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The All Abilities Art, High Care Kids and Adaptive Innovative Community Equipment programs aim to improve quality of life for children with complex disabilities, encouraging engagement in artistic sport and recreational activities. Innovative equipment items are tailor-made to support the individual needs of children.
The AssisT-Kids Equipment Library provides children with disability or development delay access to specialised equipment, supporting their overall wellbeing. The In-home Baby Intervention Service provides vital early intervention therapy to babies “at-risk” of developmental delay and/or disability. Hap-pea Mealtimes provides evidence-based practical therapies to children experiencing mealtime difficulties.
The Music for Hope program provides music education and instruments to children and at-risk youth. The program offers the opportunity to learn and develop musical skills while experiencing the joy of creativity, developing imagination, and achieving positive educational and behavioural outcomes.
The Teen Mentoring Program provides an exciting opportunity for autistic high school students to mentor autistic primary school students. This ground breaking initiative enables autistic children to connect, collaborate and inspire each other as they work together on creative and meaningful community-driven projects.
The Allergy Brave Program delivers tailored therapies to support children with severe allergy anxiety to build confidence and increase mental wellbeing. The Free to Play, Grow and Connect program provides education services to assist children and families in navigating their allergy diagnosis and managing life transitions.
Young Hearts is a free counselling service for children and young people who have experienced family and domestic violence. Through art, play and narrative therapies, these young West Australians are supported to rebuild trust and attachment, express their emotions and make sense of their experiences.
The Children’s Asthma Hub (formerly Paediatric Respiratory Hub) offers comprehensive support for children with respiratory conditions, aiming to reduce hospitalisations and life-threatening asthma incidents. It provides lung function testing, analysis and consultations – all conveniently consolidated into a single appointment, effectively minimising health risks.
Research into how children experience and communicate pain will help develop crucial tools to enhance child healthcare. Investigating the impact of anaesthesia on babies’ brains during major surgery aims to reduce adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and improve the wellbeing of babies undergoing surgical procedures.
When a parent suffers from mental ill-health, the impact on children can be debilitating and long-lasting. The Kookaburra Kids camp and activity days provide vulnerable children with skills, peer support and emotional literacy to support a healthy childhood and reduce their risk of developing a mental health issue.
The Autism Association of WA supports families of children showing signs of autism to access early diagnosis and intervention. The program includes specialist playgroups, workshops and groups to improve capacity, knowledge and social wellbeing for the whole family.
The Backpack Buddies program collaborates with schools in Mandurah to provide weekly backpacks filled with nourishment for children experiencing food insecurity. With a focus on enhancing wellbeing, creating brighter educational opportunities and making a tangible impact in children's lives, the program strives to create positive change within the community.
Camp Autism WA provides unique camps for autistic children and their families, inclusive of siblings, parents and caregivers. The camps support families to build and strengthen skills, make social connections and inspire personal development in a warm, friendly environment based on fun and adventure.
The Child Life Therapy program uses play therapies to reduce anxiety and distress in children undergoing cancer treatments at Perth Children’s Hospital. The Kids Impacted by Carer’s Cancer program offers support and recreational activities to improve the mental and social wellbeing of children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.
Optimise2 research explores how to improve the safety of intubation for infants aiming to reduce the small but serious risk of oxygen desaturation resulting in brain damage, cardiac arrest and death. An Australian-first post-sepsis care platform will provide individualised support to families and children impacted by sepsis. Telethon Trust Fellowships enable clinicians to undertake innovative research projects.
Back on Track WA provides children diagnosed with cancer access to tailored educational support through mentoring, tutoring and collaboration with online education providers. This aims to improve children’s overall wellbeing and help them regain a sense of normalcy and purpose.
Clown Doctors use evidence-informed, humour therapy to improve quality of life for children at Perth Children’s Hospital. Purpose-trained to work in medical settings, Clown Doctors address physiological and psychological needs – distracting frightened children, encouraging resilience, providing respite for parents and supporting hospital staff.
Studies show Aboriginal children have the highest rates of ear disease and associated hearing loss in the world. The Aboriginal Ear Health Program aims to improve hearing outcomes of Aboriginal children by providing streamlined access to specialist care that is integrated, culturally safe and family-centred.
