Australia's First Hospice for Young People

Young adults will finally get the hospice care they deserve, with construction of a new facility underway at North Head.  

The Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) will be the first centre in Australia to provide respite care, symptom management and end of life care specifically for 15 to 24 year olds. It fills the gap for young people who are too old for Bear Cottage, and who previously would have been forced to go into a geriatric ward  if they couldn't be cared for at home. 

Construction of the $19.5M centre has just started in a section of the former Manly Hospital site, chosen for its quiet, bushland setting.  The hospice will provide a state-wide service, and also serve as an anchor for the new health and wellness precinct to be built on the site. 

The hospice will have eight bedrooms for patients, each with ensuite and balcony; and two family accomodation units. There will be an on-site dedicated kitchen and dining room; break out spaces including a games rooms and a lounge room with balcony with harbour views; and a garden area. 

The development has been funded by the Federal and State Governments, with some extremely generous donations from the Northern Beaches community. The State will provide $2M per year toward ongoing costs, with community support to provide the remainder.

Thanks go to Manly State MP James Griffin, donors including Dr Gregory Poche and Kay Van Norton-Poche and community representatives who worked to bring AYAH to life.

Construction should be finished by late next year. 

​More details and video artists impression here