Recent Articles
As good as a warm hug
When SCUH’s Fran Brewster applied to Wishlist to fund a blanket warmer for the Sunflower Unit in the hospital’s Dementia/Delerium Ward – she said it would be the next best thing to a warm hug for patients. Wishlist has now approved funding for the equipment courtesy of funds raised at Wishlist Giving Day earlier this year – which included more than $2000 raised by Fran after she ran 21 laps around the hospital – the equivalent of a half-marathon. The equipment can warm up to 20 blankets at a time – each one able to deliver a world of difference. “Some of the (dementia/delirium) patients have a lot of pain and there is a level of anxiety as well,” Fran said. “A warm blanket is very simple, but it is super effective for this group of people.” Patients at Nambour General Hospital will soon get to enjoy those benefits as well with three blanket warmers on their way. Two have been bought through the amazing fundraising efforts of staff at The Nambour General Hospital Wishlist Giving Day. While an additional warmer has been proudly supported by the Experience Eumundi sponsorship program.
Smiles, tears and thank yous as rehab pa...
Eleven months ago, Christine Olsen-Lane fell at her Tin Can Bay home causing major injuries to her neck, leaving her paralysed. Christine has spent nearly every day since in the Sunshine Coast University Hospital Rehabilitation Ward – working tirelessly with the dedicated staff to regain her movement and mobility. And this week, she stood and rang the special bell which signifies a rehab patient can go home. “I didn’t look back,” Christine said, “I didn’t look forward, I just stayed in the day.” It’s been a remarkable year in more ways than one, Christine also got married to her partner Peter, who was with her every day of her recovery. Her new husband stayed at the affordable accommodation offered at Wishlist Centre, just across the road from the hospital. “You couldn’t ask for a better team, or more support, they are second to none,” Peter said.
Run for a Reason
Are you planning to run in the Sunshine Coast Marathon? When you run with Team Wishlist, you're helping fund projects that have a real impact across our local hospitals. Your fundraising could help: • 👶 Reduce wait times for children with complex medical needs. • 🤍 Support women experiencing early pregnancy complications with new services and equipment at Gympie Hospital. • 🩺 Improve access to specialist maternal and foetal ultrasound care, reducing the need for families to travel. This isn't just another fun run. It's an opportunity to make a lasting difference for patients and families across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie. Join Team Wishlist and run for something bigger than yourself - Sunshine Coast Marathon 2026 | Wishlist - Your local hospital charity
We are hiring, know someone who would be...
Wishlist is seeking applications for the role of Engagement and Programs Officer, a contract position supporting Sunshine Coast Health (SCH) staff engagement, fundraising participation, internal promotion of Wishlist’s work, and day-to-day support for the Wishlist Therapy Dog Program across SCH facilities. Based typically at Birtinya and reporting to the Funding and Programs Manager, this role works across hospital and community-based health facilities and may require some evening and weekend work to support events and organisational activities. Applications are now open and will close at 5pm on Friday, 31 July 2026. Applications must provide: • A response to the attached position description of no more than two pages outlining how your experience, skills and qualifications meet the requirements of the position, including relevant examples. • A current curriculum vitae (CV). Applicants are asked to submit applications via email to careers@wishlist.org.au
New equipment puts smiles on kids face d...
New equipment puts smiles on kids face during tough times Attending hospital is daunting for most children, but new equipment purchased by Wishlist makes visits easier for young patients at Nambour Paediatric Emergency. Clinical Nurse Consultant, Bibin Lukose said Smileyscope is a virtual reality device that calms children during procedures that can be frightening or distressing. “It can be used during blood tests, cannulation, injections, wound care, burns dressings, plastering and other short interventions where children feel anxious or scared,” Bibin said. “For many children, the fear of the procedure can be just as difficult as the procedure itself. “Smileyscope helps by shifting the child’s attention into a fun and calming virtual environment, reducing anticipatory anxiety and supporting better co-operation.”
New machine allows cystic fibrosis tests...