My Play School is an early intervention education program for migrant and refugee children aged three to five years with developmental vulnerabilities. Welcome Journeys supports the mental health and wellbeing of refugees and migrants with complex life barriers through psychosocial, peer and educational supports.
The At-Risk Aboriginal Youth Filmmaking Program empowers children in Newman to manage mental health issues, develop teamwork, empathy and critical thinking. The Critical Thinking and Ethical Decision-Making Program delivers free and ongoing programs to low socio-economic public schools across WA.
The development of a mixed reality visualisation tool may lead to reduced pain and fewer follow up surgeries for children living with congenital heart disease. Assessing the safety and efficacy of co-administered IV medications aims to reduce the risk of catastrophic outcomes in vulnerable babies. An online therapy intervention aims to treat mental health issues resulting from grief.
The Chronic Wet Cough Community Education Program enhances respiratory health awareness in regional Aboriginal communities – empowering families and educating health professionals. The Thriving Families program delivers regional outreach to ensure children with cystic fibrosis and their families have access to therapy, support services and respite care.
The Child Development Program is a comprehensive, culturally safe service for Aboriginal children (Koolingas) in Perth with complex health and developmental needs. The service provides life-changing diagnostic and therapeutic support to families.
Down Syndrome WA offers family support, developmental playgroups, educational resources and care packs to improve the wellbeing of children with Down syndrome and their families. A special camp for teens with Down syndrome aims to build friendships, skills, capacity and self-belief.
The Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation (DSF) family support initiative supports children with learning and language difficulties and their families through in-person and online information sessions and targeted resources. DSF is working towards developing a brief assessment for reading difficulties to reduce the significant wait times for assessments.
The Hear Today, Shine Tomorrow program provides regular ear health services to children in regional and remote WA, helping diagnose and treat middle-ear disease and hearing loss. Auditory Brainstem Response testing helps identify hearing loss and assess neurological function in newborns, aiding in the early detection of hearing-related issues and neurological conditions.
EdConnect Australia supports disadvantaged students across WA through dedicated volunteers who aim to positively impact their mental health, wellbeing and academic success. Offering a trusted role model enables challenges, fears and concerns to be raised and addressed while reducing isolation and loneliness.
The PhenoCycler-Fusion System can reveal hidden patterns in tissues and organs, leading to insights about diseases like cancer, autoimmune and neurological conditions affecting children. The system will support collaborative studies across multiple research institutions to make groundbreaking discoveries of new treatment targets for debilitating conditions.
Mega Camps are week-long respite programs for at-risk or disadvantaged children, offering fun, recreational opportunities to improve mental health. The Remote Community Program provides respite and mentoring programs to vulnerable children in regional and remote areas who are deemed at risk or disadvantaged.
The Children and Epilepsy Program provides loan seizure alert devices, outreach and nurse support to children with epilepsy and their families. The program helps to improve health outcomes by reducing the risk of epilepsy-related harm, fear, anxiety and stigma around seizures, treatments and testing regimes.
The CODA WA program delivers workshops and group sessions to help build resilience and provide a support network to bilingual and bicultural children of deaf adults. The program aims to increase awareness and understanding for children living in both the deaf and hearing communities.
The Recycle and Donate project distributes pre-loved sports shoes and equipment, enabling children to experience the physical, mental and social benefits of sports participation. The Fit and Healthy in the Outback program delivers interactive health promotion activities in remote communities aiming to reduce lifestyle-related diseases, build cohesion and improve mental wellbeing.
A new research project will aim to reverse peanut allergy in infants, generating evidence to translate potentially life-changing treatment into a future community-based model of care. The establishment of a standardised hearing health registry will create a paediatric ear health database to ensure timely care, enable future research and enhance service quality.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging will provide insights into how childhood burns may lead to changes in the brain, affecting long-term mental health. The research will assess the relationship between burn injury, platelets and vascular function to characterise mechanisms that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease after non-severe childhood burns.
The School Breakfast Program supports students in more than 500 schools, improving food security and increasing education, health and social outcomes. Through the nom! Children program, public health nutritionists provide parents with young children the knowledge, skills and confidence to create nutritious meals.
