and caregivers in the Hospital at this time, the Foundation delivered 150 emergency overnight packs complete with toiletries, slippers and activity books.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of our health, the health of our loved ones and having access to excellent healthcare – these values are at the heart of the Foundation.

We continue to work closely with your Hospital every day to provide critical support and resources.

June
2020

Hospital equipment and facilities

Medical equipment was funded for children who have conditions where their immune systems are compromised, due to conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis, and require immunoglobulin infusions to remain healthy.

The availability of the eight Niki T34 Syringe Pumps enables patients to receive their infusion therapy at home instead of being admitted to Hospital for their monthly IV immunoglobulin infusions, a treatment that takes three-four hours.

“We’re truly grateful to be able to complete these infusions at home. It means less time in hospital and less time where our family is separated. In times like these, it’s a blessing that we can be together,” a patient’s mother said.

Hospital equipment and facilities

Medical equipment was funded for children who have conditions where their immune systems are compromised, due to conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis, and require immunoglobulin infusions to remain healthy.

The availability of the eight Niki T34 Syringe Pumps enables patients to receive their infusion therapy at home instead of being admitted to Hospital for their monthly IV immunoglobulin infusions, a treatment that takes three-four hours.

“We’re truly grateful to be able to complete these infusions at home. It means less time in hospital and less time where our family is separated. In times like these, it’s a blessing that we can be together,” a patient’s mother said.