The Wesley Hospital has proudly opened the doors to its newly renovated children’s ward, marking an exciting milestone in the care of young patients and their families.

Designed with children and young people at its heart, the new ward blends colour and creativity with safe, high-quality care to create a welcoming and supportive environment for families.

The ward officially opened in June 2026, with a blessing led by Reverend Beatriz Skippen from The Wesley’s pastoral care team.

Importantly, many much-loved features from the hospital’s previous children’s ward have been carefully preserved and reimagined in the new space.

The ward’s iconic farmyard mural and children’s playground have been thoughtfully relocated, preserving treasured features generations of families remember fondly and that hold a special place in the history of the service.

These cherished elements were made possible through the generosity of Heather and Malcolm Reid and the Reid family, in memory of their daughter, Jodie – a deeply valued colleague, friend and Registered Nurse at The Wesley Hospital.

The ward also includes a playroom and kitchen where parents and carers can take a moment to rest and recharge.

Wesley paediatric Clinical Nurse Manager, Sonia Broadby, said the new ward includes a range of features designed to enhance the hospital experience for patients and their loved ones.

“We have a range of rooms including larger family-friendly rooms, all featuring their own unique design to help keep children curious, engaged and distracted while they are in hospital,” Sonia said.

“There are lots of little details throughout the ward for children to discover, and we hope these special touches bring some joy to their experience with us.

“Our team is thrilled to be settled into the new space, and we are looking forward to welcoming many patients and families through the ward,” she said.

General Manager, Jason Burton, said the new ward reflects the hospital’s longstanding commitment to caring for children and families.

“In keeping with our mission to care for patients for life, The Wesley has proudly cared for children and young people for decades,” Jason said.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped make this new ward possible. In particular, we recognise and thank Heather and Malcolm Reid, whose ongoing generosity has helped ensure our paediatric wards continue to be the very best they can be.

“We honour their shared commitment to the health and wellbeing of children and families in our community and hope this new space will make a truly meaningful difference in the years to come,” he said.

About Wesley paediatrics

With a family-centred and holistic approach, The Wesley Hospital’s paediatric service provides comprehensive general paediatric and specialist medical and surgical services for children from birth to late teens, both in hospital stays and as day patients.

Supported by a multi-disciplinary team, Wesley paediatric specialties include orthopaedics, ear nose and throat, general and specialty surgery, rheumatology, haematology, endocrinology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, clinical immunology and allergy.

Outpatient and day patient services include respiratory, gastroenterology and developmental paediatrics.

Meet our paediatric specialists at Wesley paediatrics.