Thank you for being a lifeline for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
As the year comes to an end our Malvern administration office will be closed from Thursday, 24 December to Monday, 4 January, while our 24-hour children’s hospice will remain open for all emergency end-of-life care and respite.
From the team, we wish you and your family a safe and happy festive season. We look forward to coming together again in 2021.
Christmas is just around the corner! Here are a few ways you can spread some festive cheer and support Very Special Kids at the same time.
The team from Malvern Xmas Trees are back this year, selling trees from the grounds of Very Special Kids and also a second site in South Yarra. Very Special Kids receives a percentage of every tree sold from both sites.
You can choose your tree in person 7 days a week until Wednesday 23 December or order online with delivery available. For opening hours and more details, please visit ww.malvernxmastrees.com.au.
NOTE – Christmas Trees have sold out! Many thanks to all who supported us by buying a tree this year!
For the third year, the Greenland family are hosting a spectacular light display, programmed and synchronised to Christmas music. The show will run for the following times (weather permitting):
You can visit the lights and make a donation at 14 Melrome Court, Kurunjang and keep up to date at https://www.facebook.com/melromcrtlightshow.
Dispense Australia create touchless soap and sanitiser dispensers that make cleaning hands faster, simpler and more hygienic. You can see how accessible their dispensers are here.
Dispense Australia are donating $3 from every Christmas Gift Pack sold to Very Special Kids right up to Christmas Day. Check out their collection at https://dispenseaustralia.com/.
Thank you to everyone supporting us this festive season!
We are delighted to announce that the state government will commit $7.5m towards the $22.5m needed to rebuild our new children’s hospice, which is set to commence in August 2021.
The funding commitment was announced in last week’s state budget.
In 2019, we received $7.5m from the federal government which was a fantastic start towards the overall $22.5m needed for the rebuild and long-term costs.
This now gives us the green light, and boost, to commence our biggest service improvement project ever.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Michael Wasley, said the organisation has spent more than three years researching what makes a world’s best children’s hospice.
“If the world was a fairer place, no child would be born with a life-limiting condition. The families and children we support are facing some of the greatest challenges in life, but they are strong, resilient and inspirational to us.”
“We thank the state government for its commitment and for ensuring Victoria’s most vulnerable families will have access to Australia’s most state-of-the-art hospice,” he said.
Demolition of the current hospice was rescheduled to August 2021 after COVID-19 caused a six-month delay. It will be completely rebuilt to ensure it continues to provide the best level of care well into the future.
The new facility is due to open in early 2023.
A special Capital Campaign committee was established to ensure we raise the ambitious target, chaired by Telstra CEO Andy Penn. Life Governors, Paula Fox AO and Connie Kimberley were appointed Patrons of the capital appeal committee. Former Federal Cabinet Minister the Hon. Kelly O’Dwyer, businessmen Glenn Carmody and Neville Azzopardi, Very Special Kids CEO, Michael Wasley, Board Chairman Peter Polson, and Patron, Sister Margaret Noone AM IVBM also serve on the committee.
Very Special Kids
321 Glenferrie Road Malvern
Victoria 3144
Free call 1800 888 875
Email mail@vsk.org.au
Fundraising Reg. FR0009938
