25 October 2024

From 19-27 October, we’re celebrating Children’s Week, a national celebration that recognises the unique talents, skills, achievements, and rights of children across Australia. Each year, thousands of Victorian children join in the festivities, highlighting this year’s theme: “Children have the right to a clean and safe environment.”

Austin Health embraced this important message by hosting a range of activities for our young patients and visitors:

• In the Paediatric Ward 2W, children from our Austin Childcare Centre joined staff for a fun day of potting plants, learning about gardening, and practicing sustainable habits in the children’s courtyard.
• Our Paediatric Emergency Department staff shared fresh food bags with patients and set up drawing activities, with artwork created by our patients proudly displayed around the ward.
• Children from the Austin Childcare Centre were visited by Melbourne-based author, James Sismanes, who read them the book The Marvellous Mullabaloos Only Wear Blue. The whimsical tale celebrates individuality, self-expression, and the beauty of being different.

To mark the week, members of the Executive team, including Chief Executive Officer (Interim), Cameron Goodyear, Chief Allied Health Officer, Brit Gordon, joined staff from 2 West and the Paediatric ED in these activities. Their involvement highlights our commitment to creating a clean and safe environment for every child within our hospital and community.

Thank you to all who were involved in making Children’s Week so special at Austin Health.