About AWCH
The Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare (AWCH) is a national not-for-profit organisation that has been advocating for the needs of children, young people and their families within the healthcare system in Australia since 1973.
AWCH works in partnership with: children, young people, and their families, health professionals, the NSW Ministry of Health and the broader community, to ensure that the psychosocial needs of children, young people and their families are recognised and met.
Our vision
The best possible healthcare for children and young people.
Our mission
To advance the wellbeing of children and young people receiving healthcare.
We Believe In
- Working in partnership with children, young people and their families
- Equal access to safe, high quality healthcare for all children and young people
- Valuing and using the opinions and experiences of children, young people and their families to improve healthcare
- Families playing a vital role in supporting children and young people within the healthcare system
- Fostering partnerships between children, young people, their families and healthcare providers
- The provision of culturally respectful and age appropriate healthcare services and facilities
- Readily accessible and appropriate information and resources for children, young people, their families, the health professionals caring for them and the broader community
- Ensuring children, young people and their families have their voices heard and rights respected at every level of the healthcare system
History and Achievements
The Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare, AWCH (formerly the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital) was established on 15 February 1973 as a voluntary organisation. It consisted of both professional and non-professional people who were interested in promoting the non-medical needs of children and their families in hospital and health care.
Over the years AWCH has been the voice for children and their families in the health care system. Being a non-government organisation, we are able to bring consumer pressure to make changes in the psychosocial care of children in hospitals. AWCH has been instrumental in the introduction of:
- Increased and flexible visiting hours for parents/carers and siblings of hospitalised children and adolescents
- Parents staying with their child during hospitalisation with appropriate facilities
- Recognition of the importance of play/education for a child/young person’s preparation and recovery while in hospital
- Increased parental involvement in all aspects of a child’s hospital care
- Development of “The Charter on the Rights of Children and Young People in Healthcare Services in Australia”, in partnership with CHA
Patron
The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce
Board
Professor Jane Edwards
AWCH President
Chair AWCH Board
Mae Rafraf
AWCH Vice President
Dep-Chair AWCH Board
Liam Madden
AWCH Secretary/Treasurer
Karen Rankin
Professor Linda Shields
Professor Alison Hutton
Staff
Elizabeth Harnett
Chief Executive Officer
Jillian Rattray
AWCH Librarian
Bella Spongberg-Ross
Project Officer
Sarah Toner
