Fundraising

About Us

The Children's Hospital at Westmead largely exists today because of the hard work and commitment of a group of concerned women who, in the late 1870s, identified the need for a children's hospital to serve the sick children of Sydney.

In 1880, The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children - as it was then called - was established in an old school building in Glebe with four doctors and six nursing staff. 55 children were admitted in the first year.

125 years on, and several name changes later (in 1904 the Hospital became The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children - still our official name), The Children's Hospital at Westmead is now an internationally recognised leader in child health care. Excellence in clinical care, a strong commitment to research, teaching and child advocacy all combine with entertainment, educational programs, art and tranquil gardens to provide a total healing environment for sick children and their families from all around NSW, other states and other countries.

While The Children's Hospital at Westmead is a public Hospital and receives significant support from the NSW Government to fund the day-to-day running costs, it is the support from the community that allows the Hospital to provide the extra services to sick children and their families for which it is so well-known and respected. This extra funding helps make the difference in the Hospital just being a very good Hospital, and an excellent Hospital - one that provides excellence in health care equal to the world's best.

By supporting The Children's Hospital at Westmead today, the year of its 125th Anniversary, you will help take the Hospital closer to it's vision of Better health for children and excellence in health care that will go far beyond the next 125 years, giving thousands of sick children and their families, a healthier, happier future.