Perth Children's Hospital and Health Service

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Perth Children's Hospital and Health Service

Western Australia's specialist paediatric hospital and child health service

CAHS treats children from around Western Australia, and is committed to programs that promote lifelong health in children and adolescents. Our health service is made up of Neonatology, Community Health, Mental Health and Perth Children’s Hospital. CAHS employs over 4,000 people and provides services throughout the community within metropolitan Perth; operating the State’s only dedicated tertiary paediatric hospital (Perth Children’s Hospital); providing specialised state wide services; as well as providing support to other hospitals and health services for children and adolescents across Western Australia.

27/03/2026

Feeding myth 3: Feeding is an easy and simple process

While it may seem simple, feeding is an incredibly complex skill. Every sip of milk or bite of food involves the brain, body, senses, and emotions working together. Being tuned in and responsive to your baby’s cues supports them to make sense of this complex skill.

🧠 Feeding takes more effort than it looks
Each time your baby swallows, they use 26 muscles and 6 cranial nerves. Feeding also requires your baby to suck, swallow, and breathe in a coordinated rhythm.

👶 Feeding uses all your baby’s senses
Feeding isn’t just about milk or food; it’s a full sensory experience. Babies need to:
👄 Feel the ni**le, bottle, or spoon in their mouth
👃 Smell the milk or food
👀 Adjust to lights, sounds, and distractions in the feeding environment
🧠 Balance breathing, posture, and hunger cues all at once
🔍 Feeding success depends on many things

✔️ Muscles and nerves working together
✔️ An environment that matches your baby’s needs
✔️ Emotional support from parents or carers
✔️ Baby’s posture, breathing, and comfort
✔️ Feeding that feels relaxed and not pressured

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

24/03/2026

Have you or your child experienced outstanding care from our staff or volunteers? We want to know!

Nominations for the Child and Adolescent Health Service Annual Excellence Awards close at 5pm this Friday 27 March.

The awards celebrate the amazing work and commitment to care of our staff, volunteers and teams across:

• Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology
• Child and Adolescent Community Health and
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Fill out the nomination form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ub4mXTDXQ0OiUdFwyoY3fE2hynVdYj5Kvj6bodHBzkBUQzZZMzhOT1hTVFZSMzNUTU1GMEVSTFM1NiQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

19/03/2026

Feeding myth 2: My baby will feed the same amount at the same time each day

Babies and toddlers eat different amounts on different days, just like adults! Your child’s appetite can change based on:

🔁 Growth spurts
🦷 Teething or feeling unwell
💤 Sleep, activity, or mood changes
🧠 Development
⚽Day to day activities
📊 Studies have shown that babies and toddlers still get the right amount of food overall, even if individual meals may vary.

If your child eats less at one meal, they’ll likely make up for it later, and feeding should be flexible. All children are different and comparing the amount they eat/when they eat can cause unnecessary stress.

Every child has their own appetite, and they are good at knowing how much food they need from a young age.

Making them eat the same amount each time can make mealtimes trickier in the future and stop them from learning to listen to their hunger and fullness cues.

👀 That’s why responsive feeding (following your baby’s cues) rather than watching the clock is best.

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

18/03/2026

On Swallowing Awareness Day, we’re sharing the story of Saoirse, who has experienced significant challenges with swallowing, also known as dysphagia, since birth.

Saoirse was born with 22q11 syndrome and has received care from many teams across Perth Children’s Hospital, including ENT, Respiratory, Cardiothoracics, Plastics and Early Intervention. She underwent major surgery last year to help improve her breathing and swallowing.

Her family describes her as joyful and resilient child who approaches each new milestone with determination. By sharing her journey, they hope to help other families who may be navigating similar challenges.

Swallowing difficulties affect more than one million Australians, including many infants and children.

Today we acknowledge the expertise of our speech pathologists and the many clinicians who support children with dysphagia every day.

12/03/2026

Perth Children’s Hospital now offers more than 200 translated health resources in over 25 languages - including Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Farsi, Swahili, Vietnamese and many more.

Covering everything from hospital stay information to common childhood illnesses like fever and bronchiolitis, families can now access clear, trusted information in one easy-to-use online hub.

Explore the new translated resources page on our website today!

https://pch.health.wa.gov.au/For-patients-and-visitors/Translated-resources

11/03/2026

Welcome to the Spotlight on Feeding series. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see posts debunking common feeding myths. These posts will provide evidence-based information, to make you feel more confident in your child’s feeding journey.

Feeding myth 1: Hungry Babies will always feed

It’s a myth that babies will always feed when they’re hungry. Babies may have other needs which require support before they can feed.

Feeding is a challenging skill babies must learn with practice, comfort and support from their caregiver.
There are many reasons a hungry baby may not be ready to feed:

🔹 Feeding is hard work: Coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing while feeding is tricky! Babies might get tired or upset and stop feeding, even if they’re still hungry.

🔹 Feelings and environment matter: Loud noises, distractions, parent stress, constipation, or being pushed to eat when they’re not ready can cause babies to refuse to feed.

