Monash Children's Hospital

Monash Children's Hospital The official Monash Children's Hospital page. We care for more than 100,000 children every year.

Monash Children’s Hospital is part of Monash Health, Victoria’s largest healthcare service and one of only four accredited Academic Health Science Centres in Australia. We have access to the world’s leading medical minds which are turning research findings into better health outcomes for our patients. Monash Children’s Hospital is a network of paediatric healthcare services across three sites – our main campus in Clayton (co-located with Monash Medical Centre) and satellite sites at Dandenong and Casey Hospitals. We have Victoria’s largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and provide leading paediatric services in Rehabilitation, Oncology, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Palliative Care. Monash Children’s Hospital is also the Victorian Referral Centre for many low-volume and high-complex cases. Our services are linked to an adult service, allowing us to provide transition-of-care as children grow older and move to an adult service. We deliver specialised, innovative, family-centred care and believe strongly in putting patients first and striving for exceptional care and outstanding outcomes.

A world-first study has found that children undergoing cancer treatment responded well to COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations. As...
11/12/2025

A world-first study has found that children undergoing cancer treatment responded well to COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations.

Associate investigator and medical oncologist at Monash Health, Dr Amy Body, said the objective of the trial was to understand how well the COVID-19 vaccine works in children with cancer, who are often undergoing treatments that reduce their immune responses.

‘Due to their treatment, these children are at increased risk of becoming severely unwell with COVID-19. But the information regarding the effectiveness of vaccination for these children was limited,’ she said.

The paper published in The American Academy of Paediatrics concluded that its data suggest vaccination during treatment may be more effective than previously thought, supporting the administration of primary vaccinations during treatment and booster doses at completion, rather than deferring vaccination altogether.

But it added one caveat to vaccinating patients undergoing treatment: to avoid live vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella due to safety concerns.

The study also noted that mRNA vaccines used in this study differ from current childhood vaccinations and may have a greater ability to stimulate the immune system compared to traditional vaccinations.

To read more about the groundbreaking study, please see the link in our comments.

08/12/2025

After 164 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Monash Children’s Hospital, baby Elliana is finally home 👶🎉

‘Elliana is going home healthy, without oxygen and without a feeding tube, just like any other baby, which is very unusual for babies born at 22 weeks. She is such a success story,’ said Dr Lindsay Zhou, Service Medical Director of Monash Newborn.

As reported by 9News, her survival against the odds is a testament to the skill, care and dedication of the Monash Health Women’s and Newborn team involved in her and her mother’s care👏

The Monash Newborn Small Baby Group, established in 2021, remains focused on improving outcomes for extremely preterm babies, those born between 22 and 24 week💙

Welcome home, Elliana! 🏡

02/12/2025

The magic of Christmas has arrived at Monash Children's Hospital with the unveiling of a stunning 6-metre-tall Christmas tree in the foyer🎄✨

Santa and his elves joined families and staff to watch patient Bonnie turn on the Christmas tree lights🎅

A Christmas sing-along followed, led by 15-year-old high school student, Tallulah 🎶

9News captured the fun and excitement of the occasion.

The magnificent tree was assembled by 11 of Santa’s helpers overnight.

‘It’s been a passion at Monash Children’s Hospital to get a grand tree to fill the beautiful space of the foyer, and this year we have been successful with getting four key donors on board,’ said Dani Smith, General Manager and Director of Nursing at Monash Children’s Hospital.

Thank you to our amazing Monash Health Foundation supporters Community Bank Dingley Village, Moose Toys, Dovecote Design Co Pty Ltd and the Order of the Eastern Star Grand Chapter of Victoria for helping bring the spirit of Christmas to our hospital👏

We are excited to announce that new dedicated sensory spaces are now open on the Aviary Ward at Monash Children’s Hospit...
01/12/2025

We are excited to announce that new dedicated sensory spaces are now open on the Aviary Ward at Monash Children’s Hospital! 🌈

This project was made possible thanks to the generosity of Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia, through their Family Centred Care Grant to the Monash Health Foundation.

