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Zoe's Place Children's Hospice
Bub Hub E-Newsletter, April 2008, Issue 67 -
Article 3
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Zoe's Place is Queensland's first and only purpose built Children's Hospice and only one of three within Australia. Zoe's Place provides paediatric palliative care, end-of-life care and respite care as well as counselling, bereavement and sibling support to families with a child suffering a life threatening illness. After many years of fundraising, we opened the doors to our hospice in May 2006. We currently have 151 families on our books with approximately 5 referrals coming in per month. Sadly, it is estimated that there are 3,000 families in Queensland that could utilise our service. |
As you can imagine, once a child is diagnosed with a terminal illness, the family goes into turmoil. 24/7 care is usually required and families generally struggle to stay together. Thankfully, Zoe's Place can help. By providing palliative care and respite, the family has some time to recharge their batteries. All our counselling services work towards keeping the family unit together and working through the emotions that can quite easily take over as a result of such a harrowing ordeal. When the time comes we can offer a home like alternative for their child to die and assist the bereaved family through the ordeal. Unfortunately, we cannot change the outcome for these families but while they are with us, we certainly adopt the attitude that every day counts and it is never about dying but always about living.
| Zoe's Place provides an extremely vital service. It costs us $683 per bed per night to run - much cheaper than your average night stay in hospital. We receive some government funding but still need to raise a substantial amount of money to ensure our service continues. We currently only have stage one complete of a three stage hospice project and therefore do not have the capacity to assist all families that need our help. We currently have 8 beds available but upon completion of our complex (which requires approximately $2million) we will have 20 beds available as well as a specialised end-of-life facility where the whole family can come to stay, even the family pet. |  |
In a bid to raise funds to keep us operational, we have an exciting calendar of events including an intimate evening with internationally acclaimed Tenor, Peter Brocklehurst, at Brett's Wharf, Brisbane's most renowned seafood restaurant on April 20th, plus our biggest feat for 2008, the Zoe's Place Kokoda Trek. On 30th May 2008, 12 brave individuals will be taking on one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of their lives in order to raise much needed funds and awareness.
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Here at Zoe's Place we also rely heavily on corporate sponsorship, grants and particularly community support, which without, Zoe's Place would not exist. Our families and our kids are truly amazing and never fail to teach us something new. Every day is a battle for these families so it is imperative for them to have access to this 'home away from home'. When we see our families we know that Zoe's Place is achieving its purpose - making the journey for these families and their dying child a little bit easier, and in the time they have left, more memorable. We need your support to make sure it stays that way. |
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