The Football for All program helps build confidence and increase the social, mental and physical wellbeing of young people with disabilities through inclusive soccer. An inflatable pitch ensures the safety of football players and caters for the requirements of blind football.
Hannah’s House care programs support children with complex needs to reach developmental goals, attend school and social activities and provide respite for the whole family. The Playtime Program offers accessible play activities delivered by a qualified play specialist, aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of children with complex needs.
A new research project aims to develop new treatments for two genetically distinct muscle diseases, potentially finding a life-saving solution for children. The creation of a blood test to detect early stages of liver disease in children with cystic fibrosis will allow earlier access to treatment and improved quality of life.
The Power of One project combines consumer-driven research with real-world practices, creating rich data sets with machine learning models to improve the health and wellbeing of children with disabilities. An advanced body-weight support system enables children to confidently practice their walking and balance without fear of falling.
The Connections program provides premature babies and their families access to critical support services, removing stressors so families can focus on their child’s health. The Aboriginal Support Fund supports Aboriginal parents with premature or sick babies by reducing barriers to attending hospital and ensuring parents are part of their babies' care.
It is common for asthmatic adolescents to have breathing issues that are misdiagnosed as asthma. The institute will conduct research to evaluate whether a decision-support tool can facilitate earlier diagnosis. A high-performance liquid chromatography machine will help measure drug delivery and effectiveness and test new drug formulations.
The JDRF Global Centre of Excellence improves the lives of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The centre will address the effective and rapid translation of research breakthroughs into clinical care to ensure that new therapies and evidence are implemented into practice and policy.
The Inclusion Development and Readiness project supports recently arrived refugee and migrant children to overcome trauma and dislocation and move forward to new and healthy futures. Individualised cultural support programs improve mental health and wellbeing, allowing children to adjust better to their new setting.
The Therapy in Schools program provides health assessments and intervention within an evidence-based trauma-informed framework to vulnerable children, improving literacy and developmental outcomes. Therapy equipment will increase children’s access to therapy services, encouraging development and improving quality of life.
The Kids Research Institute Australia is one of the largest and most successful child health research institutes in Australia. Our researchers are searching for answers to the biggest issues facing children and families everywhere. At The Kids our vision is simple: happy, healthy kids.
Kiind supports children with disability and their families at Perth Children’s Hospital and across regional and remote WA. The Kiind hospital program helps families to understand the implications of a diagnosis and to get necessary support in place quickly. After discharge, Kiind offers ongoing practical, social and emotional supports.
Legacy WA supports children who belong to the families of veterans who have sacrificed their lives or health while serving in the Australian Defence Force. Its Education Assistance Program ensures these children do not experience educational disadvantage as a result of their parent’s ill-health.
Lionheart’s Family Camps support grieving children following the death of a parent or significant person. The camp provides a safe space for children to learn critical skills to navigate grief. The Grief Pathway Program provides a wrap-around grief support for children following the death of an immediate family member.
Lions Eye Institute combines world-class treatment with ground-breaking scientific research in eye and vision health. Its community outreach service, Lions Outback Vision, strives towards its mission to prevent and cure blindness and eye disease from infancy to childhood and beyond in metropolitan, regional and remote WA.
The KnowActVax program educates communities and raises awareness of Meningitis in WA. Sharing the message ‘know the signs, act immediately and vaccinate’, the program strives to save lives and reduce the risk of disability in children throughout metropolitan, regional and remote WA
The Learn2Adult program prepares teenagers living with disability to take control of their lives and become confident adult decision-makers. Using a unique roadmap tool, teenagers achieve better life outcomes and avoid the harm and restriction too often experienced by young adults with disability.
A new protective safety workstation will significantly enhance Murdoch University's drug development program, improving the exploration of treatments for childhood diseases. A gene-targeting approach aims to determine potential treatments for untreatable childhood dementia – a debilitating and life-limiting disease. Yawardani Jan-ga improves the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal youth in the Kimberley.
The Attachment and Biobehavioural Catch-up (ABC) home visiting program supports caregivers of infants and toddlers to foster their development and form healthy relationships with their little ones. A specialised infant mental health screening protocol will identify and address early signs of infant social and emotional development difficulties.
