History and Achievements

The Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare, AWCH (formerly the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital) was established on 15 February 1973 as a voluntary organisation consisting of both professional and non-professional people from all parts of Australia who were interested in promoting the non-medical needs of children and their families in hospital and health care.

The Association was funded federally by the Australian Department of Health under its Community Health Programme from 1975 to 1986. Since 1989 the NSW Department of Health has provided funds for AWCH through the Non-Government Organisation funding. As an organisation we are very grateful for the support from the NSW Department of Health.

Over the years AWCH has been the voice for children and their families in the health care system. Being a non-government organisation, we are able to bring consumer pressure to make changes in the psychosocial care of children in hospitals. AWCH has been instrumental in the introduction of:

• increased and flexible visiting hours for parents/carers and siblings of hospitalised children and adolescents
• parents staying with their child during hospitalisation with appropriate facilities
• recognition of the importance of play/education for a child/young person's preparation and recovery while in hospital
• increased parental involvement in all aspects of a child's hospital care.

Learn more about our history and some of the key moments and individuals who have been part of our organisation in the Brief History of AWCH.