Introducing ChIPS: Chronic Illness Peer Support.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Introducing ChIPS: Chronic Illness Peer Support.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
ChIPS is a new program at Perth Children’s Hospital that connects and supports young people aged 12 to 25 living with chronic illness across Perth and regional WA, while also having fun and developing life-changing skills along the way.
ChIPS has been running successfully at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne for over 30 years, and now, for the first time, it’s here in Western Australia!
Part-funded by PCHF, thanks to the generosity of ToyBox Australia, and guided by Senior Project Officer Brenda Moore, ChIPS creates a safe, inclusive space where young people can rebuild confidence, form friendships, and gain tools to manage their physical and mental health.
What can participants expect?
- Regular sessions with music, art, games, and honest conversations
- Social outings and group adventures (think escape rooms, mini golf, movie nights, and camps!)
- Leadership development in teamwork, communication, and public speaking
- A peer-led, judgment-free space to connect with others who understand
Over 30 young people have already completed a ChIPS Intro Day, officially joined as ‘ChIPERS,’ and taken part in social outings – with more exciting adventures and team-building events still to come.
One of those participants is Tahlia, 15, who lives with a chronic illness and has been visiting PCH her entire life. She currently attends hospital appointments around three times a year. Tahlia and her mum first heard about ChIPS after an appointment last year.
Tahlia said: “I was interested at first because chips is my favourite food. But really it was because I felt like trying something new, and mum told me there would be other people there with different chronic illnesses, so I thought it would be a good way to meet other people like me.”
She has already taken part in several events, including an escape room day and arts and crafts at PCH.
“I’ve really enjoyed all the activities so far, because I go there and I don’t get judged,” Tahlia said. “There were other people there with different types of chronic illnesses, and everyone’s really friendly, and nobody excludes anyone, which is great.”
Now, Tahlia is working towards becoming a ChIPS peer leader.
“I just want to show everybody else who has a chronic illness they’re not alone, and ChIPS helped me - I felt like I could express myself and just be normal - so now I want to help other kids as well,” she said.
Help us spread the word
If you know a patient aged 12–25 living with a primary diagnosis of a chronic medical condition and currently receiving healthcare through WA Health, we’d love to hear from you:
Families can self-refer by via their clinician (preferred) or by emailing the ChIPS team at PCH.chips@health.wa.gov.au with the subject ‘ChIPS Referral’, including the contact details of their healthcare team.
