Very Special Kids

Very Special Kids is the only hospice in Victoria dedicated to respite and palliative care for children and teenagers.  Located in Malvern, it the facility had become significantly outdated and was no longer able to meet the complex needs of children of all different ages. CEO Michael Wasley noted - ”It became clear that we needed to start afresh to best meet the advanced needs of the children in our care.”

Professor Alan Pert from the Melbourne School of Design with researcher Dr Rebecca McLaughlan and architect Andrew Simpson embarked upon a series of workshops and interviews examining lived experiences across the Very Special Kids community.  Their research led to the development of a concept design which embodied the complex levels of care needed for such a world class facility.  Once the project became a reality, bamford-architects were appointed to complete the design briefing, design resolution, and project delivery.

The team have delivered an evidence-based design which provides privacy and dignity through a range of flexible spaces centred around an internal courtyard.  It provides 8 bedrooms of which two are dedicated palliative care spaces and a family suite offering families to say goodbye to loved ones with privacy and dignity. It includes a range of activity spaces such as music and art therapy rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a multimedia room, soft play area and a playground.  Natural light streams into most of the spaces providing an environment which is inviting, homelike and uplifting. 

Upon completion, Professor Alan Pert noted: “Creating safe and welcoming spaces for end-of-life care is such a privilege….I hope that not just our design, but our research-first design process, can be replicated across the health sector.”