Now complete: Step inside Sandcastles (Boodja Mia).

WA’s first children’s hospice is complete. Now families need our support.

Construction is complete on Sandcastles (Boodja Mia), WA’s first children’s hospice, bringing a long-held vision for our state’s kids with life-limiting conditions and their families one step closer to reality.

With commissioning now underway, the first WA families are soon expected to be welcomed through the doors.

Located in Swanbourne, Sandcastles will provide a home away from home for children with life-limiting conditions and their families, providing medically supported respite, specialist care, symptom management and end-of-life care, alongside family and bereavement support, in an environment designed to feel more like a home than a healthcare facility.

Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation Chairman, the Hon. Ian Campbell said: “We are incredibly proud to announce the completion of construction of Sandcastles, WA’s first purpose-built children’s hospice.

“This is a place built around living well. Sandcastles will help children with life-limiting conditions, and their families, make the most of their time together, with care centred on comfort, joy and creating meaningful memories.

“For some families, Sandcastles will be where they say goodbye to their child. For many others, it will be a place they return to, where children can receive highly specialised care while parents’ recharge, and the whole family, including siblings, can spend precious time together.”

Set among natural bushland with sweeping views of Swanbourne Beach, the seven-bed hospice has been thoughtfully designed to feel like a large family home.

It includes three family suites, shared kitchen and dining spaces, lounge areas, playrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, gardens, outdoor play spaces and dedicated areas for teenagers. A communal terrace offers a peaceful, shared space for families to enjoy ocean and bushland views, watch spectacular sunsets and hear the sounds of nature.

Thoughtful design details are woven throughout the building, from the public façade artwork by Noongar Elder Barry McGuire to the native landscaping, warm timber finishes, locally sourced limestone and plant species drawn from the neighbouring Allen Park bushland.

Premier Roger Cook said: “Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) will provide a home away from home for children with life-limiting conditions and their families from across WA, no matter where they live.

“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.”

The Child and Adolescent Health Service has recruited 50 additional staff to work at the hospice, who will also be assisted by a dedicated volunteer workforce.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said: “The completion of Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) brings us one step closer to opening a service that has been envisioned and advocated for by families, clinicians, and the community for many years.

“This vision has been achieved through the valued partnership between our government and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“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.”

Sandcastles will support children up to the age of 18 and their families who are under the care of the CAHS Paediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Service. Families interested in accessing the service are encouraged to speak with their healthcare team about referral options.

Now that Sandcastles has been built, these WA families need our support.

While construction of the $38.6 million hospice is complete, the journey doesn’t end here.

Ongoing donations are critical to help fund the important non-clinical experiences that make every stay meaningful, including sibling support programs, family excursions, special events, activities and shared meals.

Every contribution will help to create special moments of comfort, connection and joy for families at Sandcastles. To learn more or make a donation, visit sandcastles.org.au

Sandcastles is proudly funded and constructed by Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, thanks to the support of Cancer Council WA through a generous bequest from the late John Street, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, the Australian Government, Lotterywest, Minderoo Foundation and many corporate and community supporters.

We are also grateful to the dedicated team of partners who helped bring this vision to life, including: Hassell (design), Hesperia, Encon (project management), West to West Group (construction), and clinical operating partner, the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).