Things to do in hospital: The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Clown Doctors
While in hospital you might be lucky enough to have a visit from a very special doctor – a Clown Doctor! Clown Doctors visit all wards within the hospital with the aim of bringing a little fun and silliness to brighten up your day.
Starlight Room
The Starlight Express Room is a doctor and nurse-free zone where kids and teens can come for some fun, including the latest computer games, movies, crafts and activities.
Kids who are too sick to leave their beds can join in the fun via the daily Captain Starlight shows that are broadcast to their bedside TVs.
Join Captain Starlight for Starlight Hits in the Starlight Express Room and via starlight TV. Starlight Hits is an interactive fun Music program.
Request your favourite music video clips from the latest top 40 hits to the classics.
Starlight Hits Hours Monday – Thursday 6.00pm – 7.30pm.
A visit to the Starlight Room is a must during your hospital stay!
Livewire!
Livewire
By day, Livewire delivers activities on the wards, whilst at night, the Starlight Express Room becomes a teen hangout. A chill out zone where you can be social, connect with others, chat with the Livewire Facilitators or take part in a fun workshop.
Some of the fantastic workshops in the Starlight Express Room are light photography, nerf gun challenges, screen printing on t-shirts, tie dying or just hanging out and listening to music. The Livewire Facilitators can also come to your ward to chat with you at your bedside.
Livewire team at Westmead are around everyday, 1pm - 7.30pm
To contact the Livewire Facilitators text or call:
The Children's Hospital at Westmead – 0405 580 754
Playgrounds and gardens
Head down the ramp from the hospital foyer and head outside to explore the George Gregan Foundation all-access playground.
Just outside the doors to the gardens there is an undercover area with giant chess and checkers games. Bring your friends or family down and play a game.
At the end of the garden is the labyrinth. You can follow the path to the centre. Don’t worry, you won’t get lost! A labyrinth has only one path, so you don’t need to make it decisions. It is very calming, so can help you to feel relaxed.
Also take the time to visit the Chinese Gardens, where you will see a waterfall, fish and a pagoda in the beautiful garden surrounds.
Art
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead has so many beautiful artworks on display that it is actually a registered Art Gallery. Australia's greatest artists have donated works to the collection.
Lots of the artworks you will see have been done by children or young people through Operation Art, a program where kids in NSW schools combine their creative spirit with a desire to help other kids by creating artworks for kids in hospital.
Sculptures are inside the Hospital and in the grounds. Explore and take the sculpture walk.
Youth Arts and Group Program
The Youth Arts and Group programs are for 12-18 year olds at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Group sessions are held most weekday afternoons from 2pm to 3.30pm in the Adolescent Medicine Group Room on level one of the Hospital. Most groups have an art focus and patients are given opportunities to dabble in a range of art practices, including drawing and painting, photography, video, ceramics, sculpture, creative writing, print-making and craft. Join in these sessions to have fun, get creative and socialise with other adolescents.
Individual (bedside) art activities and programs also exist - speak to your nurse for more details or contact the Arts Coordinators in Adolescent Medicine on internal extension 52446.
The Youth Arts Program also run larger scale projects that invite participation from all teenagers, staff, friends and family. Have a look at some past projects. Details about current projects and art competitions are available from the Department of Adolescent Medicine.
Delta Dogs
Delta Dogs visit the Hospital to bring some joy to kids and teens and to help remind them of their pets they are missing at home. Nothing brings a smile like a kiss from a wet nose, a shake of a paw or a floppy ear to listen to your worries .
The Delta Dogs comfort and inspire many patients in hospital and their visits are a real highlight for patients and families.
Fun visitors
Lots of special visitors come to the Hospital regularly. You might be lucky enough to meet your favourite sports star, character or singer. You never know who (or what!) you will meet in hospital! The Australian Reptile Park and Kindifarm visit regularly.
Book Bunker
The Book Bunker is a special library created by Scholastic Australia for kids and young people in hospital. You can either come and visit the library or volunteer librarians will come to the ward with books to suit all ages. They even have books in other languages!
WiFi
Passing the time while in hospital is not always easy, which is why we now have our free guest WiFi to help you stay connected and entertained during your visit.
When connecting to WiFi please make sure you ask a parent or guardian for assistance.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to connect to our WiFi.