👶 CRYING = LATE HUNGER CUE
Caregivers may notice a baby is hungry because they are crying, but by then they may be too upset to latch or feed. Try to spot the early hunger cues (image 3).

🌱 The power of responsive feeding
Trying to feed when a child is not ready can make mealtimes harder in the long run.

Responsive feeding means responding to how your baby is feeling and helping them get ready to feed, as well as following their cues within a mealtime. It builds a strong, happy bond between you and your baby, helps with your baby’s skill development and promotes a positive mealtime experience (image 4).

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

09/03/2026

We’re kicking off Neurodiversity Celebration Week early at Perth Children’s Hospital this week!

Join us this Wednesday, 11 March to learn about neurodiversity, explore community stalls, hear from amazing speakers.

You’ll also discover the range of supports available across the Child and Adolescent Health Service and the community, including inclusion and access programs across our service areas.

If you’re already onsite that morning, come up to the level 5 Auditorium and breakout spaces – teens can also jump into VR and creative activities.

06/03/2026

Congratulations to the 57 nurses who graduated this week from the Nursing Transition to Practice Program!

This amazing group began their journey with us in 2025 and have spent the past 12 months building their skills, confidence and professional identity as registered nurses.

Through clinical rotations they’ve gained invaluable experience and delivered safe, compassionate care for children and families.

We’re so proud of every one of our new graduates and can’t wait to see where their careers take them next.

04/03/2026

Today’s ward round featured AFL royalty!

With help from the Starlight Children's Foundation Australia, players from the Fremantle Dockers popped in to spread footy fun to children and young people in hospital.

Players included Sean Darcy, Sam Sturt, Heath Chapman, Andy Brayshaw and Caleb Serong who spent time with kids across Perth Children’s Hospital.

Thank you Starlight and thank you Freo – you made today brighter for so many little legends including Harry, Emily and Bodhi.

03/03/2026

Happy World Hearing Day!

Today we’re cheering on 9-year-old Jordan who has just celebrated a huge milestone … his second cochlear implant switch-on!

Jordan has had a remarkable journey so far. Born with progressive hearing loss and a rare genetic condition, he started life with hearing aids in both ears. As his hearing changed, he received his first cochlear implant in 2020 with the Children's Cochlear Implant program (CHIP) at Perth Children's Hospital.

Jordan is bilingual, using both Auslan and spoken English. After receiving his implant his hearing, and spoken English communication improved significantly, allowing him to be able to use both languages really well.

Over time, the hearing in his right ear continued to decline, and with the support of his mum, the decision was made for a second implant.

At his switch on appointment, here at PCH, Jordan was very excited to hear more – and everyday it’ll begin sound more familiar.

This milestone is even more special because Jordan is part of a family with a strong history of hearing impairment, both mum and aunty also use cochlear implants. The switch on appointment was not just a win for Jordan, but a celebration of strength across generations.

Happy World Hearing Day, and congratulations Jordan, we’re so happy for you to discover a whole new world of sound!

24/02/2026

We’re excited to welcome 77 newly graduated nurses to the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) as part of the 2026 Nursing Transition to Practice Program!

Over the next 12 months, our graduates will build their skills and confidence through clinical rotations across Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology (PCHN), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH).

The program provides a supportive learning environment where graduates are guided by nurse educators, clinical nurse managers and senior staff as they transition into their roles as registered nurses.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming our 2026 graduate nurses, we’re so happy to support your journey and watch your careers unfold.

18/02/2026

Have you or your child received exceptional care from our staff or volunteers?

Whether it was at Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology, Child and Adolescent Community Health, or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, this is your chance to recognise the outstanding people who make a real difference.

The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Annual Excellence Awards celebrate the staff and volunteers who go above and beyond – the ones who make children and young people feel safe, heard and supported every day.

If someone’s care made your experience better, we’d love to hear about it.

Nominate them for the CAHS Annual Excellence Awards before 5pm, Friday 27 March.

Submit online at - https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/About-Us/Annual-Excellence-Awards

17/02/2026

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we recognise the many children, families and staff in our community who observe this important cultural tradition.

Lunar New Year is a time for connection, reflection and fresh beginnings.

To everyone marking the occasion, we extend our warmest wishes for good health, happiness and success in the year ahead.

Happy Lunar New Year.

09/02/2026

Ground-breaking brain cancer treatment gives Maria new hope.

When 11-year-old Maria began experiencing repetitive headaches, her parents never expected it would lead to the discovery of an aggressive brain tumour.

After completing radiation therapy for high-grade glioma, Maria became the first child in Australia to join an international clinical trial testing a targeted oral treatment. The trial, led at Perth Children’s Hospital by Dr Santosh Valvi, uses two drugs designed to target a specific change in her tumour.

Until recently, families would need to travel interstate for trials like this. Now, access in Perth means children like Maria can receive treatment closer to home.

Her family is urging parents not to ignore persistent symptoms, with hope this medication will slow the tumour’s growth and improve her quality of life.

05/02/2026

Big smiles from Ezekiel at Perth Children’s Hospital today!

