- Construction now completed on WA's first
children's hospice
- Commissioning of the new service is underway by
the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS)
- The first WA families are expected to be
welcomed into the facility next month
- The hospice will support WA children and young
people with life-limiting conditions and their families
The
building of Western Australia's first children's hospice, Sandcastles (Boodja
Mia), is now complete.
Located
in Swanbourne, Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) will provide a home away from home for
children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The
hospice will provide around-the-clock specialist clinical care, end-of-life
care, bereavement support, and palliative respite accommodation for families
across WA through the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).
The
$38.6 million project was made possible through a partnership between the State
Government, the Commonwealth Government, and generous donations secured by the
Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (PCHF), Lotterywest, and the wider WA
community.
The Cook
Labor Government has allocated more than $20 million to CAHS to support the
commissioning and ongoing clinical operation, with PCHF supporting some of the
non-clinical functions.
Designed
as a welcoming space, the hospice includes seven guest bedrooms with ensuites,
three family suites, and private outdoor areas.
It
also incorporates a hydrotherapy pool, shared family living and dining areas,
indoor and outdoor play spaces, sensory and therapeutic spaces, and a memorial
garden.
CAHS
has recruited 50 additional staff to work at the hospice, who will also be
assisted by a dedicated volunteer workforce. The multidisciplinary workforce
will provide holistic, family-centred care.
Through
Perth Children's Hospital Foundation, families staying at Sandcastles (Boodja
Mia) will also have access to experiences and activities designed to support
connection, create lasting memories and foster a sense of home.
The
first families are expected to be welcomed to Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) next
month.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"Today marks a significant milestone with the completion of construction
of Sandcastles (Boodja Mia), Western Australia's first purpose-built children's
hospice.
"Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) will provide a home away from home for children
with life-limiting conditions and their families from across WA, no matter
where they live.
"This hospice will make a profound difference to Western Australian
families navigating some of life's most difficult moments, and will strengthen
paediatric palliative care services across our State."
Comments attributed to Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"The completion of Sandcastles
(Boodja Mia) brings us one step closer to opening a service that has been
envisioned and advocated for by families, clinicians, and the community for
many years.
"This vision has been achieved
through the valued partnership between our government and the Perth Children's
Hospital Foundation.
"The recruitment of this
specialist workforce represents a significant investment in paediatric
palliative care in Western Australia and reflects our commitment to delivering
compassionate, family-centred care.
"The multidisciplinary team
will provide clinical expertise alongside emotional, practical, and
psychosocial support, ensuring children and their families receive the care
they need in a welcoming and supportive environment."
Comments attributed to Planning and Lands Minister John Carey:
"From the outset, we have
backed Perth Children's Hospital Foundation to deliver the children's hospice,
including by taking control of the land required to deliver the project.
"Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) will
make a real difference to families across Western Australia at an incredibly
difficult time in their lives.
"Nestled between the bush and
the ocean, Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) has been thoughtfully designed to support
the needs of children with life-limiting conditions and their families, and
will have a lasting impact for generations to come."
