The Starlight Children's Foundation of Australia was born in 1988, the original Starlight Children's Foundation, have been founded in Los Angeles, 1983. It is an international charity with offices throughout the US, Canada and the UK- as well as Australia, and it aims to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families throughout Australia.

Such hospital programs include The Starlight Express Rooms, Starlight Fun Centres, and Starlight Express Vans while,outside of the hospital, the Starlight Children's Foundation grants the wishes of children aged four to eighteen with serious illnesses through The Starlight Wishgranting program and organises fun group outings and activities with Starlight Escapes.

Starlight Children's Foundation has funded a series of special Hospital Projects around the country. They have:

Multi-sensory Rooms - facilitate treatment, relaxation and play. The Multi-sensory rooms contain visual and tactile equipment that includes bubble-tubes, mirrors, lights and music within a soft-play area to soothe senses and relaxes the mind.

They play an important role in diagnostic assessment as well as rehabilitation, education and therapy for children either in a pre- or post-operative state, or for those with special needs.

Adolescent Rooms - provides a different kind of haven within the hospital environment. Unfortunately, hospitals cannot always provide a dedicated space for teenagers and often they have to choose between an adult or a children's ward.

A Starlight Adolescent Room is a specially created common room providing comfy chairs, a computer, TV, video and stereo player, so teenagers can either enjoy some peace and quiet or turn up the music as they wish. It’s strictly invitation only for under thirteens and adults!

Play Areas - are also in demand. A Starlight Fun Jungle has been created at both at Nottingham City Hospital and Withybush General Hospital, Haverford West. The outdoor play areas are accessible by all the children in the hospitals, including those who are in beds or wheelchairs, and feature delights such as a tree house, a totem climbing pole, a bug-shaped sandpit, wooden climbing frames and walk ways.

In this way the Starlight Children's Foundation brings joy to seriously ill children around Australia. To find out how you can help Starlight and find out what's happening in your state, visit the website at http://www.starlight.org.au/

Thank you for spreading the joy this Christmas,