Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) has announced a partnership with Scape by the Living Company to launch the SCHF Patient Family Accommodation Program, a new initiative aimed at supporting families of some of New South Wales’ sickest children.
The program will provide free access to 42 apartments for families of children receiving care across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
It is designed to expand accommodation options and allow families to remain close to their child in hospital without added financial pressure.
Recent data shows that families travelling from Sydney’s outer suburbs and regional areas of New South Wales often face significant challenges when a child requires hospital care far from home.
At the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre, children undergoing cancer treatment spend an average of 7.6 days in hospital.
Extended stays of this kind can create considerable emotional and financial strain for families, highlighting the need for accommodation near the hospital.
The new program is intended to ease pressure on existing accommodation services, where demand frequently exceeds capacity, and families are left facing waitlists or the cost of private rentals and hotels.
The 42 apartments will be located at Scape by the Living Company’s new Lachlan Building in Kensington, a short distance from Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
The one and two bedroom apartments have been designed with families in mind, offering access to workspaces, outdoor areas, laundry facilities and a 24-hour concierge service.
Kristina Keneally AO, CEO of SCHF, said existing services such as Ronald McDonald House continue to provide valuable support, but demand for patient family accommodation keeps growing.
She said the program would reduce the financial and emotional pressures families face and noted that its success would depend on the generosity of donors, who can help families stay close to their children at little to no cost.
NSW Health Minister the Hon. Ryan Park MP welcomed the initiative, describing the difficulty families experience when a child is in hospital.
“Having a child in hospital is an incredibly difficult time for any family.”
Park said long hospital stays and the need to relocate whole families can place real strain on parents and carers, and he described the program as an example of government and community working together to support children and families across the state.
Scape by the Living Company Co-founder Craig Carracher said the company was committed to supporting the communities it operates in.
“Every family deserves the stability to focus on what matters most.”
He said the partnership reflected shared values between the two organisations and a commitment to practical action for families in need.
Shelly Higgs, Director of Stories at Davencare Foundation, said the initiative would help families maintain a sense of normalcy during difficult times, allowing siblings to stay connected, primary carers to rest and parents to balance work with caregiving responsibilities.
SCHF is the exclusive fundraising partner of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
Donations to support the program are welcome from individuals, families, community groups, corporations, trusts, foundations, or through a gift in a will.
