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End of construction celebration at hospice

The local Manly community, patients and Northern Sydney Local Health District staff came together last week to celebrate the end of construction of the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice. 

The facility 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 when it opens in February next year. 

NSLHD Interim Chief Executive Lee Gregory said the community and staff were excited to see the finished building. 

“In just a few months we will be welcoming patients and their families from all over NSW – including rural and regional,” Lee said. 

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Local Member for Manly James Griffin MP and NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce toured the new building ahead of the first patients arriving early next year. 

The AYAH addresses a critical need in the care sector by providing specialised care for young people, and support for families, including bereavement support and counselling
NSLHD Interim Chief Executive Lee Gregory

The facility includes: 
• Eight bedrooms for patients, each with an ensuite and outdoor balcony
• Two carers’ lounges
• Two 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.

Lee said the project team had worked closely with Bear Cottage throughout the planning and construction process, with input into the design of the facility, the arts strategy, recruitment and appropriate furniture, fittings and equipment. 

“The hospice will be important for young people who outgrow Bear Cottage or who are diagnosed with life-limiting conditions as a young adult,” he 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.

The project has kept 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. 

The AYAH development has been made possible through generous donations from the community and funding committed by the NSW and Australian governments. 
 

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