Perth Children's Hospital and Health Service

26/04/2026

This week, we’re celebrating Patient Experience Week, showcasing the power of listening to patients, clients, families and carers, and to recognise how their voices help shape safer, kinder and more compassionate care across the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).

To mark the week, we’re hosting a Patient Experience Week pop-up stall in the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Atrium on Tuesday 28 April from 9:30am to 11:30am. Children, young people and families are warmly invited to drop by and enjoy a fun, welcoming morning together.

There will be creative crafts and hands-on activities for children.

Captain Starlight will be joining us to make balloon animals and share smiles.

Visitors can also write messages of thanks to staff, recognising the care and kindness they’ve experienced at PCH or any of our CAHS services.

If you’re visiting PCH on Tuesday, please come along and help us celebrate the small moments that make a big difference.

24/04/2026

Never underestimate the power of music.

Faces lit up in delight at the most recent Hospital Orchestra Project performance, a long-running partnership between and the School of
Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health, supported by Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH).

WASO's skilled violin duo generously performed across classrooms, wards and the atrium before popping into the Starlight Express room to stream their music to every inpatient room. This visit was made extra special and interactive when current Child and Adolescent Health Service Artists in Residence Di Filippo Marionette and their charming puppets joined the performance.

Thank you for bringing joy and music into the hospital.

22/04/2026

Feeding myth 6: "My friend said [this professional] can help with my baby's feeding!"

It’s completely normal to talk to friends and family about your baby's feeding, but lots of opinions can be overwhelming.

When deciding what to do next or who to ask for support, it’s important to pause and check:

• Is the advice backed by strong evidence?
• Does my baby have the same problem as my friend's baby?
• Which professionals are trained to support infant feeding?
• Does this work for me and my baby, and fit with my values as a parent?

Feeding challenges are complex because feeding involves muscles, nerves, growth, relationships, sensory needs, regulation and coordination. There's strong evidence that GPs, paediatricians, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, lactation consultants, dietitians and psychologists can help.

If you're worried about feeding, your best first steps are:
✅ Talk to your GP
✅ Visit your child health nurse
✅ Seek help from feeding specialists

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

21/04/2026

Become a CAHS Consumer rep!

The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) works closely with consumer representatives to ensure our health service is responsive to the feedback and needs of the families we serve.

We currently have a number of opportunities to join key advisory groups:

‣ Parent and Carer Advisory Group: seeking 4 new members with children aged 0 to 18 years who live in WA.

‣ Neonatology Family Integrated Care Committee: seeking families who have
received care from CAHS Neonatology at King Edward Memorial Hospital in the
last 5 years.

‣ Oncology and Haematology Parent and Patient Advisory Group: seeking up to 10
parents, carers and past patients of the Oncology and Haematology department at Perth Children’s Hospital or Princess Margaret Hospital.

To learn more about these groups and apply, visit https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/For-families-and-carers/Consumer-engagement/Become-a-consumer-representative

15/04/2026

Would you like flu protection for your child without the stress of a needle? Yes please! And now you can.

FluMist is now available for eligible Western Australian children aged 2 to 11 years.

The intranasal spray vaccine offers families a simple and painless alternative to the traditional injection. It’s safe and highly effective, providing the same protection as the traditional injection vaccine.

FluMist is available through Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH) Immunisation clinics and at the Perth Children’s Hospital Stan Perron Immunisation Centre, as well as GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and pharmacies across the state.

Register for an appointment at one of our CACH community clinics at https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/Our-services/Community-Health/Immunisation/Register-for-an-appointment

Learn more on our website https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/News/2026/04/14/Needle-free-flu-vaccine-now-available-for-WA-kids

14/04/2026

Feeding myth 5: Babies spit out food they don’t like.

Is your baby spitting out food? It's probably not because they don’t like it.

It’s normal for babies to reject new foods at first. Babies are often hesitant to try new tastes and textures and need to try new foods 10-15 times before accepting them. It often takes time, positive practice and just the right challenge to get used to them.

🧠 The tongue-thrust reflex:
When babies start eating solids, they might push food out with their tongue. This is a natural reflex that helps protect them while they learn to swallow. It’s strongest in younger babies and usually fades around 4-6 months.
So, how can you help support your child to enjoy new foods?

🖐️ Sensory exploration:
Exploring food helps babies feel comfortable with new tastes and textures. Some babies need to see, touch, and smell food several times before they’re ready to eat it. Messy mealtimes support progress!

