Monash Children's Hospital

The next time you’re looking for a sweet treat, please consider picking up a jar of ‘Mum’s Jam’ at Coles, with 50 cents from every jar going to help children in hospitals including Monash Children’s Hospital.

To celebrate the launch of Mum’s Jam, available in raspberry and strawberry, the Monash Health Foundation hosted Hospitals United for Sick Kids (HUSK), patients, families, and Coles Group for a morning tea at Monash Children’s Hospital.

The partnership between HUSK and Coles has raised over $7 million for the Australia wide alliance of children’s hospitals since its inception in 2019, improving the hospital experience for young people faced with both short and long-term admissions.

The Monash Children's Hospital and HUSK collaboration is focused on improving hospital experience and patient recovery, reducing hospital length of stay, and supporting treatment at home when appropriate.

From Monash Health, thank you to HUSK, Coles and everyone involved in this important initiative.

No tricks, just treats, costumes and compassionate care at Monash Children's Hospital this Halloween🎃

To make sure our young patients and their families don’t miss out on Halloween, our teams are bringing the spooky fun to the wards👻

Visitors, please don’t be alarmed: we promise the giant spiders🕷️ and skeletons💀 are fake!

Happy Halloween to all who celebrate🎃👻

Monash Children’s Hospital this week welcomed special guests Tony Armstrong and Emma Sjaan Beukers to read their new book, George the Wizard, to patients and families.

The audience was treated to a magical story and beautiful illustrations, with Tony and Emma gifting and signing copies for all who attended.

The visit was organised by the wonderful team at Monash Children’s Hospital School and took place in the hospital’s Starlight Express Room which streamed the visit to ward beds across Australia.

“It was such a special visit for our young patients and their families,” said Kate Cooper, Assistant Principal at Monash Children’s Hospital School.

“Visits like this provide opportunities that many of our students miss out on when they are away from their own schools.”

From Monash Health, thank you to Tony and Emma for their visit and generosity.

As Victorian students head into their VCE exams, we want to help them ace being happy and healthy throughout their study time 📚⭐

Our teams at Monash Children’s Hospital and Monash Children‘s Hospital School support teenage patients and families every day, using strategies that help reduce stress and improve learning.

‘As teachers, we’re really mindful that your brain and memory can only do so much without a “brain break”,’ said Sarah-Jane George, Assistant Principal, Monash Children’s Hospital School.

‘Every student is going to have different needs, and it’s important to find a focus shift and routine that works for each unique individual – it could be as simple as changing their environment or studying with a friend’.

A study routine is very important, but part of that routine should include short breaks for:
💪 Physical exercise
🍎 Eating nutritious foods
💙 Connecting with family and friends
🎨 Doing any activity that brings calm or joy (e.g. music, reading, drawing etc.)

‘Music is a motivator, and we can use it as a resource to re-energise and improve focus,’ said Will Darbyshire, Music Therapist at Monash Children’s Hospital.

‘As a Music Therapist in the hospital, we do a lot of work with teenagers around supporting moments of high stress, anxiety and low mood. [Music] can help us move through negative feelings, or equally connect us back to positive feelings.’

‘If you’re studying for an hour, every 15 minutes stop, and play some music, that you associate with a state of calm, relaxation and curiosity’.

Monash Health is proud to have three amazing finalists for the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. Our dedicated Patient Experience team has been selected as a finalist in the 'Partnering with consumers to improve patient experience' category 👏

They have been chosen for their work implementing the Monash Health Service Excellence Standards.

The Service Excellence Standards are 10 simple behaviours that show everybody our people interact with just how much we care about them ❤️

“We are so proud of how everyone has helped us to embed the Service Excellence Standards across Monash and love hearing of examples of how teams are embracing the Standards to help improve their patient’s experience,” said Juliet Pellegrini, Director of Patient Experience and Consumer Partnerships.

The Standards are now fully implemented and visible across our hospital sites, so our consumers know what to expect from our employees, at every interaction.

Pleasingly, improvements in both the Victorian Health Experience Survey and the Monash Health Experience Survey results demonstrate the positive impact the Standards have had on improving our patients' experience.

