The vision for Sydney Children's Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre (SCH1/MCCCC) project is on track to become a reality. Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler and NSW Health Minister Ryan Park this week announced construction completion of the project’s new 12-storey building.  

This $658 million redevelopment investment to transform kids’ health will combine enhanced clinical, research and educational facilities under one roof, including a new Neurosciences Centre to support patients like 16-month-old Otis. 

In his short lifetime, Otis has already shown more courage than most will ever need to muster. He lives with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumours to grow in major organs, often leading to epilepsy, developmental delays, and other challenges.   

The multiple tumours on his brain trigger daily seizures. He has additional tumours in other organs and requires a nasogastric tube to support feeding.  

Parents Katya and Brenton first visited the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit not long after Otis was born. 

“At the time, we were navigating overwhelming feelings,” Katya said.  

“The profound joy of meeting our beautiful son, mixed with the grief and uncertainty of his diagnosis. But from that moment on, we’ve never felt alone.” 

The family has experienced countless Emergency Department visits, admissions, and treatments which are emotionally exhausting and physically draining, but they say the hospital has become a second home.  

“We’ve reframed how we see hospital life. Instead of viewing it as a scary place, we now see it as somewhere we can get Otis the help he needs, take important steps forward in his journey, and learn how best to support him,” Brenton said.   

“While hospital stays are never easy, we’ve felt surrounded by compassion and community every time,” Brenton said.  

Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler and NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park met with Otis, Katya and Brenton to explore the Neurosciences Centre on the top floor of the new building, which will give patients better access to research-driven care in a setting where clinicians, researchers and allied health teams collaborate. 

Throughout the building, families will also benefit from private, single-patient bedrooms with a carer bed and ensuite, more recreation and play spaces, and dedicated areas to prepare meals.     

“Single-patient bedrooms will provide that much-needed respite, allowing families to grieve in private and tackle each day head-on, feeling rested and present,” Katya said. 

“Play spaces and shared areas will create moments for connection – those small, unexpected encounters with other families who understand what you’re going through more than anyone else.” 

With construction reaching completion, staff across the campus are now working behind the scenes to become familiar with their new environments and prepare for the late 2025 move into a facility that matches the world class care they provide every day to some of the sickest children in the state.   

Additional key features of the new building include: 

• A new and enhanced children’s intensive care unit 
• A new and larger children's emergency department   
• Co-located laboratories to support the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre’s research, education and training  
• A new medical short stay unit  
• A new virtual care centre and hospital command centre - KidsHQ  
• A day oncology centre and inpatient units, along with a dedicated bone marrow transplant unit  
• A new outdoor playground and pet park 

The project has seen the Federal and NSW Governments partner with Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, including the Kids Cancer Centre, and Children's Cancer Institute.  

Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, and Children's Cancer Institute have also made significant philanthropic contributions. 

The project is being delivered by Health Infrastructure with principal contractor John Holland.