The Education, Employment and Training program works with students to help them achieve their potential by developing their literacy, numeracy, social and life skills in a safe and secure environment. The organisation’s Multiagency Investigation Support Team helps children impacted by sexual abuse by improving access to the services required to respond to their needs.
Through innovative research, the Perron Institute aims to improve quality of life for people suffering from devastating neurological conditions. A new research project will aim to develop novel treatments for several incurable Chromosome 15 imprinting disorders.
A range of projects will support WA children’s health and wellbeing through movement assessments, physical exercise programs, advanced technology and the development of WA first children’s hospice. Research into respiratory illness, rare disease and heart attack risk will improve health outcomes for WA children.
Through Radio Lollipop's Ward Visiting Program, volunteers in eight hospitals bring smiles and laughter to children, improving wellbeing, creativity and companionship. The radio station at Perth Children’s Hospital allows children to request songs and even help host the on-air broadcast.
Reach Baby is a movement program that creates a collaborative environment free of judgement to understand babies' developmental needs and challenges. With playful, enthusiastic and highly experienced instructors, Reach Baby offers babies and their parents a chance to move, play and reach their personal best.
Redkite provides financial assistance to families facing childhood cancer, aiming to relieve stress and enable families to provide the best possible care and support to their children. Specialist child counselling and music therapy help support the mental health and wellbeing of children diagnosed with cancer.
Equine therapy supports children with disabilities with mobility, coordination, balance and strength. The Equicizer is a mechanical horse that offers safe, soothing, low impact core exercise, and fun, alternative ways to deliver equine therapies for people with disabilities.
RDA Carine offers equine-assisted therapy to children living with varying abilities and additional needs. Through interactive equine activities, the program aims to enhance physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing while providing a supportive and nurturing environment, fostering personal growth and independence for participants.
The Early Start Intervention Program provides critical early intervention to children under the age of five with, or at risk of, rare diseases who would otherwise experience delays in accessing funded services. The program offers multidisciplinary therapy services, including fine and gross motor skills communication, eating, mobility and more.
Critically ill babies and children present some of the most challenging medical situations for RFDS doctors and nurses. A bespoke engineering solution will enable neonatal cribs to be powered and installed in two rotary aircrafts, and will provide vital additional capacity to transport infants directly to Perth hospitals.
Sensorium's Imaginate program will see new high-quality, multi-sensory performing arts intervention programs delivered in schools, libraries and early years centres throughout WA. The program aims to improve the wellbeing of children who are disadvantaged and marginalised due to disability or socio-economic circumstances.
The Art with the Stars program uses art and performance to empower Aboriginal girls to develop a sense of pride in their cultural identity and the strength to rise above racism in schools. By yarning throughout this cultural immersion, participants learn new skills and reconnect with themselves, their communities and country.
You Can Stay is a free accommodation program for regional children diagnosed with cancer, ensuring equal access to essential hospital treatment and enabling families to support their child in Perth. The Children’s Holiday Camp provides free and fun overnight care for children with disability, offering valuable respite for their families and carers.
The Holiday Makers Program nurtures the social and emotional development of autistic children by providing a safe inclusive space where they can meet others and experience new activities based on their interests. The program aims to improve children’s social skills, self-esteem and confidence.
St John of God Foundation aims to transform health care, through excellence in personalised patient treatment and leading medical research. Cutting-edge medical equipment will ensure neonatal babies and children at St John of God hospitals receive the best possible care. Training mannequins will support specialist training in CPR for babies.
The Thriving Through Connection program aims to improve the safety and wellbeing of young people who have experienced family and domestic violence through individual and group-based support, psychosocial education, practical assistance, advocacy and referral, and social and peer connections.
Starkick is a unique West Australian All Abilities Football program for children that runs alongside Auskick at junior football clubs. Children with disability are provided with the support and resources they require to enable them to participate and have fun playing football in a community club environment.
The Captain Starlight program at Perth Children’s Hospital uses play and social connection to help sick children cope in times of stress and positively impact their healthcare experience. Livewire supports teens with the stress and isolation of their illness by providing opportunities for creativity, connection and entertainment.
The Fathering Project aims to promote positive fathering behaviours and fathers’ engagement with their infants, preschool, primary school and adolescent-aged children. Its programs support educational outcomes for disadvantaged children and emotional and physical development for neurodiverse children.
