Australia’s first Adolescent - Young Adult Hospice at manly now complete: first intake of patients will be february 2023
The state government has annnunced the $19.5 million Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) in Manly has reached its final construction milestone, with major building works of the facility now complete.
The new waterfront hospice is the first of its kind in Australia and will provide respite care, symptom management or end-of-life care to 15-to-24-year-old patients with life-limiting illness.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Member for Manly James Griffin toured the facility on Friday December 16, ahead of the first patients arriving in February 2023.
“This is an incredibly important facility that will provide specialised care for young people and support for their families at a time of unimaginable circumstances,” Mr Perrottet said.
“It’s a unique hospice in a natural and peaceful setting that will hopefully offer comfort and dignity to people at the end of their life and is an important component of the NSW Government’s enhancement of palliative care services.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new facility will provide care to residents from across NSW.
“The hospice will be important for young people aged 15 to 24 who outgrow Bear Cottage or who are diagnosed with life-limiting conditions as a young adult,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It will support young patients and their families from all over the state, reducing the need for travel for those from rural and regional areas.”
Mr Griffin said the beautiful location on the former Manly Hospital site will provide families with a tranquil space at the most difficult of times.
“This project holds a very special place in the hearts of people right across the Manly community. We are so proud that this beautiful site in Manly will provide important care to people experiencing the most challenging of circumstances from across New South Wales. The hospice was a promise made years ago, and today it is a reality.”
The facility includes:
- 8 bedrooms for patients, each with an ensuite and outdoor balcony
- 2 carers’ lounges
- 2 family accommodation units with two bedrooms each
- on-site dedicated kitchen and dining room
- breakout spaces including lounge room, games room, media room, multisensory room, quiet room and sitting rooms
- laundry for families staying overnight
- outdoor balcony off the lounge room with views over the harbour
- garden and landscaping areas, including spaces for outdoor activities
- telehealth consult spaces.
Mr Griffin said connecting with country has been an important part of the facility’s development with Aboriginal art throughout the facility and a yarning circle for the use of patients, their families and carers.
“Since construction commenced in May 2021 on part of the former Manly Hospital site, the project has also maintained a strong focus on long-term sustainability initiatives, holding a 4-star Green Star equivalent, solar panels on the roof, LED lighting throughout and water capture facilities,” Mr Griffin said.
The AYAH development has been made possible through generous donations from the community and funding committed by the NSW and Australian governments.