Starlight Children's Foundation Australia

From the English Channel to the Starlight Express Room 🌊💜 Starlight Superstar supporter Jodie Millar recently completed an incredible 11-hour and 27-minute swim across the English Channel, raising vital funds for Starlight! During her visit to the Randwick Starlight Express Room, Jodie brought waves of inspiration, sharing her story on Starlight TV, including tales of the sea creatures she encountered along the way. A long-time Shining Star, Super Swim champion, and fundraising powerhouse, Jodie’s efforts over the past six years have impacted the lives of over 1,500 sick kids, a true testament to her dedication and heart. 💜 Thank you, Jodie, for continuing to dive in for sick kids! You too can Swim for sick kids this summer! Registrations for Starlight Super Swim are now open! So grab your swimmers, dive in, and make a splash for sick kids this summer: https://superswim.org.au/ #SuperSwim2026

Starlight VolunCHEERS Tour 💜 We’re currently travelling across Australia, celebrating the heart of our programs - our incredible volunteers! Our volunteers bring energy, positivity and magic to everything they do. The VolunCHEERS events are all about connection, recognition, and saying a big thank you to the people who make it all possible. Each celebration is packed with joy, heartfelt speeches, awards, delicious food, and plenty of laughter. Every volunteer leaves with a full tummy, a huge smile, and a special gift: a hand-drawn magnet from the kids in our programs. A small token with a big message: thank you for making magic happen. ✨ We also handed out “VolunCHEERS passports” to help volunteers connect, share their favourite Starlight memories, and celebrate each other on our Volunteer Hall of Fame. To every volunteer: thank you for the light you bring to Starlight. Your impact is felt far and wide, and we’re so grateful for all you do 💜 Learn more about volunteering with Starlight: https://lnkd.in/gE_-R5Nw #VolunteersAu

Nine months. That’s how long it took before parents Sophia and Corey heard their baby cry for the first time. 💜 Ella was born with serious breathing issues and diagnosed with laryngomalacia and tracheomalacia, a floppy windpipe and vocal cord paralysis. At just three months old, she underwent her first life-saving procedure and at 9-months she giggled for the very first time, a moment her parents will never forget. Now five, Ella is full of life, she loves crafts, cooking, and café trips with her parents. But her journey has been far from easy. Constant hospital visits have meant missing out on the simple joys of childhood. Through every hospital stay, Starlight has been a constant. In the Starlight Express Room, Ella finds joy, laughter, and a sense of control. She plays with slime, makes art, and giggles with Captain Starlight, even after weeks without a smile. Mum Sophia shares, “Without Starlight, hospital would be horrendous. The benefit of Starlight for Ella is feeling safe and giving her a sense of control in an environment where that is lacking.” By supporting Starlight, you can bring joy to more kids in hospital just like Ella. ⭐💜

🎄Some Christmas wishes are made from hospital beds. While many of us look forward to festive celebrations with loved ones, thousands of seriously ill children will spend Christmas in hospital. 🎁 Want to give back this Christmas? Starry shows us just how easy it is: 1️⃣ Sign up online and get your own gift drive webpage 2️⃣ Promote and start fundraising! 3️⃣ Spread joy to sick kids across Australia There’s no better time to start, as proven by the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Brisbane crew, who’ve already exceeded their goal from out at sea! 👉 Rally your company, club or school, and help deliver toys, games, and magical moments to children who need it most: https://lnkd.in/geqGZytu Together, we can make this Christmas brighter for kids in hospital. #ChristmasGifting #ChristmasDonations

We’re thrilled to share that our Space Lounge Project at Monash Children’s Hospital has been recognised in the Built Environment Installation category at the Australian Good Design Awards. In collaboration with Monash University’s Faculty of IT, we reimagined hospital play by co-designing a screen-free, interactive experience using accessible tech. The real stars of the show were the kids in the Monash Children's Hospital Starlight Express Room who led the design process from beginning to end. 🚀 From choosing the themes, crafting planets and aliens, deciding how each element should light up or respond, and even suggesting features like a robot racetrack using Sphero tech. 🛸 Their creativity and curiosity shaped every detail, including a scavenger hunt powered by conductive LEDs and a magic wand! 🪄 The result? A joyful, immersive space that was so popular we extended the installation by a week. As 7-year-old Chloe put it: “This is so, so cool! I want to bring this rocket home and show it to all my friends.” We’re incredibly proud to see this child-led innovation recognised and even prouder of the young designers and teams who brought it to life. 💜 Monash University , Monash Assistive Technology and Society Centre (MATS), Good Design Australia #GoodDesignAwardAu