The ORIGINS Project is following 10,000 children and their families over a decade, following their progress from pregnancy and beyond to investigate the prevention of disease and to discover how every child and family can reach their full potential.
A dedicated child counsellor at Graceville Women’s Refuge supports the mental health and wellbeing of children impacted by family and domestic violence. This role provides specialised assessments, one-to-one psychological care and identifies pathways to relevant support and long-term recovery.
Learning Clubs offer secure and supportive out-of-school-hours learning environments for vulnerable primary students facing disadvantages. In these settings, students can access resources, specialised learning and activities to enhance their academic skills. Guided by skilled tutors and nurtured in socially connected environments, students also experience improved wellbeing.
The School Readiness program offers individual and group therapy sessions and a play-based therapy space to help children with disabilities and developmental delays prepare for schooling. Unique equipment tailored for a child’s individual needs increases quality of life and supports their goals and aspirations.
Thriving in Motion is a unique exercise service targeting children and young people whose ability to participate in community or school-based physical activity is impacted by physical, mental or behavioural conditions. Movement for Mental Health supports vulnerable children improve their mental wellbeing through exercise and physical activity.
Neonatal Unit Care Packages offer crucial support to families during unexpected and stressful hospital stays. Nurturing Regional NICU Families aims to close the gap for families with premature babies living in rural, regional and remote WA through free access to an online program supporting connection, bonding and developmental milestones.
Transplant Australia supports WA paediatric transplant recipients and their families through a dedicated camp experience. The camp is designed to build a connected community of peers and improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Family Centre supports people with T1D to live a life full of joy and happiness. T1D Empower is a mentoring program for teens which supports the development of coping strategies, resilience and strong support networks. Community-based blood glucose testing will increase access to vital testing, improving health outcomes.
The University of Western Australia is undertaking various research projects aimed at improving health outcomes for children. This includes research into childhood diseases, exercise therapy for children with central auditory processing disorder, reducing pre-surgery fasting distress, preventing childhood asthma, and investigating the intergenerational impact of lifestyle, health and environment.
Variety’s Motor Mouth Camp helps give a voice to children with complex communication needs. The family-inclusive camp combines fun with intensive therapy and support from volunteer speech pathologists and occupational therapists for children who use augmentative and alternative communication devices - opening up a new world of communication.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiovascular disorder in WA. Currently, HCM onset and severity cannot be predicted. Victor Chang Institute will develop a tool to assist in identifying the likelihood that children will develop HCM, enabling earlier and more precise treatment.
The Kickability in Schools program empowers children with disability to participate in Aussie rules football, fostering connection and enhancing physical and mental wellbeing. A new "convergence container” boosts inclusivity by offering a calming space for children with sensory sensitivities to take a break while attending community events.
The WA Child Research Fund supports research leading to better health outcomes for children and adolescents in WA. It promotes the translation of research findings into evidence-based health policy and practice and contributes to integrating research capability across universities, research institutes and health services.
WA Disabled Sports Association programs offer children with severe and complex disabilities. It enables access to adaptive equipment to improve physical engagement and social wellbeing, as well as build confidence, self-advocacy, problem-solving and communication through sports and recreation.
The Family Sponsorship program provides children with disabilities access to therapy services where other funding options are not available. The Equipment Loan Library allows children to trial speech output devices and frame runners, improving communication and mobility. An inclusive Athletics Day will build children’s self-confidence and celebrate their efforts.
The Women and Infants Research Foundation is one of Australia’s leading independent research institutions dedicated to improving the health of women and infants. Its research aims to decrease fetal harm, improve outcomes for preterm babies and use AI to enhance care for children with rare diseases.
As the only youth-specialist, non-government mental health service in WA, Youth Focus ensures young people can thrive by providing access to mental health support at no-cost, when and where they need it most. Counselling services change the lives of thousands of vulnerable young people, across metropolitan and regional WA.
The Kimberley region has the highest rates of hospitalisation for self-harm in those under the age of 24 in WA. Zero2hero aims to combat this by providing mental health programs for vulnerable children in the region, equipping them with skills and knowledge to navigate mental health challenges.