Comments from the surveys recognised positive employee behaviours, highlighting the importance of the Standards in establishing trust and making patients feel both valued and involved in their care.

"Staff are very helpful and kind. The doctors explained things very clearly and came to visit regularly, making sure I was recovered well."

"They gave me privacy and attended to my care in a timely manner, making my stay comfortable."

From all at Monash Health, well done to the team. The winners will be revealed at the Awards Gala Night on 19 November! 🏆

Monash Children’s Hospital is proud to be a part of the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium (VPCC), a world-class research partnership, collaborating to fight, treat and cure childhood cancer.

Last week, Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll MP announced the launch of the VPCC with funding from the Victorian Government and the Children’s Cancer Foundation to transform research and treatment.

The consortium has been bringing together the best and brightest minds from leading children’s hospitals, research institutes and universities to undertake cutting-edge research to tackle childhood cancer, since 2021.

The establishment of the VPCC will build on this work to develop safer paediatric cancer therapies, treatments and clinical trial programs, with a focus on enhancing collaboration. It will also deliver a childhood cancer survivorship program and paediatric cancer physician training – giving more children the chance to grow up healthy and cancer-free.

"We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners in advancing research and care for childhood cancer as part of the VPCC,” said Professor John Heath, Director of Children’s Cancer Centre at Monash Children’s Hospital.

“Together, we can reimagine the future of paediatric oncology and use our expertise and resources to deliver the best outcomes for young patients and their families.”

Thank you to all partners involved in this important work: Monash Children's Hospital, Monash University, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute - MCRI, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, WEHI - Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and the Children's Cancer Foundation.

To find out more, visit: https://vpcc.org.au

What a weekend of football! And what fun was had at the AFL Footy Festival at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Members of the Monash Health Foundation team were at the festival, supporting alliance partners Hospitals United for Sick Kids (HUSK) in their fundraising efforts.

Over four fabulous days, hundreds of families visited HUSK’s “feels like home” booth enjoying activities and learning about the organisation’s mascot, a lost alien called Blip.

The adorable orange and purple character features in HUSK’s fundraising campaigns. When you purchase an item featuring Blip, you help fund equipment, services and research needed to provide sick kids around Australia with care at, or closer to, home.

Monash Children’s Hospital is a proud member of the HUSK alliance and extends its thanks to all who contributed to the successful fundraising initiative.

The Children’s Cancer Centre team at Monash Children’s Hospital are bringing the footy spirit to the wards ahead of the AFL Grand Final, sporting their team’s colours loud and proud.

To support the amazing care the team provides our patients, the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity Grand Final Spectacular will air tonight at 7:30pm on Nine – raising funds to beat childhood cancer.

For more information about the My Room Spectacular, please visit: https://myroom.com.au/

Local artist and proud Kurni woman, Tahlia Jayee has helped bring to life new spaces rich in cultural significance at Monash Health, designing artworks for our new Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local in Cranbourne.

The Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local is a new service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of children aged 0-11 years in Melbourne’s south-east experiencing developmental, emotional, relational, and behavioural challenges.

Tahlia grew up immersed in her community and culture. Themes of interconnectedness, uniqueness, and personal journeys are central to her artwork.

The beautiful art on display promotes an environment aimed at making everyone feel welcome, respected and accepted.

“Each piece not only captures attention but also embodies significant meaning,” said Tahlia.

“The turtles symbolise healing, safety, and a sense of belonging, while handprints reflect individuality and what makes us unique. The representation of Bunjil, the creator of our land, further enriches the significance of this collection.”

Tahlia describes the new space as a sanctuary where visitors are invited to engage in conversation and hopes the artwork will bring a profound sense of joy, warmth, and belonging to children and their families.

Last week, we welcomed the Hon. Ingrid Stitt MP, Minister for Mental Health, Pauline Richards MP, Member for Cranbourne, and Belinda Wilson MP, Member for Narre Warren North to the new Cranbourne Children's Health and Wellbeing Local to meet our passionate and caring team.

The new service, located at Monash Health’s Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre, supports children aged zero to 11 years from the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey, and Cardinia Shire who may be experiencing developmental, emotional, relational and behavioural challenges, while also providing support to their families and carers.

