Construction has been completed on Western Australia’s first purpose-built children’s hospice, Sandcastles (Boodja Mia), marking a major milestone for paediatric palliative care in the state.
Located in Swanbourne, the facility will provide a home away from home for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Commissioning of the new service is now underway, led by the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS), with the first WA families expected to be welcomed into the hospice next month.
Once operational, Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) will deliver around-the-clock specialist clinical care, end-of-life care, bereavement support, and palliative respite accommodation for families from across the state through CAHS.
The $38.6 million project has been delivered through a partnership between the state government and the federal government, supported by donations secured by the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF), Lotterywest, and the broader WA community.
The WA government has committed more than $20 million to CAHS to support the commissioning and ongoing clinical operation of the hospice, while PCHF will support a number of non-clinical functions.
The facility has been designed as a welcoming, home-like environment.
It includes seven guest bedrooms with ensuites, three family suites, and private outdoor areas, along with a hydrotherapy pool, shared family living and dining spaces, indoor and outdoor play areas, sensory and therapeutic spaces, and a memorial garden.
To prepare for the hospice’s opening, CAHS has recruited 50 additional staff, who will be supported by a dedicated volunteer workforce.
This multidisciplinary team will provide holistic, family-centred care spanning clinical, emotional, practical, and psychosocial support.
Through PCHF, families staying at Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) will also be able to access experiences and activities designed to foster connection, create lasting memories, and build a sense of home during their time at the facility.
Premier Roger Cook said the completion of construction represented a significant step forward for the project and for families across the state.
“This hospice will make a profound difference to Western Australian families navigating some of life’s most difficult moments, and will strengthen paediatric palliative care services across our state,” he said.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the milestone reflected years of advocacy from families, clinicians, and the community, as well as the strength of the partnership between government and PCHF in delivering the service.
She said the newly recruited workforce would be central to the hospice’s care model.
“The recruitment of this specialist workforce represents a significant investment in paediatric palliative care in Western Australia and reflects our commitment to delivering compassionate, family-centred care,” she said.
Planning and Lands Minister John Carey said the government had backed PCHF from the outset, including by securing the land required to deliver the project.
He said the hospice’s design reflected careful consideration of the needs of the children and families who will use it.
“Nestled between the bush and the ocean, Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) has been thoughtfully designed to support the needs of children with life-limiting conditions and their families, and will have a lasting impact for generations to come,” he said.
With construction now finished and commissioning underway, attention turns to preparing Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) to welcome its first families next month, a step that will bring specialist paediatric palliative care services to families across Western Australia for the first time.