💬 Communication:
Spitting food out or throwing food on the floor can be your baby's way of communicating with you. Consider other things they might be wanting to tell you in the mealtime (e.g. I want to play, I want attention, I’m tired, I’m finished).

🌀 Setting just the right pace:
Like learning to crawl or talk, feeding takes practise. Give your baby lots of chances to try new foods. Keep it fun, stay calm, and celebrate the small wins. The more positive experiences they have with food, the more likely they are to accept it.

Keep offering new foods without pressure and celebrate every small step forward!

Establishing positive experiences around mealtimes in the early days supports lifelong enjoyment of mealtimes. It promotes an environment where families can be together, share stories, learn culture, and make mealtimes meaningful!

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

10/04/2026

Not sure where to go when your child or young person needs healthcare?

The WA Government has launched Access Health WA – a new, easy-to-use website that brings together healthcare options across WA, all in one place.

From urgent care clinics and GPs to virtual emergency care and pharmacy services, it’s designed to help you find the right care, at the right time.

Have a look and get to know your options: www.access.health.wa.gov.au

05/04/2026

Happy Easter from all of us at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) and the Child and Adolescent Health Service.

The Easter Bunny has brought a special delivery to all the children at PCH today, with easter eggs hopping onto every inpatient’s lunch tray.

Thank you to the generosity of Kingdomcity Perth who also donated Easter treats earlier in the week to make the holiday a little bit sweeter for the children, young people and families in our care.

04/04/2026

Feeding myth 4: Choking/Gagging confusion – what's normal and what’s not

It’s easy to confuse gagging with choking when babies first start solids, but they are very different.

👅 Gagging is normal and protective
Gagging is a noisy reflex that helps push food forward if your baby isn’t ready to swallow.
You might see:
🤧 Coughing or retching
💦 Sputtering or spitting out food
😖 Gagging sounds or grimacing
🔴 Brief redness in the face

During a gag, the airway stays open, and your baby can still breathe.

Babies naturally gag more around 6–7 months because their gag reflex is closer to the front of the mouth. As they grow, the gag reflex moves further back, and they gag less.

🆚 Choking is different and dangerous
Choking happens when the airway is blocked.
Signs of choking include:
😶 Silence (can't cry or cough)
😮‍💨 High-pitched squeaks
🔵 Blue or pale skin
😰 Struggling to breathe or looking panicked

🚨 Choking is an emergency. If your baby can’t breathe or make noise, act fast with infant first aid.

Gagging = noisy + breathing
Choking = silent + struggling

Understanding the difference can help you stay calm and keep mealtimes safe and positive. 💚

Reduce gagging by offering age-appropriate soft food and sit with your baby during meals.

When gagging does occur, stay calm to help your baby understand the experience and give them the confidence to manage. If your baby is distressed during gagging, help them clear their mouth using your finger and learn infant first aid so you’re prepared.

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

02/04/2026

27/03/2026

Feeding myth 3: Feeding is an easy and simple process

While it may seem simple, feeding is an incredibly complex skill. Every sip of milk or bite of food involves the brain, body, senses, and emotions working together. Being tuned in and responsive to your baby’s cues supports them to make sense of this complex skill.

🧠 Feeding takes more effort than it looks
Each time your baby swallows, they use 26 muscles and 6 cranial nerves. Feeding also requires your baby to suck, swallow, and breathe in a coordinated rhythm.

👶 Feeding uses all your baby’s senses
Feeding isn’t just about milk or food; it’s a full sensory experience. Babies need to:
👄 Feel the ni**le, bottle, or spoon in their mouth
👃 Smell the milk or food
👀 Adjust to lights, sounds, and distractions in the feeding environment
🧠 Balance breathing, posture, and hunger cues all at once
🔍 Feeding success depends on many things

✔️ Muscles and nerves working together
✔️ An environment that matches your baby’s needs
✔️ Emotional support from parents or carers
✔️ Baby’s posture, breathing, and comfort
✔️ Feeding that feels relaxed and not pressured

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

24/03/2026

Have you or your child experienced outstanding care from our staff or volunteers? We want to know!

Nominations for the Child and Adolescent Health Service Annual Excellence Awards close at 5pm this Friday 27 March.