Fourteen-year-old Ezekiel popped into Perth Children’s Hospital for his regular check-in with our Ophthalmology team.

Ezekiel had cataract surgery on his left eye in 2024, where a brand-new lens was fitted. He’ll need ongoing monitoring as he grows, updating glasses and checking the health of both eyes.

Despite long-term appointments and the challenges of not particularly liking the doctors touching his eyes, Ezekiel’s bright personality always shines through when visiting the clinic and he has become an expert at using the slit-lamp to allow his eyes to be examined. His resilient approach to each visit inspires our team every time.

Fun fact: While many associate cataracts with ageing, they can occur in babies and children too, sometimes even from birth. Paediatric cataracts are rare but can significantly impact a child’s visual development if not treated early.

Thanks for spending some time with us today, Ezekiel, we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

02/02/2026

Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) is celebrating an extraordinary milestone as long‑serving volunteer Dolores Peverall marks an incredible 45 years of dedicated service to children, families and staff.

Dolores began her journey back in 1979 at Princess Margaret Hospital where one shift in the emergency department was all it took for her to become hooked!

Since then, she’s comforted countless little ones, supported families through tough moments, and made lifelong friends along the way. She has watched children grow up, recover, return to full health, and even met the next generation years later.

From being the only volunteer on site to now being part of a group of almost 500 volunteers, Dolores has truly seen it all.

We’re so grateful she’s still with us, bringing joy to the wards just as she did 45 years ago.

We extend out heartfelt thanks to Dolores for her extraordinary service and the immeasurable difference she continues to make every single day.

Read the full story: https://pch.health.wa.gov.au/About-us/News/Dolores-celebrates-an-extraordinary-45-year-volunteering-milestone-at-PCH

29/01/2026

Join us for the annual CAHS Nursing Expo!

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding career in child and adolescent health nursing? Don’t miss the annual Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Nursing Expo on Friday, 6 February!

This is your chance to explore the diverse and exciting nursing opportunities CAHS offers, including graduate programs and clinical specialisations, all within the dynamic world of paediatric, neonatal, child health and mental health nursing.

When: Friday, 6 February, 2–6pm
Where: Collegiate Lounge, Perth Children’s Hospital (Level 5, via Yellow Lifts)

Highlights of the Expo:
• Information stalls where you can learn about employment pathways from our experienced nurses.
• Presentations from specialist nurses.
• Guided tours of our state-of-the-art facilities.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to explore your future with us!

For more information, contact:
CAHS.NursingEducation@health.wa.gov.au

27/01/2026

This year, restorative sound healing sessions are available free of charge at Perth Children’s Hospital, thanks to the generous support of Perth Children's Hospital Foundation .

Led by sound therapist Ashe Burns, these calming sessions use gentle therapeutic sound and vibration to help soothe the nervous system, ease tension and support overall wellbeing. All you need to do is lie back on the provided mats, cushions and bolsters and allow the peaceful sound bath to wash over you.

Monthly on Tuesdays throughout 2026
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Multi‑Faith Centre, Level 5, PCH (take the Green lifts)
For parents and carers of children at PCH

2026 dates:
17 Feb, 17 Mar, 21 Apr, 19 May, 16 Jun, 21 Jul, 18 Aug, 15 Sep, 20 Oct, 17 Nov, 15 Dec

No bookings needed – drop in and take a moment just for you.

16/01/2026

If your children are enjoying new toys, rides or gadgets these school holidays, make sure to check that everything they’re playing with is safe.

Our Emergency Department teams often see injuries from some of the most popular items, including:

⚠️ Button batteries – can cause serious internal burns if swallowed. Do a quick “drop test” from waist height to the floor to make sure battery compartments don’t pop open.
⚠️ High powered magnets – dangerous if swallowed as they can latch together inside the body.
⚠️ E scooters and e rideables – illegal for kids under 16 in WA, and older teens should always wear helmets, protective gear, and stick to the speed limits.
⚠️ Trampolines – great fun, but make sure safety nets are secure and only one jumper is on at a time.
⚠️ Water absorbent orbs – can expand inside the stomach and cause blockages if swallowed.
⚠️ Toy guns – projectiles can cause serious eye injuries.

To keep your kids safe, try to buy toys from trusted Australian retailers and check for secure parts, safety labels and age appropriate instructions.

31/12/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back and say thank you.

This year, across the Child and Adolescent Health Service, we were privileged to be part of more than 1.2 million moments of care.

From busy emergency rooms and hospital wards at Perth Children’s Hospital to community clinics and mental health services, every interaction tells a story.

• Over 59,000 emergency presentations at 28,000 hospital admissions at Perth Children’s Hospital.
• More than 101,000 child assessments through Child and Adolescent Community Health.
• Over 112,000 points of care delivered by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services,

Behind each number is a child, family and a team of staff, volunteers and partners who show up everyday with care and heart.

We can’t wait to do it all again in 2026 – learning, growing and continuing to do better, together.

Happy New Year from all of us at the Child and Adolescent Health Service!

Address

15 Hospital Avenue
Nedlands, WA
6009

Website

http://www.cahs.health.wa.gov.au/

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