Healthcare
WA Children’s Hospice
The WA children’s hospice will provide all the care of a hospital with the feel of a home for these children and their families.
Addressing a significant gap in Western Australia’s healthcare services, the hospice will alleviate the prolonged emotional, economic, and psychological burdens faced by families whose children may live with complex diagnoses for weeks, months, or even years.
Overview
facility
children’s hospice
pool
Project Background
The Boodja Mia (Sandcastles) Hospice represents a landmark collaboration between the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) and the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).
With the support of the state and federal governments, alongside generous contributions from corporate sponsors and community donors, this visionary partnership reflects a shared commitment to providing compassionate and dignified care for children with life-limiting conditions. Boodja Mia is Western Australia’s first purpose-built paediatric hospice, created to offer specialised palliative care and respite services to young patients and their families, ensuring they receive the emotional, medical, and practical support they need in a nurturing and culturally sensitive environment.
In 2021, PCHF appointed Hesperia as the project principal to oversee the hospice’s design, development, and delivery. With expertise in complex healthcare infrastructure and community-focused design, Hesperia has guided the project through each phase with a commitment to excellence, accessibility, and sustainability. The resulting facility is more than a building—it is a testament to collaborative innovation and heartfelt purpose, designed to meet the unique needs of children and their loved ones during the most challenging times of their lives.
Project Details
Sandcastles has been carefully designed to provide a warm, welcoming, and functional environment tailored to the unique needs of children requiring palliative care and their families.
The facility features seven guest bedrooms and two spacious family suites, allowing loved ones to stay close and connected during care. A dedicated hydrotherapy pool offers physical relief and therapeutic benefit, while communal living areas, therapy rooms, and play spaces provide opportunities for rest, creativity, and meaningful interaction. Every aspect of the hospice layout has been shaped with comfort, privacy, and family-centred care at its core.
Nestled in Swanbourne, just a short walk from the beach and local parklands, the hospice is thoughtfully integrated into its coastal surroundings. Landscaped gardens and open-air courtyards are designed to promote a deep connection to nature, creating a serene setting that supports emotional healing and calm. The architecture and outdoor spaces invite engagement with the broader community and reflect a sensitive balance between clinical care and homelike comfort—ensuring that children and families experience moments of joy, peace, and togetherness in a setting that feels both safe and inspiring.