The sensory spaces will support neurodiverse children, adolescents and young people who experience heightened sensitivity to noise, light, and movement — which can be particularly overwhelming for those with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or complex neurodevelopmental conditions.

‘The vision of this project was about creating not just a room, but a refuge within the ward — a place where neurodiverse children can feel safe, calm, and in control of their environment,’ said Emma Goodes, Nurse Unit Manager, Aviary Ward.

‘With the support of the Ronald McDonald House Grant, we have been able to re-purpose some of our spaces to support emotional regulation and reduce distress for our patients and families who might be facing any challenges during their stay.’

The dedicated sensory space will support patient and family wellbeing with:

💺Vibroacoustic therapy chairs
💡Sensory lighting and acoustics
｡˚○ Bubble lamps
✨Room projectors
✅Safe clinical integration of sensory features

‘We have already had so much positive feedback from families about how these inclusive spaces and tools will support them in bringing their own coping strategies into the medical setting, to provide a positive and safe experience.’

Thank you to Ronald McDonald House Charities for helping us create calm and comfort on the ward 💙

We are very proud to celebrate Mel Schubert from Monash Newborn – NEST, who has been awarded the Neonatal Nurse Family A...
25/11/2025

We are very proud to celebrate Mel Schubert from Monash Newborn – NEST, who has been awarded the Neonatal Nurse Family Appreciation Award by the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN).

This annual award recognises a neonatal nurse who has delivered exceptional care and support to families and their infants during their time in a neonatal unit. Nominated directly by families, the accolade highlights exemplary compassionate and family-centred care. This year, Mel was selected from 30 nominations submitted by families Australia-wide.

In a fitting tribute, the award was presented on World Prematurity Day, November 17th, a day dedicated to generating awareness of the challenges faced by premature babies and honouring the work of neonatal teams across the world. Mel said receiving the award was deeply meaningful.

'This is the reason we do what we do,' she said. 'To know that a family felt so supported means so much.'

We congratulate Mel on this national achievement and celebrate the dedication she brings to the Monash Newborn team and the families she supports every day 👏 💚

Meet 3-year-old twins Lola and Shelby 💙 These precious girls are now inseparable, but they spent the first two months ...
20/11/2025

Meet 3-year-old twins Lola and Shelby 💙
These precious girls are now inseparable, but they spent the first two months of their lives apart.

Born at a small weight of 2.3kg, unable to eat or breathe normally, Lola was immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Monash Children's Hospital to undergo life-saving surgery and care.

She was diagnosed with Tracheoesohageal Fistula and Oesphageal Atresia (TOF/OA), a rare condition affecting the structure of her food pipe and airway.

‘We have spent so much time in the care of the Monash Children’s Hospital and different specialties, we even celebrated our older son Louis’ birthday by Lola’s bedside,’ said Lola’s mum, Kate.

‘The hospital was a second home and a vital part of keeping Lola healthy – we are so grateful for her wonderful surgeon and specialists’.

Today, Lola is a happy, bright toddler, keeping up with her twin sister and big brother, and all the fun to be had.

‘Lola’s Team’ joined us at this year’s Monash Children’s Hospital Walk to help raise funds for our special hospital and support world-class care for more patients and families.

⭐ We’re excited to be hosting the Monash Children’s Hospital Walk back at Jells Park, on Sunday, 1 March 2026! ⭐

You can now get your team together to join us for a fun day out, all for a great cause, by registering today: www.mchwalk.com.au 🚶‍♀️👨🏼‍🦽

👶Mitchell’s life was transformed by world-class care at Monash Children's Hospital. From a lifesaving diagnosis before b...
17/11/2025

👶Mitchell’s life was transformed by world-class care at Monash Children's Hospital.

From a lifesaving diagnosis before birth, thanks to prenatal genetic testing, to an Australian-first treatment at 2 weeks old, his journey is one of hope and medical brilliance 💡🩺

‘I just find it mind-blowing – amazing – that we found out everything before Mitchell was born and then were able to save him!’ the 2-year-old's dad, Adam Hooper, told the Herald Sun.

