Artist’s impressions for a new paediatric hospice at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead have been unveiled, offering families a first look at a purpose-built facility designed for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses.
The Western Sydney Paediatric Hospice will become the second dedicated children’s hospice in New South Wales and is being developed through a $22.3 million investment by the NSW Government.
The facility is planned to support families requiring respite and end-of-life care, while expanding the services already provided through Bear Cottage and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
The images released this week show individual patient bedrooms designed to provide privacy and rest areas for families, alongside communal play spaces, landscaped outdoor areas and shared dining facilities.
Plans for the hospice include family suites allowing parents, carers and siblings to stay together, flexible living areas, quiet work and reflection spaces, and dedicated play zones for brothers and sisters.
Project teams from Health Infrastructure and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network worked alongside clinicians and families during the design process, including parents who previously accessed respite and end-of-life care services.
The design vision centres on creating “a sanctuary in nature that feels like home”.
The development was inspired by Sydney boy Rio Fowler and the work of Rio’s Legacy. Rio was diagnosed with a rare terminal condition at 16 months old and later received end-of-life care at Bear Cottage before his death in 2018.
Rio’s parents remain involved in the planning and design phase alongside other families and healthcare staff connected to the project.
The NSW Government said construction timelines would be confirmed after further planning work and the appointment of a builder.
The announcement comes as demand for paediatric palliative care services continues to grow across Western Sydney, one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, with health planners seeking to improve access to specialised care closer to home for families navigating complex medical conditions.
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