Design for unique teen and adult hospice revealed
LONDON: A facility to care for teens and young adults who are dying is set to be built on a beach setting.
Australia’s first hospice for teens and young adults — to be built on the northern beaches has become a reality after its final designs were unveiled on Monday.
Authorities confirmed the unique $19.5 million facility, to be built at the old Manly Hospital site on North Head, will be up and running 2022.
Tenders to build what is officially called the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice are set to go out in February, with work to begin some time in 2021.
Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin, who has led a community push for the hospice for 15- to 24-year-olds, released the building design that will have sweeping views over Sydney Harbour.
Mr Griffin thanked Manly philanthropist Kay Van Norton Poche who boosted the coffers by donating $5 million towards the project.
The facility, which will provide end of life and short-term respite care for eight young people at a time, will be surrounded by bushland.
It will be built alongside the so-called “health and wellness sanctuary” proposed for the rest of the old hospital grounds that is expected to included seniors housing, a dementia care centre, and a child care centre as well as studios for yoga and pilates.
And as part of the plans, much of the five-hecatre site would become public open space with picnic areas and eateries as well as easy access to the neighbouring Sydney Harbour National Park and Collins Flat Beach.
Mr Griffin, who unveiled the hospice design alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, said it was an “incredibly exciting day” for the community.
“We are standing on a site that is much loved by the people of Manly and northern beaches.
“This adolescent and young adult hospice is a milestone moment in the redevelopment and revitalisation of the old Manly Hospital site.
Mr Griffin said the new facility would work closely with the nearby renowned Bear Cottage, a hospice and respite care centre for children and the public would; d have input into naming the new hospice.
Mr Barilaro said the hospice, which will accommodate young people from across the state, would prove a peaceful setting for young people and their families during extremely difficult times”.
“The centre will provide teenagers and young adults with short-term respite care and specialised palliative care, as well as bereavement support and counselling for their families, seven days a week.”
Mr Hazzard said the facility would be come a “sacred place for those families who have to face that horrible and challenging time when a young person is passing away”.
“This isn’t a facility just for Manly. This a facility, as is Bear Cottage, for all those young people across NSW.”
The NSW Government will also contribute $2 million towards operating costs for the new hospice that will also have two family accommodation units with two bedrooms each; a kitchen, dining room and laundry facilities; a lounge room with an outdoor balcony and harbour views); games room, media room, multi-sensory room and quiet rooms.
