The Albanese Government 2023-24 Budget is providing $900,000 to Hummingbird House Children’s Hospice in Chermside to ensure its continued operation.
There are currently more than 5,700 families caring for a child with life limiting illness in Queensland. Hummingbird House is Queensland’s only children’s hospice and provides specialised paediatric palliative care to support children and their families across Queensland.
The former Coalition Government only had funding to support Hummingbird House up until 30 June 2023.
The facility has 8 beds for hospice and respite care. Its professional team includes paediatric palliative care nurse practitioners and nurses, paediatric palliative care consultants and medical professionals, a pharmacist, personal care workers, family support workers, and physiotherapists.
It is important that funding for Hummingbird House is sustainable and ongoing. The Australian Government will work with the Queensland Government and Hummingbird House to secure its future.
Hospices play an important role in the health system, by providing a more comfortable, home-like environment for the delivery of quality palliative and end-of-life care. They also give people nearing the end of life a choice about where they will die.
Hummingbird House is one of only 3 children’s hospices in Australia.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Hummingbird House provides a vital and valued service to Queensland kids and their families.
“The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring Hummingbird House can continue to provide its unique service to very sick children in Queensland.
“Having a child who is nearing the end of life is extremely difficult for any family, but the expert, caring team at Hummingbird House can ease the burden a little.
“I will be talking to the Queensland Government about how we can secure the future of this much needed service.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care and Member for Lilley, Anika Wells:
“I know the impact that Hummingbird House has for members of our community.
“I am proud to be part of the Government that has guaranteed the operation of Hummingbird House throughout the coming year.
“Hummingbird House offers a real alternative to hospital, a place where children who are fragile and have complex medical needs receive not only the right health care, but compassion and genuine understanding.”