New machine allows cystic fibrosis tests on the Sunshine Coast Young Tanner Purser has become the first patient at The Sunshine Coast University Hospital to be tested for cystic fibrosis with a new machine purchased by Wishlist. Before the purchase of the sweat test machine Tanner would have been forced to travel to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane to get tested – some babies have to make the trip multiple times if the initial tests prove inconclusive. The new equipment reduces that travel burden, and enhances the timely diagnosis and management of cystic fibrosis. A sweat test measures the amount of salt in your sweat. People with cystic fibrosis have a defect that prevents salt from properly moving in and out of the body's cells. On average, the sweat tests are needed by more than 20 babies born each year on the Sunshine Coast. The new machine delivers on Wishlist’s commitment to help deliver even better health care close to home.
Answers to your questions about Motor Ne...
Global Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Day was marked this week, so Wishlist asked one of its partners, Prestige Inhome Care, to answer some of the frequently asked questions about supporting a loved one who has been diagnosed with MND. This is Prestige’s quick guide to accessing in-home MND care. Around 2,700 Australians are estimated to be living with MND . Receiving an MND diagnosis can be devastating, but you don’t need to navigate the disease alone. Here is an easy-to-follow guide on accessing MND care at home. What is Motor Neurone Disease? Motor neurone disease (MND) refers to a group of neurological disorders that damages motor neurones which carry messages to and from the brain through the spinal cord. It is a life-limiting disease with no known cure at this time. As the disease progresses, there is a decline in movement and independence. As a result, people living with MND may begin to struggle with speaking, swallowing and breathing, with symptoms worsening over time. MND Australia The national network of State MND Associations (MND Australia) offers support for people affected by Motor Neurone Disease across Australia. Each state MND Association offers a different range of services for people living with MND, their caregivers and family members. Some of the key services they offer include education and training, information and resources, support accessing assistive technology (AT), support groups and support with navigating healthcare and government services. You can call the MND Info Line: 1800 777 175 to find out more about available services. Funding for people living with MND For individuals diagnosed with MND under the age of 65, the NDIS provides funding for a range of different supports to meet their reasonable and necessary needs. Services provided through the NDIS for people living with MND include support coordination, personal care, allied health assessment and support, home modifications and assistive technology, and non-invasive ventilation. For individuals diagnosed with MND aged 65 years or over, there are 2 main types of My Aged Care Support: 1. Support at Home Program 2. Commonwealth Home Support Program Priority access to aged care support for Australians with MND On 3 June, 2026 the Government announced amended Aged Care Rules to recognise MND as warranting urgent priority for Support at Home. This means that older Australians with MND are given priority access to the program. This is in line with the prioritisation pathway that is currently available to people living with MND in the NDIS.
Another big step towards region's first ...
The first BiPlane, a clot retrieval service to treat stroke patients, is just months away from the start of installation. We are so happy to report that: • The design and positioning of the biplane have been finalised, and services have been aligned to suit existing infrastructure • The location for the 3-D imaging BiPlane Unit in the Sunshine Coast University Hospital has been confirmed • construction is well underway at that future site - the contractor has completed demolition, slab preparation, core hole drilling and medical gas works. Construction activities are on track • Clinical teams have selected the lighting and supporting equipment to maximise the safe and effective use of the Biplane Unit. • The Information Communication Technology has finalised the AV requirements • Sunshine Coast Health is working towards delivery of the Biplane by the end of August. • Installation and commissioning activities will commence in September. We are so grateful to have been able to purchase the life-saving equipment through the donations of businesses like yours and the Sunshine Coast and Gympie communities. Regional Australians are 17% more likely to experience a stroke than those in metro areas. Currently, severe stroke and aneurysm patients in this region must endure a critical 90-minute ambulance or airlift transfer to Brisbane. The BiPlane is a high-tech medical imaging machine that provides 3D, real-time visuals of blood vessels in the brain, allowing surgeons to quickly locate and remove blockages. When stroke hits every minute counts- and this equipment will often be the difference between life and death, or life and serious impairment for many stroke patients on the Sunshine Coast and in Gympie.