💙 To read more about Mitchell’s story and the fantastic team behind his care for the rare blood disorder, congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP), check out the link in comments.

For more than two decades, Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia has stood with Monash Children's Hospital as a true fou...
14/11/2025

For more than two decades, Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia has stood with Monash Children's Hospital as a true founding partner – helping to provide care, support and hope to families facing a cancer diagnosis at every step of their journey 💙

Their generosity has helped ensure that families at Monash Children's Cancer Centre receive more than just medical treatment, funding clinical roles, research, and providing financial support when families need it most.

‘Every day, Kids with Cancer Foundation’s generosity makes a difference in the lives of our patients, their families, and our care teams at Monash Children's Cancer Centre,’ said Dr Michelle Martin, Director of Paediatric Oncology at Monash Children’s Cancer Centre.

‘They have always been dedicated to understanding the everyday needs of families facing cancer and the ways they can support our service to make a very real and meaningful difference.’

Since 2004, Kids with Cancer Foundation has contributed over $5 million in funding and future commitments. An extraordinary achievement, enabling us to transform care for our patients ✨

‘By funding the vital roles of a Clinical Research Nurse, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Neuropsychologist and Social Worker, our care teams can focus not only on treatment but on supporting the whole family and their lives outside of the hospital too.’

A heartfelt thank you to Kids with Cancer Foundation - this milestone is shared by every child, parent, and clinician whose journey you’ve made lighter.

Special scenes at Monash Children’s Hospital this AFLW finals season 💛🤎🥰 A big thank you to the girls at Hawthorn FC A...
06/11/2025

Special scenes at Monash Children’s Hospital this AFLW finals season 💛🤎🥰

A big thank you to the girls at Hawthorn FC AFLW for spending time with our very special patients and sharing your love for footy 🏉

Hawks Greta Bodey, Najwa Allen, Daisy Flockart, Lavinia Cox, Grace Baba and Sophie Butterworth visited us at Monash Children’s Hospital, gifting Hawks merchandise, signing autographs and lifting spirits.

Monash Children’s Hospital’s very own resident Hawk and Lagoon Ward Clerk, Hayden Auber, hosted the players’ visit alongside the Monash Health Foundation, recently returning from his own championship win!

Hayden proudly represents the Hawthorn Football Club Wheelchair AFL team and played in the recent AFL Open, where he helped lead Victoria to a Grand final win. His standout performance earned him best on ground and selection in the 2025 All Australian Team 🤩

Visits like this are so special to our patients, their families and staff. Thanks, Hawthorn Football Club, for helping create these special moments ✨

In 1987, a single room at Monash Medical Centre became the birthplace of a global movement in children’s sleep medicine....
06/11/2025

In 1987, a single room at Monash Medical Centre became the birthplace of a global movement in children’s sleep medicine.

Led by Professor Michael Adamson AM and powered by a small team including pioneering sleep technologist Sue Cranage, the first paediatric sleep studies were conducted after hours using just one bed and analogue equipment.

Nearly four decades later, that humble beginning has grown into the Melbourne Children’s Sleep Centre, a world-recognised hub for clinical care and research that improves sleep health for thousands of children each year.

The early research, driven by Professors Rosemary Horne and Michael Adamson, helped shape international safe sleep guidelines and advance understanding of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Their “bench-to-bedside” approach ensured discoveries were rapidly translated into better care.

Under the leadership of Associate Professor Margot Davey and an expanding team, the service grew from a one-bed study to a statewide, six-bed centre at Monash Children’s Hospital, equipped with cutting-edge digital monitoring and data collection systems.

Today, their database of more than 18,000 paediatric sleep studies is one of the most comprehensive in the world, driving new insights into sleep disorders, screen time, mental health, and developmental outcomes.

The team’s current work includes home-based diagnostics and studies into the long-term effects of sleep-disordered breathing, ensuring more children can be diagnosed and treated earlier.

