HIV services at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

The Paediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Service at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, works with children, families and pregnant women living with HIV.

Sydney Children's Hospital is the state-wide lead in the management of Paediatric HIV. It is the only service of its kind in Australia to provide medical management, psycho-social support, research, consultation and education to children and families affected by HIV.

The HIV service provides comprehensive health care to all families in NSW, regardless of where HIV positive children receive their medical treatment. The aim of the service is to help affected children and families maintain as normal a life as possible and providing children with the opportunities needed to reach their maximum potential. 

The service includes a specialist Infectious Disease Doctors, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Senior Social Worker and Dietitian. The service provides patient and family supports including camps for children and families living with HIV. 

Clinic

We hold a regular clinic in the Outpatients Department for children and families with HIV.

Appointments can only be made for children who have a referral.

To make an appointment, you can either:

• complete the webform
• call 9382 1508 and fax your referral to 9382 1580

Positive Teen Camp

The Paediatric HIV Service at Sydney Children's Hospital coordinates the only Australasian camp for HIV positive children and young people living with HIV.  ‘Teen Camp’ aims to reduce isolation, to foster peer support and to provide information, support and education about living with HIV.

What happens at camp?
Teen Camp is a safe and supportive environment where children and young people have opportunity to meet other peers living with HIV. There are daily support groups and a large range of recreational activities focusing on peer support, education, psycho-social support and group work. Teen Camp provides a place where children and young people can talk openly, share and develop friendships with peers within a supervised and stigma-free environment. 

Who can apply? 
Applications are open to any child or young person diagnosed with HIV who is living in Australia or New Zealand aged between 12 to 18 years. Children and young people need to be aware of their diagnosis in order to attend camp.

Please note children and young people attend camp on their own without their parents or carers. Staff from the Paediatric HIV Service will be in attendance, as will several of our trained and experienced volunteers. This includes holders of first aid certificates.

How long is camp?
Teen camp is held over 3 nights and 4 days at a beautiful location near Sydney.

How much does camp cost?
The camp is free of charge to all participants. Transport, accommodation, meals and activities are all included.  Funds are kindly donated from MAC Cosmetics and The Freedman Foundation.

Dates: Positive Teen Camp 2020 has been cancelled due to the risks associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19). We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Further information about future Teen Camps will be posted on this page so keep an eye out!

Camp Goodtime

Camp Goodtime is a national camp for children and families living with HIV in Australia. Camp Goodtime provides a place where families come together to talk, share and develop friendships with other positive families in a stigma free environment. The purpose of camp is to reduce isolation, to foster peer support and to provide information, education and support about living with HIV. 

Who can apply?
There must be a family member (a parent, carer or child) diagnosed with HIV. Children must be aged less than 17 years and children cannot attend the camp without the supervision of a parent or carer. Applications are open to the following families:

• A family who is newly diagnosed with HIV.
• A family with a positive child aged less than 17 years of age.
• A family who is isolated and does not have access to a state based support service with a focus on pregnant expecting mothers or families with a child aged less than 2 years of age.

Attendance at camp is not automatic and places will be allocated based on need. There may be special circumstances where a family can apply to attend at the discretion of the Camp Coordinator.

How long is camp?  The camp is held over three nights with all children and parents participating in a range of recreational activities and support groups.

Date: Further information about the next Camp Goodtime will be posted on this web page.

Volunteers

Volunteers are integral part of the Camp Goodtime, the national camp for children and families living with HIV. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network welcomes a diverse range of applicants to apply as a Camp Volunteer.

Volunteers are responsible for providing supervision, support and assistance to the children during the camp activities.  Volunteers are allocated into small groups and they work collaboratively with other volunteers in order to assist with the running and facilitation of the camp program. All Volunteers are required to undergo mandatory training and screening checks prior to their appointment in the role.

Like more information?

To register your interest in volunteering please email ann.nguyen@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9382 1851.

Resources for parents and professionals

Positive Pregnancy: If you are living with HIV and are thinking of starting a family, you may find this booklet a valuable resource in making choices about pregnancy and babies. 

Your Child and HIV: This booklet has been developed to provide information, encourage questions and assist in providing access to services and resources.