Mural with a meaning
Many months spent in hospital as a child inspired Josh Wright to become an artist – and he’s now using those skills to help patients and their families get through challenging moments at Dove House, Caloundra’s palliative care centre. Josh was commissioned to paint a mural at the facility, courtesy of funds raised at Dove House and facilitated by Wishlist. “They wanted an Australian forest mural that was dramatic, mystical, enchanted,” Josh said. “It started with wallabies and cassowaries and cockatoos, and when they wanted more animals, I added king parrots and crimson rosellas. “The more you look at it, the more you see. “Having grown up in a children's hospital myself, I got to see how art and rehabilitation and recovery and healing can help this collaborative effort.
Perfect score for Wishlist Cafes' health...
A shoutout to all our Wishlist coffee house staff and volunteers who helped Sunshine Coast Health get a perfect score in the A Better Choice Annual Audit of Food & Drink Supply. The audit measures Sunshine Coast Health’s ability to provide staff and visitors with access to healthy, appealing and reasonably priced food and drink options. The 100 per cent result is up from 84 per cent in 2024 and 45 per cent in 2022.
Heartbreak inspires newest Therapy Dog t...
Heartbreak inspired Miranda Rowlands to sign up Shogun for the Wishlist Therapy dog, powered by Petstock, now she couldn’t imagine life without their twice-weekly visits to patients. When Miranda’s husband George was diagnosed with a one-in-a-million cancer he spent his dying days in the Dove Palliative Care Unit in Caloundra. She vowed she would find a way to recognise all the doctors and nurses who went above and beyond for her husband.
92.7 MIX FM's Give Me 5 is bigger and be...
The iconic 92.7 MIX FM Give Me 5 fundraisers is back, bigger and better. The traditional month-long event has been extended in 2026 to a whole year of activities - raising funds for Wishlist to help sick kids and their families on the Sunshine Coast. 92.7 MIX FM has officially launched the extravaganza of fun, including a calendar of events on the Sunshine Coast which provides locals with ample opportunities to support even better health care close to home.
How to arrange palliative care in the ho...
If you are faced with the challenge of assisting your loved one to transition from hospital to home for palliative care you may not know where to start. Here is a step-by-step guide to arranging in-home palliative care to help you navigate the process.
Who will you be running for in Wishlist'...
Cancer has touched so many of us in some way – so the question we ask as we approach the Wishlist K’s for Cancer event – is who will you run for? Tragically, about 50,000 Australians lose their lives to cancer each year – so, this year for the return of Wishlist’s K’s for Cancer we’re asking entrants to dedicate their run or walk to a loved one, a friend, or a neighbour who has faced cancer.
Gympie Wishlist Giving Day to change liv...
A new service at Gympie Hospital to support women in the early stages of pregnancy has helped more than 60 patients in just six months – and there are now plans to expand it. The Gympie Wishlist Giving Day on 7 May will raise funds for a dedicated ultrasound and a gynaecology chair for the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service.
Wishlist Giving Day in Gympie to raise f...
A mum has called Gympie Hospital’s Early Pregnancy Assessment Service a life saver and life changer – and has joined the push to provide it with additional medical equipment.
Near-death experience inspires Gympie Ho...
A security guard at the Gympie Hospital has urged people to give generously at the upcoming Wishlist Giving Day in Gympie (7 May) after requiring life-saving care at the hospital he works in.
Once in a lifetime opportunity to ride i...
You could be in the passenger's seat for a ride in this Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia rally car
Sunshine Coast mum makes impassioned ple...
National recognition for great friend of...
Travis Schultz, Sunshine Coast lawyer, businessman, community benefactor and now a holder of the Medal for the Order of Australia (OAM). Travis was the organising Chair for the inaugural Wishlist Spring Carnival held in 2009 and remained in that role until 2015.
