The Very Special Kids (VSK) grounds were rife with excitement on Wednesday 8 December, as the turning of the sod ceremony marked a significant step toward the rebuild of our world-class children’s hospice.
Special guests’ Federal Health Minster, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mr Steve McGhie and Federal Member for Higgins, Dr Katie Allen MP joined our Founder and Patron, Sister Margaret Noone and CEO Michael Wasley to turn the first sod on the site.
This special event marked a watershed moment in the VSK history which will enhance the way how they deliver specialist palliative care for children and young people and their families across Victoria well into the future. The new facility will allow them to expand their model of care and capabilities, providing greater access for all children and young people with complex needs and raise the bar in children’s respite and end-of-life care.
The new world-class facility entails best practice design features including:
The children’s hospice was the first paediatric hospice in Australia and remains the only one in Victoria. The original hospice was built in 1996 and has provided 24/7 specialised care to thousands of children and young people. We believe every child has the right to the best quality of life, no matter how long or short their life may be, and every family is supported to cope throughout their most difficult journey.
The support from the Federal and State governments, local members of parliament, Capital Campaign Committee and major donors and funders across the community have made this momentous project possible, ensuring sick children, young people and their families have access to what will be one of the world’s best children’s hospices’ into the future.
