Child and Adolescent Health Service

Join our Security Team at Perth Children's Hospital! We're looking for compassionate and skilled individuals to join our Security Team as Security Officers. This is your chance to make a real difference in a unique healthcare environment! We're looking for: emotional maturity and compassion; excellent conflict management skills; ability to work closely with clinical teams; and understanding of the sensitive nature of a children's hospital. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gYqqZesW Applications close Monday, 2 September. CAHS encourages diversity and welcomes applicants of all genders.

Funding applications for the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (FHRI) Targeted Call – Health System Solutions program are closing soon. Aimed to ignite innovative solutions to help tackle health and medical challenges faced by Health Service Providers, up to $500k in funding is available. The CAHS business challenge: The First 1,000 days – Connection, Accessibility and Prevention is seeking innovative solutions that connect, coordinate and improve access to services across government and non-government agencies, in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Some of the best ideas for improving healthcare come from out-of-the-box thinking!   Submission deadline: 1:00pm (AWST) Thursday, 29 August 2024. For more information about the program, including how to apply, see the link below. https://lnkd.in/gR-AkKmb

Perth Children’s Hospital Physiotherapist and researcher Dr Pamela Laird has been named Early Career Scientist of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards. At a special presentation on Monday, Pam was named joint winner of the coveted accolade, sharing the prize with University of Western Australia energy scientist Dr Neil Robinson. Pam’s clinical and research work is focused on preventing chronic lung disease in Western Australian Aboriginal children. Among her many achievements, Pam is credited with having produced world-first data on the prevalence of the chronic lung disease, bronchiectasis, and addressing significant health-service and health-outcome gaps for Aboriginal children in regional and remote Western Australia. Pam is pictured with Amy Ruddock from CSIRO and the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Science.

This weekend, Minister for Health, the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, announced a donation by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation of $135.5 million over 10 years to transform childhood cancer research and treatment right here in WA. The generous philanthropic donation, one of the largest in WA’s history is set to: · fund cutting-edge research at Perth Children's Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute · ensure WA kids have access to world-leading cancer care without leaving the state · drive the discovery of more effective, less toxic treatments. With additional support from Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and The University of Western Australia we will work together to deliver compassionate, world class care to some of our state’s sickest kids. Thank you to the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation for this donation that will not just change the lives of children currently living with cancer, but also help to advance cancer research and treatment now and into the future. Pictured (from left): UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak, CAHS Chief Executive Valerie Jovanovic, Minister for Health Amber-Jade Sanderson, PCH Haematology and Oncology Consultant and Cancer Centre Clinical Lead Professor Nick Gottardo, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Executive Chair Elizabeth Perron, Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson, Cancer Centre Scientific Lead Joost Lesterhuis, Telethon Kids Executive Director Jonathan Carapetis and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson. 

Though he may not be aware of it, toddler Harvey has become a trooper for medical research. At just 16 months old, the plucky youngster has contributed to 2 clinical trials at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) following a recent health scare that led to surgery on one leg. In acknowledgement of Harvey’s special contribution to science, PCH research nurse Jane McNally was delighted to present him with a special certificate and a bunch of stickers at his first follow-up appointment since the surgery. Harvey became involved in his first trial, a Melbourne-led investigation called BEST, after PCH staff discovered that the reason for his sudden reluctance to put weight on one leg was due to an abscess on the leg’s long bone, requiring surgery. The BEST trial is seeking to determine whether oral antibiotics alone are as effective as intravenous antibiotics followed by a course of oral antibiotics in treating children with infections of the bones and joints. PCH is one of 8 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand taking part in the trial. A blood culture taken on Harvey’s admission to PCH led to his enrolment in the second study, SNAPPY. The blood culture results showed that Harvey had a Staph aureus (otherwise known as golden staph) infection in his bloodstream. That made him an ideal candidate for SNAPPY, the paediatric arm of a broader randomised controlled trial (SNAP) that is trying to determine the most effective antibiotics for treating golden staph in the bloodstream. PCH is leading the SNAPPY trial globally with the support of funding from Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and Telethon7.

