A new children’s hospice will be built within The Children’s Hospital at Westmead to support children and young people with life-limiting illness and their families.
The State Government will establish the hospice, which will be the second of its kind in the state and fourth in Australia and provide a home-like environment where children can receive respite, symptom management, and end of life care.
The hospice is inspired by Macarthur boy, Rio Fowler, and the work of Rio’s Legacy.
Labor will contribute more than $20 million, and the Mounties Group will contribute $13 million over 10 years to the project, through Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF).
The gift marks the largest, single contribution SCHF has ever received.
Rio was diagnosed with a rare and terminal condition called arterial vasculopathy disease at 16-months-old. Rio and his family spent time at children’s hospice, Bear Cottage in Manly, part of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, for end-of-life care before he died in 2018.
Following his death, Rio’s parents, Ryan and Karen founded Rio’s Legacy, a foundation dedicated to supporting families and children with life-limiting conditions, and advocating for services like Bear Cottage.
The new hospice will provide spaces for families to connect and relax, including an onsite kitchen and dining area. It will have direct private access to nearby gardens and play areas.
It will also connect with other paediatric health services across The Children’s Hospital at Westmead campus, including oncology, neurology and intensive care, allowing patients access to efficient and patient centred care.
“This is an incredibly important project for western Sydney, which will provide a crucial support for children and their families from the local area, and beyond,” Health Minister Ryan Park said.
“This hospice in western Sydney will be an important part of this service network for children and families, offering increased choice for families across the state during what will be a very difficult time in their lives.”
Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said planning and design for the dedicated paediatric hospice is set to commence this year.
“Providing this service here in Westmead will enable local families to be closer to extended family and support networks,” she said.
“As with all projects of this nature, local community input will be crucial in ensuring that the new hospice truly meets the needs of the people it is intended to support.”
The new hospice will build on the comprehensive and supportive care Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network offers through Bear Cottage and will offer care to families from across NSW.
Mounties Group Chief Executive Officer, Dale Hunt said: “Mounties Group is so proud to continue its advocacy and support for Greater Western Sydney families with terminally ill children to access to specialist paediatric palliative care in their local area.
“Mounties Care Cottage will truly make a difference in these families’ lives by providing a peaceful environment where they can stay together as they go through these extremely difficult moments, close to the local creature comforts they love.”
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.