Over the years, HeartKids NSW, with the help of members, sponsors and friends, has been able to help out the children’s hospitals in NSW by way of donations of money, equipment and research grants.
Support Service
We have an established history of familial/emotional care, support and understanding for families going through the trauma of having a child with Childhood Heart Disease (CHD).
We offer practical assistance for families, while they are in hospital, this includes for eg: phone cards, parking assistance, hospital packs, food vouchers, coffee mornings, and reimbursement of small expenses incurred while staying in hospital.
We provide information services eg brochures on hospital care, resource library, website, newsletter, experienced parents available to talk to other families about their experiences.
We employ dedicated, caring, and family support workers at both major children’s hospitals who coordinate support and care for families in hospital and in times of need.
We work closely with Medical and Para-medical staff at both Children’s hospitals to improve understanding of issues/services affecting our families.
We network very closely with the other Heartkids State groups and have been very involved with the formation of our national organisation Heartkids Australia.
We hosted the Heartkids Australia national conference in Sydney this August 2006 at Rydges Hotel North Sydney.
We are working hard to advocate more awareness of Childhood Heart Disease within the corporate community.
We organise social outlets for children and their families, so that children can spend time with other friends like themselves
Christmas parties
Movie days etc
An annual Teen camp for the older children
Family camp
Coffee mornings on the ward
We gratefully accept the making of and help with the handing out of handmade quilts by dedicated volunteers for children to brighten up their stay in hospital.
Research Support
We encourage and support research programs aimed at the prevention, detection and management of Childhood Heart Disease. We do this by providing financial donations to established research bodies to support and establish research projects into Congenital Heart Disease.
2004
$10,000 donation to ANZCHRC (Australia and New Zealand Children’s Heart Research Centre)
$10,000 donation to Dr Robert Weintraub to be used for Paediatric Heart Transplant Research
$30,000 donation to Dr David Winlaw / Adolph Basser Cardiac institute to be used for Aquaporins study – surviving cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
2005
$5,000 donation to Dr David Winlaw / Adolph Basser Cardiac institute
2006
$20,000 donation to ‘Kids Heart Research’ projects based at the Children’s Hospital Westmead – Dr David Winlaw accepted the cheque on behalf of the Centre.
$10,000 donation to ANZCHRC
2007 to date
$20,000 donation to ‘Kids Heart Research’ projects based at the Children’s Hospital Westmead – Dr David Winlaw accepted the cheque on behalf of the Centre.
Equipment and Hospital Support
We purchase essential equipment to help resource our hospitals for the benefit of children’s care. Some of the items that we have purchased include:
2001
Donation of a Head Camera to Dr Sholler from money raised by the Eastwood Quilters raffle money.
2003
Donation of a $14,000 Cardiac Stress Test Machine to Children’s Hospital Westmead
Donation of $6,000 for a fibrillator at the Children’s Hospital Westmead – $20.000 raised by the THROB for Life concert in memory of Daniel Brown.
$1,000 donation to Grace Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
$1,000 donation to PICU in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
$1,000 donation to Edgar Stephens Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
Donation of Children’s Toys to Edgar Stephens Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
2004
2 Neopuff units donated to John Hunter Hospital
Donation of new children’s wheelchair to C2South ward in Randwick
1 set of new Baby Scales was donated to C2South ward in Randwick
Donation of Paediatric sized Stethoscopes (so that Heart sounds can be heard in isolation to Bowel sounds) to PICU in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
Donation towards a Neonatal Transport Bed for safe and non disturbed movement of Newborns, to Grace Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead
Donation of $1000 to Edgar Stephens Ward in the Children’s Hospital Westmead towards general purchases
2005
A Pulse oximeter at John Hunter Hospital
8 trolleys for moving Televisions to patients beds were donated to Edgar Stevens Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmead
Electric Breast Pumps for the use of Mothers expressing breast milk, was donated to Grace NICU at the Children’s Hospital Westmead
2006
Cardiac Pacemaker for Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU), Sydney Children’s Hospital
$2,500 donation to buy a Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development – Third Edition (Bayley III) for the Grace NICU Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmead,
Making and donating baby wraps to be used by families on the Edgar Stevens ward and PICU.
Bought 2 breast pumps to be used on the Edgar Steven’s ward at $1,900.
November we undertook a 2-day renovation project in partnership with the Vodafone Australia Foundation. The VAF funded the project with an $18,000 grant and provided volunteers to help do the work needed to renovate the 6 rooms at CHW. We updated tired old furniture, put on a new coat of paint, and donated some new comfort items such as microwave, TV set, artwork and fridge for the parent’s room. Nurses, kids, parents are very happy with the new look rooms. A very satisfying project.
$2,500 donation to buy a Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development – Third Edition (Bayley III) for the Grace NICU Ward at the Children’s Hospital Westmead
$1,000 to go towards purchasing new high chairs and CD players for Edgar Stevens ward.
$3,400 to PICU CHW to buy 2x Sims Syringe Drivers.
2007
$3,000 to CHW to help refund regional families accommodation costs for the night before surgery. Admission now for operations is day only thus country families need to pay for accommodation in Sydney the night before surgery. This is very difficult for some families.
We publish a seasonal “Heartkids News” newsletter to member families, members and health care professionals.
2008
Family Camp Mowbray Park- HeartKids NSW host a family camp at Farmstay just outside of Sydney. Approx 20 families attend and enjoy the weekend with many activities and the chance to chat to others and share experiences. One dad made the following comment “This is the best time I have had with my family”
Tiny Tickers ball held at The Sydney Hilton in September is a huge success for HeartKids.
Reburbish Grace Ward at Childrens Hospital Westmead with assistance of Vodafone volunteers.
Provide new lounge for parents room at Sydney Childrens Hospital
Secure a sponsor B.I.C services to provide an emergency care bag for families in hospital.
HeartKids is successful in obtaining a grant from Perpetual Foundation to fund our Family Support Service. and St George Foundation to provide assistance to families with meal, and petrol vouchers and also emergency accommodation.