The Child and Adolescent Health Service and Telethon7 are delighted to announce Perth Children’s Hospital Research Nurse Coordinator Arielle Jolly is the inaugural recipient of the Nursing Research Fellowship Program. Arielle’s ‘FOOTPRINTS’ project will establish and test a Perth Children’s Hospital bereavement service, to provide follow-up support for families who have unexpectedly lost a child in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Her research position is funded by Telethon. This is the first of three nurse-led research fellowships that will be supported over the next three years. The Nursing Research Fellowship program will enable CAHS to develop and retain world-class nursing research talent, becoming an internationally recognised academic health service where evidence-based research is integrated with clinical service delivery to provide the best health outcomes for WA children and our community. FOOTPRINTS is funded by Perth Children's Hospital Foundation, the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.

Children fighting antibiotic-resistant superbugs will soon have access to life-saving therapies thanks to a newly opened medical manufacturing facility. Based at Royal Perth Hospital, the new facility will harness the bacteria-busting power of bacteriophages. Also known as phages, these friendly viruses occur naturally in the environment and target and destroy bad bacteria. When sterilised and purified they can be deployed to treat chronic infections, providing an effective alternative to antibiotic therapy. Gravely ill patients would previously have had to travel abroad to access this cutting-edge treatment. Perth Children’s Hospital is a key member of the Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, in partnership with Telethon Kids Institute and Perth Children's Hospital Foundation, which has spearheaded the creation of the new facility. PCH infectious diseases physician and researcher Professor Chris Blyth, said that amid the ongoing global battle to stem antibiotic resistance, the new facility would be an important addition to Western Australia’s healthcare landscape. ‘This facility will be game-changing for many WA families who have children susceptible to infection,’ he said. “Children with cystic fibrosis (CF), for example, are prone to serious lung infections, so their families will welcome this new facility.’

Dr Michael O’Sullivan is an Immunology Consultant at Perth Children’s Hospital as well as being one of the leading food allergy researchers in Australia. His current research is focused on improving allergy management plans following an acute allergic reaction, recognising how traumatic and anxiety-inducing this can be for parents when introducing other new foods. Family-centred treatment is also a passion for Kath Harrigan, a senior dietitian with almost 30 years’ experience at PMH and now PCH. Their expertise combines in the latest episode of Kids Health Matters, providing a comprehensive overview of managing food allergies.  For instance, did you know that while food allergies are on the rise in Australia, it’s important to continue introducing and eating different foods from an early age to boost a child’s immune system? To listen to all of Michael and Kath’s simple, easy to follow advice, listen to the latest episode of Kids Health Matters, out now. https://lnkd.in/g6rUNfWC #kidshealthmatters

The final episode of Kids Health Matters series 1 is out now. This week we’re discussing the common challenges of food allergies. In Australia, 10% of babies will be affected by food allergies and many parents struggle to navigate the allergy information that’s out there. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear Perth Children’s Hospital Immunologist and leading national food allergy researcher Dr Michael O’Sullivan and experienced dietitian Kath Harrigan demystify the world of food allergies. The pair’s practical and easy to follow advice will help in managing the introduction of food, understanding food labelling, helping young people take control of their own allergies and more. Listen now at https://lnkd.in/g6rUNfWC and catch up on any episodes from series 1 you may have missed. Kids Health Matters is available everywhere you get your podcasts.

Congratulations to Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) audiologist Tamara Veselinovic on being named a finalist in the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards. Tamara, who also works as a researcher at Telethon Kids Institute, is one of four finalists in the Student Scientist of the Year category. Having joined PCH about three months ago, Tamara works with the wide range of children who are referred to the hospital’s audiology clinic for ear or hearing-related concerns. On top of her clinical work, Tamara is in the final year of her PhD. Her main area of research interest is otitis media, commonly known as middle ear infection, which is the leading cause of childhood hearing loss. Otitis media also affects Aboriginal children disproportionately. Tamara has been working closely with Aboriginal communities in Perth to determine the burden of disease to improve detection methods for the condition. This year the Premier’s Science Awards have introduced a People’s Choice category. You can vote for Tamara at https://lnkd.in/g3HFBnM6