Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

26/02/2026

Our new 12 storey building was officially opened this week by NSW Premier Chris Minns, Health Minister Ryan Park MP, Marjorie O’Neill - Member for Coogee and Matt Thistlethwaite MP.

The new facility is set to reshape the experience of care for families from across NSW, including families like Belle’s.

Belle was born at 27 weeks, weighing just 513 grams. Now three, she lives with chronic lung disease and still needs urgent care when her breathing worsens.

Belle’s family are already familiar with the larger Emergency Department at the heart of the new building. “It feels much bigger and brighter,” Belle’s mum Emily says. “The private triage rooms and spaces for parents make it calmer for children.”

Among other new building features include single-patient bedrooms with carer beds, a new playground, and more areas for families to take a break and prepare meals. Premier Chris Minns said the new building“ is an extraordinary milestone for the healthcare of children, young people and families across the state”.

Delivered by Health Infrastructure with John Holland and BLP architects, and supported by the Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation, this investment ensures families like Belle’s are cared for in facilities designed with their needs in mind.

23/02/2026

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our local community.

A big thank you to Paddington-Woollahra RSL Sub-Branch, Helensburgh RSL, Penrith RSL, Maroubra RSL sub-Branch, Penshurst RSL ,Australian Army, Sydney University Regiment, 8th Brigade Training and 5th Combat Services Support Battalion 5th Brigade who hosted a special community BBQ at our hospital for patients, families and staff.

It was extra special to see the Army, AirForce, and Navy officers not only attending, but cooking, serving and spending meaningful time with patients and families. There were smiles everywhere and even a little dancing and singing throughout the day.

A special thank you to Anthony and the Tree of Wisdom from The Wiggles for a wonderful performance and for lending a hand in the BBQ. Your music brought so much joy to everyone there.

Events like this remind us how fortunate we are to be surrounded by such a caring and generous community.

Thank you for making a real difference for our patients, their families and staff.

We couldn’t do it without you.💙

18/02/2026

Fifty incredible artworks created by students in Years K-10 are now on display at the Art Gallery of NSW as part of the 2026 Operation Art Hospital 50 Exhibition.

With over 600 artworks submitted from 256 schools, the joint initiative between our hospitals and NSW Department of Education invited students to create powerful artworks with one purpose: to put a smile on the faces of children and families going through really tough times.

The selected works will become part of the permanent collections at both The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick — bringing joy to patients for years to come.

Another big congratulations to our 2026 award winners 🏆
- Elsa (Artarmon Public School) – Patient Pick for “Petals and Paws”
- Cooper (Binalong Public School) – Curator’s Choice for “Hot Dog”
- Belinda (Strathfield Girls High School) and teacher Adrian Mok – Outstanding Teacher and Student Award for “Rays”
- Harmoney (Young Public School) – Danny Eastwood Indigenous Art Award for “My Landscape”

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to every student who participated — your creativity is making a real difference. 💛

17/02/2026

We’re so excited to welcome our new graduate nurses joining us across the Network!

With 29 nurses starting at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and 24 nurses at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, our nurses will be working in multidisciplinary teams alongside experienced staff who will support them to gain the skills and knowledge required to care for NSW’s diverse communities in a variety of clinical settings, including the emergency department, acute services, mental health and other specialities.

Starting as a new graduate in the Oncology ward, Steven Duff shares, “There’s something incredibly special about caring for children. They’re brave in ways that constantly surprise me, even in moments that would challenge most adults. Being able to support not only them, but also their families, especially on what may be one of their hardest days, is something that sits close to my heart. I believe every child deserves the chance to grow, laugh, and live well, and if I can help make even a small difference in that journey, then I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, doing work that feels purposeful”.

Jessica Eadie, who joins the team at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, says, “I am looking forward to being part of the children’s and family’s journeys and hope I can bring a bit of sunshine and healing to what would be one of the greatest challenges a family could experience. I’m also looking forward to learning how to provide the highest quality of care by working in a variety of incredible multidisciplinary teams at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, which I know is a great place to learn and cultivate skills to be the best nurse for each patient.

Welcome to the team - we're so proud to have you! 💙

14/02/2026

As Director of the Kids Cancer Centre, Dr Richard Mitchell leads a team dedicated to caring for children with cancer, alongside his clinical work as a paediatric oncologist and bone marrow transplant physician.

For Dr Mitchell, this work is both a profession and a profound privilege.

“It is incredibly rewarding to support children and their families through their difficult journeys and to invest in their future so they can grow into healthy, happy young people.”

A major focus of his work is expanding access to care for children with cancer through the Kids Cancer Centre Outreach Program.

“The goal of the outreach program is to deliver care as close to home as possible, as safely as possible.”

Through outreach clinics, specialist doctors and nurses travel to metropolitan, regional and rural communities across NSW and the ACT, delivering care closer to home while partnering with local health services to support shared care.