Clients who visit the Children’s Local are supported by a collaboration of doctors, allied health professionals, mental health clinicians and family support practitioners.

For more information about the Cranbourne Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local, including how to contact our team for an appointment, please visit: https://monashhealth.org/services/child-youth-and-family/services-child-family-youth-service-childrens-health-and-wellbeing-local/

No parent is ever prepared for their child to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and it takes a skilled team to support them through the experience.

When Tim Fairclough’s daughter was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Monash Children’s Hospital he felt his world shift.

“I went through a life-changing experience,” he said.

“It is confronting to see your child suddenly helpless in a quiet room with heart and breathing monitors and a drip attached. You feel helpless.”

In the days that followed, Tim watched and interacted with a range of medical staff caring for his daughter. They left a lasting impression.

“The speed and practicality of the doctors; the calmness and courage of the nurses firstly in ICU, then in haematology, brilliantly competent in using the equipment, taking the blood draws and keeping my daughter as cool and comfortable as humanly possible.”

“These people do an extraordinary job.”

“I am forever grateful to the doctors and nurses at Monash Children’s Hospital who cared for my daughter.”

We are so proud of our dedicated team members and wish Tim and his family the very best.

On the 9th day of the 9th month, members of the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS) at Monash Children’s Hospital are rocking red shoes to raise awareness of the importance of not drinking alcohol during the 9 months of pregnancy.

Babies exposed to alcohol in the womb can be born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a lifelong brain impairment.

People with FASD may have:

👉 problems with language, thinking, memory, attention, and reasoning

👉 behavioural and learning difficulties

👉 impairment in motor skills

👉 limited social and daily living skills

FASD is a mostly hidden disability that can profoundly impact quality of life for individuals and their families.

“By wearing red shoes today, we turn invisibility into visibility and start a dialogue about keeping babies safe during pregnancy,” said Dr Katrina Harris, Head of Developmental and Community Paediatrics at Monash Children’s Hospital and Head of Service at VicFAS.

“Gently asking about alcohol use in pregnancy opens up the possibility for parents to share their concerns and can focus supports on the child.”

"We want to raise awareness of FASD and the risks of alcohol during pregnancy, while also highlighting the support needs of those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure," said Prue Walker, a Senior Social Worker at VicFAS.

To learn about the work of the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service, please visit: https://monashchildrenshospital.org/developmental-paediatrics/vicfas/

The Springvale RSL recently hosted their inaugural Helping Children Heal Gala Night, raising funds for Monash Children's Hospital.

The RSL team put in an incredible effort to hold what was a spectacular evening, with their efforts culminating in an amazing $53,000 raised for Monash Children's.

On behalf of Monash Health, thank you and congratulations to the wonderful team at the Springvale RSL for hosting such a meaningful event that will support the care provided at Monash Children’s Hospital.

We are delighted to share that Prue Walker, one of our Senior Social Workers, has won a HESTA Excellence Award.

Prue, who works at the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS) at Monash Children’s Hospital, received the Allied Health - Individual Leadership Award.

Prue has significantly impacted the landscape of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Australia, developing resources for professionals, conducting workshops, and contributing to key policy developments, including submissions to the Senate Inquiry into FASD.

Her work emphasises collaboration and perseverance, setting a benchmark for FASD awareness and support.

“Being recognised in the 2024 HESTA Excellence Awards is a profound honour and personal validation,” said Prue.

“Throughout my career, both as a FASD advocate and now with the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service, I have been passionate about sharing how appropriate support for individuals with FASD can profoundly transform their life outcomes.”

Congratulations, Prue, and thank you for all you do for Monash Health and those affected by FASD.

Landline phones at our hospitals and services are now working as normal, with a telephone network provider outage now resolved.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during the outage.

We are currently unable to receive calls to landlines at our hospitals and services due to a network provider outage.

We are also unable to make calls out on our landlines.

Our services remain open.

The telephone network provider is working to restore service.

Thanks to Monash Health’s maternity and neonatal teams, premature babies now have access to their mother’s Expressed Breast Milk (EBM) quicker after birth.

EBM has long been identified as the best form of nutrition for newborns, providing immunological protection and developmental advantages.

