Another major milestone achieved.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Another major milestone achieved.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Last month, our construction crew gathered on site at Sandcastles for a moving and heartfelt smoking ceremony led by cultural consultants Barry McGuire and Carol Innes.
Against a breathtaking natural backdrop featuring crows circling overhead and whales breaching nearby, the traditional smoking ceremony both blessed the building and marked a major milestone: the ‘topping out’ completion of all structural steel on the first floor!
Watch to see the latest progress on site below:
Hydrotherapy pool taking shape.
In other exciting news, the foundation of the hydrotherapy pool is now complete. Overlooking the outdoors and filled with natural light, the 8m x 4.5m pool will be a warm, spa-like, sensory-rich space, with features such as gentle air jet streams, a music system (so guests can enjoy their own playlists), and adjustable lighting.
The pool’s concrete base has been carefully shaped and levelled by the construction team to include a 0.9m shallow end, an accessible ramp, and a 1.2-metre-deep end. The temperature-controlled pool will sit alongside a Therapy Room for physio and occupational therapy, plus other spaces for complementary care, relaxation, and play with parents, carers, or siblings.
Designed with accessibility at its heart, the pool will give kids with life-limiting conditions and their families the opportunity to share meaningful, joyful experiences together, while also benefiting from therapy. For children with mobility challenges, hydrotherapy supports movement, reduces strain on joints and muscles, and can ease pain.
A private entrance will give day guests access to the pool, which will also feature: an accessible bathroom with shower and toilet; an accessible change room with hoist; a staff change room and storage for an aquatic bed and wheelchair.
More structural works complete.
Key structural works on the ground floor and basement are now complete.
Walls, columns, and glazing are well progressed, and the foundations of the therapy spaces are taking shape, bringing us one step closer to WA’s first children’s hospice opening its doors.
Sandcastles is funded by PCHF thanks to generous contributions from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Cancer Council Western Australia via a generous bequest from the late John Street, Minderoo Foundation, Lotterywest, the Australian Government and the WA community.
Sandcastles is made possible thanks to the generous support of the development team, including Hassell, Hesperia, Encon and West to West Group. The ongoing clinical operational costs of Sandcastles will be provided by the WA Government through facility partner, the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
Visit WA’s first Children’s Hospice to make a donation to support ongoing development.