“By bringing specialist clinicians to our outreach partners, families can spend more time at home in their local community and access more care locally, reducing the travel and dislocation required when a child is unwell.”

Strengthening local capability is also a key part of the program, giving regional and rural teams the skills and confidence to care for children with cancer within their own communities. This not only improves access to treatment, but helps keep children connected to school, parents to work and families together during an already challenging time.

“Our passionate teams are committed to providing the very best care and by growing our outreach partnerships, we’re building a shared care network that wraps around every child and family.”

Today, on International Childhood Cancer Day, we stand alongside every child and family impacted by childhood cancer.

12/02/2026

🤕 A playground tumble can turn fun into a worry, but thankfully instant health advice is just a call away.

📞 If your child needs non-urgent medical assistance, call Healthdirect for free on 1800 022 222, anytime of day or night. A registered nurse will help connect you to the right place so your child can get the care they need.

11/02/2026

| “There are so many ways to be a woman in science, and you need to find the pathway that aligns with your professional and personal goals.

As both a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Physiotherapist, my days vary greatly from working behind a screen writing a new research protocol, analysing data, writing papers, through to jumping into the neuromuscular clinic to assess a child’s motor function for a research study.

I am currently working on a new project to measure motor function in very young children with neuromuscular disorders using advanced wearable sensors and am excited to see how this new technology changes the field!”

Dr Mel Mandarakas is a Physiotherapist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, University of NSW Sydney and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).

“My career in research has taken me around the world, working in busy Bangkok clinics, learning from top scientists of my field in Cuba, and living in the Netherlands to work on international collaborative projects whilst starting my own family. When I look back at the uncertain girl embarking on Honours and getting nervous presenting at conferences full of men in suits, it is humbling to remember how far I have come.

At the moment my role is part-time, so on my days off I am caring for my own two exuberant little ones! Being a mum, I feel I can connect with families and children on a deeper level, and this has only improved my work.

I want to say to women thinking about working in science that you can have it all! Both a meaningful career and family life. I have been fortunate to have had many strong female role models in my career, and I hope that I can maybe be one for someone else.”

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science and a chance to celebrate and recognise the work of our extraordinary cohort of women like Mel. Their dedication, expertise and compassion are helping bring about scientific breakthroughs in childhood health research.

10/02/2026

09/02/2026

🐍 Australia is home to some of the world’s most venomous snakes that can give a life-threatening bite if they feel scared.

🌿💡 This summer, teach your kids to look but not touch when adventuring outdoors!

🚑 If a child gets bitten, every second counts. Treat any bite as serious and call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

03/02/2026

The Wiggles checked out the new playground at the new hospital building... and let's just say, it's Wiggle-approved!

A new space made possible through the support of Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation and its generous donors.

02/02/2026

From toddlers to school children and teenagers, poor mental health can affect us all in different ways, shapes and forms.

That's why it's important to learn how to help children care for their mental health and provide the right kind of support as parents and carers.

Dr Michelle Wong, Clinical Psychologist at Sydney Children's Hospital Network, shares age-appropriate tips and simple techniques that can become daily habits to help children care for their mental health.

Learn more about how to support your child's mental wellbeing on the SCHN Kids Health Hub.

27/01/2026

The 2026 Australia Day Honours List has been announced, shining a spotlight on two exceptional members of our Network whose dedication has helped transform the lives of children and young people across Australia.

A very special congratulations to:

🏆 Associate Professor David Dossetor, Medical Head of Developmental Psychiatry, who has been awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division for his distinguished service to psychiatry spanning more than 45 years.

David is widely recognised for his significant contributions to neurodevelopmental mental health in children and adolescents, as well as for his commitment to educating paediatric clinicians.

Leading the Department of Psychological Medicine since 1981, David has had many achievements including co-founding the Westmead Feelings Program, which supports the emotional skills and wellbeing of autistic children and the Child and Adolescent Intellectual Disability Hub, a short-term consultation service improving mental health outcomes for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

🏆 Dr Mary McCaskill, Director of Medical Services and Clinical Governance, who was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for her outstanding public service to NSW Health through leadership in patient care and safety.

Mary is a highly respected clinician and leader, known for her unwavering commitment to putting the needs of every child first. Throughout her more than 40 year career, she has supported families through some of their most traumatic experiences, guided medical teams to deliver exceptional care, and led SCHN’s response during times of crisis, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mary has also played a key role in the implementation and advocacy of the Between the Flags safety-net system, improving patient outcomes through early recognition and escalation of clinical deterioration, and continues to work regular frontline clinical shifts as a senior emergency department medical officer, ensuring clinical insight remains central to her leadership.

Congratulations also to The Honourable Kristina Keneally, CEO of Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation, who received the Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division for her distinguished service to the people and the Parliament of Australia, to the Parliament of NSW, particularly as Premier, and to the community.

These awards are an incredible achievement and well-deserved recognition of the lasting difference each of these individuals has made.