Christmas Appeal | Canberra Hospital Foundation

The birth of a baby is supposed to be filled with joy.

But for Melissa and John, it brought fear.

Their daughter Marcella (Marcie) was diagnosed with talipes (club foot) when Melissa was 22 weeks pregnant. The journey ahead was tough, full of surgeries, plaster casts, and endless hospital visits.

Nobody wants to be in hospital for Christmas, especially not children.

As Marcie grew, so did the challenges. “As she got older, when she was in plaster we had to carry her everywhere,” Melissa recalls. “We needed a wheelchair and ramps just to get her in and out of the house. It wasn’t easy.”

Through it all, small acts of kindness made a difference. “Marcie loved the paw print pattern on her plaster,” Melissa says. “It seems like a small thing, but it brought her comfort when she needed it most.”

This Christmas, you can bring that same comfort to other children.

We’re asking for your help to support the Child and Adolescent Hospital in the Home program. This service allows sick kids to get hospital-level care at home. It means fewer hospital visits and more time with family.

Because of you, we can support programs that offer special experiences to families during some of their most difficult moments.

Every contribution, big or small, plays a part in creating a supportive and positive environment. By supporting projects like these, you help reduce stress, enhance family connection, and bring moments of joy to those who need it most.

You have the opportunity to join a compassionate community that plays a crucial role in supporting people in need.

You can contribute...

$100

toward supplying scales for accurate health assessments, giving families the reassurance they need when their child is receiving care at home.

$50

toward providing saturation monitors, measuring oxygen levels safely and painlessly. These monitors help parents breathe a little easier, knowing their child is being well cared for.

$25

toward funding distraction toys, a relief for kids facing frightening treatments, turning moments of fear into moments of calm.

Make your contribution to our Christmas Appeal

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$30

will help support our Therapeutic Programs

$50

help support the purchase of specialised equipment

$250

will help support medical research and clinical trials in Canberra

$500

will help support transformations and refurbishments of away-from-bed spaces

$30

$50

$250

$500

$30

$50

$250

$500

$29

$50

$250

$500

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How your gift is making a difference

"Families have commented that most of the appointments they have are medically focused, so having a program that is focused on play, joy, and family connections are refreshing and well needed for patients and their families." - Play Therapy Team

Play Therapy in Palliative Care

This program will create tailored play experiences for children receiving palliative care, as well as for their siblings and parents. Whether it’s through massage or memory-making activities such as hand and foot casting, these moments help families connect and find joy together. Your support provides a chance for children to play, laugh, and feel at ease, even during the toughest times.

Extending Care Beyond the Hospital Walls

Thanks to your generosity, play therapy services will reach beyond the hospital to support children and families in outpatient settings, virtual sessions, and even at home. This holistic approach ensures that every child can access the care and play opportunities they need, no matter where they are. Your support helps create moments of happiness that ripple through entire families.

Training and Equipment for the Play Therapy Team

With your donations, play therapists receive specialised training in paediatric massage and touch therapy. Your gift also will fund sensory toys, craft supplies, and therapeutic resources that help children feel safe and comforted during their care. These small touches offer a big impact, providing comfort and a sense of normalcy to children and their families.

Donate now

Three other ways you can make change

Donate gifts for Givemas

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Join a community of people who want to share the joy of Christmas by...

...providing gifts to patients who have endured extended hospital stays, are separated from their loved ones, or lack nearby family support.

Givemas is an opportunity to help support patients and families who find themselves unwell and hospitalised during the holiday season.

Join us

2. Adopt-a-Ward

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With the power of sharing, your organisation, business or group may want to support patients through...

...gift giving to a specific ward through our 'Adopt-a-Ward' initiative.

We will help organise a suitable ward for you to provide gifts to, providing you with the ward name, a patient demographic, a brief overview of the ward and the number of patients likely to be in hospital at the time.