Adopt-A-Ward is a heart-warming Canberra Hospitals Foundation tradition inviting community groups, businesses, schools and embassies to “adopt” a hospital ward over Christmas. 

By collecting thoughtful gifts, you’ll help bring joy, comfort, and festive spirit to patients spending the Christmas break in hospital. 

Drop us a line and we will help organise a suitable ward for you to ‘adopt’, providing you the ward name, patient demographic, brief overview of the ward and number of patients likely to be in hospital at the time. 

You simply let us know which ward you would like to adopt, or how many gifts your organisation can provide. 

Canberra Health Services then advises us of the expected patient numbers and the types of gifts most suitable for patients in that ward.  

Canberra Hospitals Foundation matches your organisation with a ward, then your staff and community gather unwrapped gifts to be delivered to the Foundation. 

We encourage simple, thoughtful, and practical items that bring a smile to people of all ages. 

Lots of people like to buy for kids, and we love that, but this year we are also asking you consider buying for the Canberra Region Cancer Centre patients or the elderly and infirm. 

Gift ideas include: 

• Puzzles, sudoku or crossword books 
• Colouring-in books and pencils 
• Notepads, pens, and stationery 
• Hand cream and toiletries 
• Chocolates or Shortbread 

• This year we will have a Givemas Station at Canberra Hospital, located in the new main foyer, next to reception. You can bring your gifts here to drop off, and take a photo under the Christmas tree!
  
  
• The Givemas Station will be available to accept donations on weekdays, Monday to Friday, and we can arrange a suitable time between 9:30am to 4:30pm.
  
  
• If you require us to meet you at the Hospital Road drop off/ pick up area with a trolley, please indicate this when you call to make arrangements.
  
  
• Please call ahead on (02) 5124 3542 so we can liaise with you to organise a suitable time to arrange drop off of your Givemas donations.

• Staff members working at CHS can visit the shopfront to leave their donated gifts.

Check out our downloadable PDF format wishlists uploaded for you above as a guide for the type of items that would be suitable for children, teens or adults in hospital.

A few things to keep in mind…

• Gifts must be new and unwrapped
• No jewellery, glass, candles, or alcohol 

Option 1: Call us to organise a drop off time Canberra Hospital 

Option 2: Arrange for our Canberra Hospitals Foundation Christmas Elves to collect your donations on Wednesday 10 December between 9am – 2pm 

To arrange collection or ask questions, email Holly.Warner@chfoundation.org.au or call 0466 823 308. 

We’d love you to share the joy! 

Post photos or videos of your collection, wrapping, or delivery using: 

#AdoptAWard #GIVEMAS #CanberraHospitalsFoundation 

Please tag us: 

Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn: @CanberraHospitalsFoundation and feel free to share our posts or stories. 

Remember to keep patients’ privacy in mind. Please don’t take photos inside wards or with patients.