“We know that breast milk is really important for vulnerable premature babies, with evidence showing it can significantly decrease the risk of complications and infections,” said Samantha Tyrer, Quality Improvement Nurse at Monash Newborn.

In addition, EBM is linked to decreased length of stay and readmission rates, allowing families to be together at home sooner.

‘The Early Expression Initiative’ has been underway since 2019 and aims to reduce the median time for newborns to receive EBM to 6 hours or less after birth.

The multidisciplinary team collaborating to achieve this goal includes nurses, doctors, dietitians, midwifery and neonatal clinical educators and lactation consultants. The Monash Newborn Consumer Advisory Group were also consulted to ensure any interventions met the needs of parents and carers.

With the introduction of multiple interventions including early expressing kits, the initiative has successfully reduced the median time of providing EBM to newborns to 3.5 hrs, six times faster than when it first began.

By providing this essential element of care to our patients, not only is the risk of life-threatening illnesses reduced, the engagement of parents in the care of premature babies is enhanced.

Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to this initiative and provide care for our most vulnerable patients.

Remember to plan ahead.

Monash Health has been informed that Clayton Road will be completely closed 24/7 to all non-emergency traffic south of Monash Medical Centre from Tuesday 27th of August to late October.

The closure is to allow underground works to proceed as part of the Suburban Rail Loop project.

🏥 Monash Medical Centre and Monash Children’s Hospital's main entries will only be accessible to traffic and pedestrians travelling southbound on Clayton Road, between North Road and Monash Medical Centre.

🚑 Emergency vehicle access through the closed section will be maintained, between Monash Medical Centre and Clayton Train Station. No non-emergency traffic or pedestrians will have access through the construction zone.

👷 Detours and traffic management will be in place, coordinated by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority.

🚧 The work will cause significant disruption to traffic flow in and around the site for patients, visitors, employees, deliveries, couriers, and pedestrians. Clearway zones will be in place in some side streets, placing some additional pressure on parking.

📆 Visitors and patients are encouraged to plan ahead and to allow additional travel time.

For more information, please visit the Suburban Rail Loop East project page: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/library/suburban-rail-loop/works-notifications/clayton-august-works-update

Once upon a time at Monash Children’s Hospital, an enchanting celebration of Book Week!

“[It] was an opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the joy of reading," said Colin Dobson, the Principal of Monash Children’s Hospital School.

"It was colourful and busy, and lots of fun.”

The event featured book readings, a range of craft activities inspired by children’s literature, and a butterfly enclosure where people could admire and hold live butterflies.

Performers from the Players Theatre Company sang songs from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and students from Oxley Christian College presented extracts from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical.

Children were invited to pick out a free costume and select a book to take home.

“We know some children will miss out on Book Week celebrations at their own schools. So, we provide this wonderful experience,” said Kylie Middlemiss, a Learning Specialist at Monash Children’s Hospital School.

“There were many highlights [to the day], but it was great to see the kids and their families smile and know that we have given patients a positive experience.”

Monash Health has been informed that Clayton Road will be completely closed 24/7 to all non-emergency traffic south of Monash Medical Centre from the 27th of August.

The closure will last for approximately two months and is to allow underground works to proceed as part of the Suburban Rail Loop project.

The 24/7 road closure will cut off all traffic and will extend from south of the McCulloch House delivery entrance to south of the railway line.

Emergency vehicle access through the closed section will be maintained.

Monash Medical Centre’s main entry, Dixon Street, and delivery access will only be accessible to traffic and pedestrians travelling southbound on Clayton Road. There will be no non-emergency traffic and no pedestrians allowed to travel through the construction zone.

Detours and traffic management will be in place, coordinated by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority.

This will cause significant disruption to traffic flow in and around the site for patients, visitors, employees, deliveries, couriers, and pedestrians.

A number of side streets close to Monash Medical Centre will become clearway zones, with no parking allowed to allow trucks to access the Suburban Rail Loop construction zone. This will place some additional pressure on parking for patients and visitors.

Visitors and patients are encouraged to plan ahead and to allow additional travel time.

For more information, please visit the Suburban Rail Loop East project page: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/suburban-rail-loop/srl-east/clayton