Ever imagined a job where you taste-test muffins, tour magical spaces, and help launch national partnerships, all in one role? That’s life as a Partnership Executive at Starlight. 💜 Take a peek behind the scenes of our Partnership Executive Emma’s job, a blend of creativity, collaboration, and purpose. From attending industry conferences to campaign shoots (yes, even for undies!), Emma helps bring partnerships to life in ways that raise vital funds and deliver joy to seriously ill children. It’s a career that’s as impactful as it is varied. You’ll work with iconic brands, passionate teams, and see the impact of your efforts, whether it be through a brand activation or a moment of happiness for a child. If you’ve got experience in sales or client-facing roles and want to use your skills for something truly meaningful, this could be your perfect fit. Swipe to see what a week in Emma’s shoes looks like, and if it sparks something in you… apply now to be our newest Partnership Executive. ⭐ Link: https://lnkd.in/gxh-5GxR #PurposeDrivenCareer #PartnershipsExecutive #HiringAU Emma Wilde, Kirsty Beed, Robynne Gorrie, Step One, Ampol

6 wishes. 5 epic adventures. 1 unforgettable week💜 Starlight Wish Week brought together six families from across Australia, each navigating the challenges of serious childhood illness. For many, it was their first time on a plane, first family holiday, or even their first time all together at the beach. Beyond the epic adventures which included; surfing at Currumbin Alley and three epic days out at Sea World, Dreamworld and Movie World, the true magic was in the moments shared. Parents connected with other parents who understood, and kids got to simply be kids, away from hospital. These experiences are only possible thanks to the generous vendors, partners, and supporters who bring Wish Week to life. Your support creates lasting memories and meaningful impact for families who need it most. Dreamworld Australia , Sea World - Gold Coast , Warner Bros. Movie World - Gold Coast, Australia , Surfing Australia , Surfing Services Australia , The Valley Estate , Brooke Hanson OLY OAM and Coach Hire.

Teddy endured more as a 2-year-old than any child ever should. Just weeks after his second birthday, Teddy’s world changed with a leukaemia diagnosis. Over the next 15 months, he endured intense treatment and long stretches of isolation. For Teddy, that meant no playdates, no visits with friends, and months spent bedridden. His mum stepped away from work to become his full-time carer, the entire family felt the weight of his illness. Starlight brought joy back into Teddy’s life. Captain Starlight filled the ward with music, laughter, and play, and later, the Starlight Express Room became a place where Teddy could dance, game, and simply be a kid again. “Hospital would have been very difficult without that fun and distraction,” his mum said. “Teddy’s face lights up when I tell him we’re going to the Starlight Express Room!” When normal life stops, Starlight helps lighten the load for seriously ill kids and their families. By donating, you help kids like Teddy find joy in the darkest times. 💜

For 10-year-old Cruz, meeting the Brisbane Broncos was more than just a dream come true. Thanks to his Starlight Wish, Cruz was given the ultimate Broncos experience, a behind-the-scenes adventure that brought him face-to-face with his footy heroes. It all kicked off at the team’s Captain’s Run, where Cruz had the chance to meet and greet his idols such as: Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Patrick Carrigan. There were huge smiles, and unforgettable moments shared with the players he’s looked up to for years. Then came game day, Cruz took his place on the side-line, soaking up the atmosphere as the team warmed up. He even got to take part in the guard of honour, wearing a personalised Broncos jersey gifted to him by the club. From winning Grand Finals to making dreams come true, the Brisbane Broncos continue to show they’re champions both on and off the field. 🏆 #BrisbaneBroncos #NRLPremiers

This week, we honour the 3 million quiet heroes across Australia who provide unpaid care. At Starlight, we witness their dedication every day. When a child faces serious illness, the impact ripples through the entire family. Many parents become full-time carers, some leaving jobs, routines, and support networks behind to be there for their child every moment. It’s a role filled with love, but also immense emotional weight One way we honour carers is through our Starlight Moments Program, which creates experiences of fun, joy and happiness for families with a palliative child. These experiences, are built around the little things that matter most to each family. Whether it’s a treasure hunt at home, a care package, or a movie night in. "Sometimes, just when we’re having a really stressful day, we’ll go to the post office and find a surprise parcel waiting for us. It might be a small thing, but it brightens our day and makes you think that there are people out there thinking of us.” - Starlight Moments family member. This week, and every week, we celebrate carers 💜 #NationalCarersWeek