‘Sleep doesn’t just sit in the medical box,’ says A/Prof Davey.

‘It cuts across developmental, psychological, and behavioural domains. It’s integral to everything.’

The story of paediatric sleep medicine at Monash Health and Monash University is one of persistence, innovation and collaboration, proving that small beginnings can lead to global impact.

This milestone is part of the “60 Years of Impact” series celebrating the Department of Paediatrics at Monash University, in partnership with Monash Health and the Hudson Institute of Medical Research.

To read more about our journey and the milestones we’ve achieved, check out the link in our comments.

For parents and carers, knowing when to introduce common allergy-causing foods can be really confusing. Twenty years ag...
05/11/2025

For parents and carers, knowing when to introduce common allergy-causing foods can be really confusing.

Twenty years ago, parents were advised to wait to introduce allergy-causing foods such as peanuts until their children were 3 years old.

Today, the national infant feeding advice is to offer them early in the baby’s solids journey, from 4 to 6 months.

However, it was discovered through the Monash Children’s Paediatric Allergy Clinic that parents were often advised to delay allergen introduction, unnecessarily exclude foods, undergo inappropriate allergy testing in the community, or use ineffective eczema management strategies.

Maternal and Child Health Nurses play a unique and vital role in educating families about the safe introduction of allergens during infancy.

Recognising this, the Monash Children’s Hospital Allergy Team - comprising Paediatric Allergy Dietitian Marianne Tomlin, Clinical Nurse Consultant in Allergy, Elizabeth Stevenson-Smith, and Head of Paediatric Allergy and Paediatric Allergist Immunologist Dr Paxton Loke - developed an innovative online education program to strengthen the knowledge and confidence of Maternal and Child Health Nurses across regional and rural Victoria.

The pilot program, funded by the Federal Government for the National Allergy Council's Shared Care for Allergy project through the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), reached more than 100 Maternal and Child Health Nurses in 13 councils in Victoria.

‘With allergy, it's a really evolving area and advice is consistently changing. Later this year, we expect the introduction of solids to be republished, and again, it will be different regarding the introduction of allergenic foods,’ said Marianne.

To read more about the program, please see the link in our comments.

Meet Taylah 💙Taylah was a vibrant, active teenager.Then, at just 14 years old, she was diagnosed with an aggressive canc...
29/10/2025

Meet Taylah 💙

Taylah was a vibrant, active teenager.

Then, at just 14 years old, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Taylah went through years of treatments, which took an enormous toll on her physical and mental health. It was a journey that demanded extraordinary strength and resilience.

‘If I had something where my mind could escape the treatments – like virtual reality – where you are not just looking at the hospital room or seeing the needles and the things going into your body, it would have been a much easier experience,’ Taylah reflected.

Now 25 years old, she is cancer-free and pursuing her career in science and medicine and supporting other adolescents and young adults facing a cancer diagnosis.

With your support, we can help give 15 to 25-year-old cancer patients, like Taylah, access to the same proven pain and anxiety management tools used in paediatric care at Monash Health.

✨ Smileyscopes – virtual reality headsets with engaging content for this age group, including guided meditations

🐝 Buzzy Bees – vibrating medical devices to help relieve the perception of pain

‘Meditation and visualisation really helped me. Imagine how much more impactful this would be through virtual reality,’ said Taylah.

Your gift today will help transport adolescents and young adults undergoing cancer therapy from a world of distress to a world of calm.

Donate at: https://monashhealth.org/foundation-2025festive/

Address

Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road
Noble Park, VIC
3168

Telephone

+61395946666

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Monash Children's Hospital posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Monash Children's Hospital:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Our community guidelines

These guidelines are in place to help create a safe online community, in the same way that we support a healthy community in the real world.

The aim of our social media channels is to build positive relationships with our community and we ask that anyone engaging with our social media channels shows courtesy, kindness and respect for all other members of our social media communities.

These guidelines apply to anyone on our social media channels, whether engaging directly with us or other social media users.

By engaging with our social media channels you agree to these guidelines.