The awards celebrate the amazing work and commitment to care of our staff, volunteers and teams across:

• Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology
• Child and Adolescent Community Health and
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Fill out the nomination form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ub4mXTDXQ0OiUdFwyoY3fE2hynVdYj5Kvj6bodHBzkBUQzZZMzhOT1hTVFZSMzNUTU1GMEVSTFM1NiQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

19/03/2026

Feeding myth 2: My baby will feed the same amount at the same time each day

Babies and toddlers eat different amounts on different days, just like adults! Your child’s appetite can change based on:

🔁 Growth spurts
🦷 Teething or feeling unwell
💤 Sleep, activity, or mood changes
🧠 Development
⚽Day to day activities
📊 Studies have shown that babies and toddlers still get the right amount of food overall, even if individual meals may vary.

If your child eats less at one meal, they’ll likely make up for it later, and feeding should be flexible. All children are different and comparing the amount they eat/when they eat can cause unnecessary stress.

Every child has their own appetite, and they are good at knowing how much food they need from a young age.

Making them eat the same amount each time can make mealtimes trickier in the future and stop them from learning to listen to their hunger and fullness cues.

👀 That’s why responsive feeding (following your baby’s cues) rather than watching the clock is best.

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

18/03/2026

On Swallowing Awareness Day, we’re sharing the story of Saoirse, who has experienced significant challenges with swallowing, also known as dysphagia, since birth.

Saoirse was born with 22q11 syndrome and has received care from many teams across Perth Children’s Hospital, including ENT, Respiratory, Cardiothoracics, Plastics and Early Intervention. She underwent major surgery last year to help improve her breathing and swallowing.

Her family describes her as joyful and resilient child who approaches each new milestone with determination. By sharing her journey, they hope to help other families who may be navigating similar challenges.

Swallowing difficulties affect more than one million Australians, including many infants and children.

Today we acknowledge the expertise of our speech pathologists and the many clinicians who support children with dysphagia every day.

12/03/2026

Perth Children’s Hospital now offers more than 200 translated health resources in over 25 languages - including Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Farsi, Swahili, Vietnamese and many more.

Covering everything from hospital stay information to common childhood illnesses like fever and bronchiolitis, families can now access clear, trusted information in one easy-to-use online hub.

Explore the new translated resources page on our website today!

https://pch.health.wa.gov.au/For-patients-and-visitors/Translated-resources

11/03/2026

Welcome to the Spotlight on Feeding series. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see posts debunking common feeding myths. These posts will provide evidence-based information, to make you feel more confident in your child’s feeding journey.

Feeding myth 1: Hungry Babies will always feed

It’s a myth that babies will always feed when they’re hungry. Babies may have other needs which require support before they can feed.

Feeding is a challenging skill babies must learn with practice, comfort and support from their caregiver.
There are many reasons a hungry baby may not be ready to feed:

🔹 Feeding is hard work: Coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing while feeding is tricky! Babies might get tired or upset and stop feeding, even if they’re still hungry.

🔹 Feelings and environment matter: Loud noises, distractions, parent stress, constipation, or being pushed to eat when they’re not ready can cause babies to refuse to feed.

👶 CRYING = LATE HUNGER CUE
Caregivers may notice a baby is hungry because they are crying, but by then they may be too upset to latch or feed. Try to spot the early hunger cues (image 3).

🌱 The power of responsive feeding
Trying to feed when a child is not ready can make mealtimes harder in the long run.

Responsive feeding means responding to how your baby is feeling and helping them get ready to feed, as well as following their cues within a mealtime. It builds a strong, happy bond between you and your baby, helps with your baby’s skill development and promotes a positive mealtime experience (image 4).

Please remember every baby is different. This advice is general and it’s important to consult with your relevant health practitioner for guidance specific to your child’s needs.

09/03/2026

We’re kicking off Neurodiversity Celebration Week early at Perth Children’s Hospital this week!

Join us this Wednesday, 11 March to learn about neurodiversity, explore community stalls, hear from amazing speakers.

You’ll also discover the range of supports available across the Child and Adolescent Health Service and the community, including inclusion and access programs across our service areas.

If you’re already onsite that morning, come up to the level 5 Auditorium and breakout spaces – teens can also jump into VR and creative activities.

06/03/2026

Congratulations to the 57 nurses who graduated this week from the Nursing Transition to Practice Program!

This amazing group began their journey with us in 2025 and have spent the past 12 months building their skills, confidence and professional identity as registered nurses.

Through clinical rotations they’ve gained invaluable experience and delivered safe, compassionate care for children and families.

We’re so proud of every one of our new graduates and can’t wait to see where their careers take them next.

04/03/2026

Today’s ward round featured AFL royalty!

