Child Life and Music Therapy

Together we are making a BIG difference for little kids and their families.

Since our inaugural year in 2016 Phil' raised over $415,000! This is thanks to the hard work of student volunteers and the generosity of the community! All funds go directly to Child Life and Music Therapy at the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. Click the button below to read in detail about where the money raised went and how it is making a big difference for sick kids and their families.

2018 Impact Report 2019 Impact Report

What is Child Life Therapy?

According to the Association of Child Life Therapist Australia

"Child Life Therapists are healthcare professionals specialising in child development, with a background in education and/or other fields of healthcare. Child Life Therapy involves evidence-based interventions, which aim to reduce the stress and anxiety that can be associated with hospitalisation by focusing on developmental, social and emotional wellbeing. Specifically, child life therapy services may include general ‘medical play’, which seeks to correct misconceptions and reduce anxiety around medical experiences. Specific play sessions focusing on procedures and useful coping skills have shown to reduce anticipatory anxiety, distress and positively impact future procedures."

What is Music Therapy?

According to the Australian Music Therapy Association

"Music therapy is a research-based practice and profession in which music is used to actively support people as they strive to improve their health, functioning and wellbeing. Music therapy is the intentional use of music by a university trained professional who is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc. Registered music therapists draw on an extensive body of research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice. Music therapists incorporate a range of music making methods within and through a therapeutic relationship. They are employed in a variety of sectors including health, community, aged care, disability, early childhood, and private practice. Music therapy is different from music education and entertainment as it focuses on health, functioning and wellbeing."

When the Child Life and Music Therapists are here, she can just be herself in a way. She can be loud, she can be smiling, it just makes her day - it really does.

Harvey's Story

Molly's Story

Even a small donation can make a BIG difference

$10 BUBBLES

Used by Child Life but also nursing and medical staff to distract and calm children all over the hospital.

$20-$35 BABY TOYS

High quality, durable toys for use in waiting room, playrooms and for little people in isolation.

$65 BUZZY’S

Buzzy is a small device which can be attached to a tourniquet with an ice pack – Buzzy vibrates – the cold from the icepack and the vibration from buzzy interrupt the pain path way and help to make injections, blood tests and cannulations less painful.

$100-$250 SENSORY TOYS

Specialised toys for children with special needs – allowing them to interact through the use of switches and through the use of high contrast textures, sounds and light .

$150 PORTABLE DVD PLAYERS

Used by children who are confined to bed or isolation room.

$150 DISTRACTION KITS

Kits of toys, puzzles and other items that can be used during painful and invasive procedures to distract children from the pain and anxiety they may be feeling.

$55,140 FOR A YEAR, $4,595 FOR A MONTH $1,061 FOR A WEEK THERAPISTS

Help fund a part-time Music Therapist or a Child Life Therapist in the Emergency Department, the specially trained Music and Child Life Therapists provide positive Hospital experiences for sick and injured children. These specially trained therapists distract children from painful procedures, educate them on upcoming procedures to reduce their fears or provide entertainment for those who may have to endure a long stay in hospital.