With help from the Starlight Children's Foundation Australia, players from the Fremantle Dockers popped in to spread footy fun to children and young people in hospital.

Players included Sean Darcy, Sam Sturt, Heath Chapman, Andy Brayshaw and Caleb Serong who spent time with kids across Perth Children’s Hospital.

Thank you Starlight and thank you Freo – you made today brighter for so many little legends including Harry, Emily and Bodhi.

03/03/2026

Happy World Hearing Day!

Today we’re cheering on 9-year-old Jordan who has just celebrated a huge milestone … his second cochlear implant switch-on!

Jordan has had a remarkable journey so far. Born with progressive hearing loss and a rare genetic condition, he started life with hearing aids in both ears. As his hearing changed, he received his first cochlear implant in 2020 with the Children's Cochlear Implant program (CHIP) at Perth Children's Hospital.

Jordan is bilingual, using both Auslan and spoken English. After receiving his implant his hearing, and spoken English communication improved significantly, allowing him to be able to use both languages really well.

Over time, the hearing in his right ear continued to decline, and with the support of his mum, the decision was made for a second implant.

At his switch on appointment, here at PCH, Jordan was very excited to hear more – and everyday it’ll begin sound more familiar.

This milestone is even more special because Jordan is part of a family with a strong history of hearing impairment, both mum and aunty also use cochlear implants. The switch on appointment was not just a win for Jordan, but a celebration of strength across generations.

Happy World Hearing Day, and congratulations Jordan, we’re so happy for you to discover a whole new world of sound!

24/02/2026

We’re excited to welcome 77 newly graduated nurses to the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) as part of the 2026 Nursing Transition to Practice Program!

Over the next 12 months, our graduates will build their skills and confidence through clinical rotations across Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology (PCHN), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH).

The program provides a supportive learning environment where graduates are guided by nurse educators, clinical nurse managers and senior staff as they transition into their roles as registered nurses.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming our 2026 graduate nurses, we’re so happy to support your journey and watch your careers unfold.

18/02/2026

Have you or your child received exceptional care from our staff or volunteers?

Whether it was at Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology, Child and Adolescent Community Health, or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, this is your chance to recognise the outstanding people who make a real difference.

The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Annual Excellence Awards celebrate the staff and volunteers who go above and beyond – the ones who make children and young people feel safe, heard and supported every day.

If someone’s care made your experience better, we’d love to hear about it.

Nominate them for the CAHS Annual Excellence Awards before 5pm, Friday 27 March.

Submit online at - https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/About-Us/Annual-Excellence-Awards

17/02/2026

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we recognise the many children, families and staff in our community who observe this important cultural tradition.

Lunar New Year is a time for connection, reflection and fresh beginnings.

To everyone marking the occasion, we extend our warmest wishes for good health, happiness and success in the year ahead.

Happy Lunar New Year.

09/02/2026

Ground-breaking brain cancer treatment gives Maria new hope.

When 11-year-old Maria began experiencing repetitive headaches, her parents never expected it would lead to the discovery of an aggressive brain tumour.

After completing radiation therapy for high-grade glioma, Maria became the first child in Australia to join an international clinical trial testing a targeted oral treatment. The trial, led at Perth Children’s Hospital by Dr Santosh Valvi, uses two drugs designed to target a specific change in her tumour.

Until recently, families would need to travel interstate for trials like this. Now, access in Perth means children like Maria can receive treatment closer to home.

Her family is urging parents not to ignore persistent symptoms, with hope this medication will slow the tumour’s growth and improve her quality of life.

05/02/2026

Big smiles from Ezekiel at Perth Children’s Hospital today!

Fourteen-year-old Ezekiel popped into Perth Children’s Hospital for his regular check-in with our Ophthalmology team.

Ezekiel had cataract surgery on his left eye in 2024, where a brand-new lens was fitted. He’ll need ongoing monitoring as he grows, updating glasses and checking the health of both eyes.

Despite long-term appointments and the challenges of not particularly liking the doctors touching his eyes, Ezekiel’s bright personality always shines through when visiting the clinic and he has become an expert at using the slit-lamp to allow his eyes to be examined. His resilient approach to each visit inspires our team every time.

Fun fact: While many associate cataracts with ageing, they can occur in babies and children too, sometimes even from birth. Paediatric cataracts are rare but can significantly impact a child’s visual development if not treated early.

Thanks for spending some time with us today, Ezekiel, we’re cheering you on every step of the way!