Mackay Base Hospital introduces Play Spaces for Children, Adolescent unit
Mackay Base Hospital’s Children and Adolescent Unit has a new outdoor therapeutic play space where sick children and young people have an area to de-stress.
Mackay
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Young patients at Mackay Base Hospital can now explore and de-stress with the introduction of an outdoor therapeutic play space and Australiana-themed wall mural in the Children and Adolescent Unit.
The space gives children, their families and siblings a reprieve from the clinical environment by distracting them from treatment for a short time.
Complete with bicycles, mini-trikes and playground equipment, the outdoor play area was funded by the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).
To complement the new outdoor area, a wall mural by Mackay artist Catherine Clark Dowden featuring Australian animals playing hide and seek also lights up the patient lounge.
Showcasing Dowden’s creative talents with the aim to amuse and challenge young patients as they search for and name their favourite native animal, the mural was supported by Mackay car dealership Auto Corner.
Mackay Hospital Foundation general manager Kristi Algate said it was amazing to see the two projects come to fruition.
“Seeing the smiles on the faces of patients who have been able to spend time in both indoor and outdoor areas is heartwarming,” Ms Algate said.
Work started in April 2021, but multiple Covid-related delays within the hospital meant the much-welcomed addition took longer than expected to complete.
It was officially opened on December 12.
“These projects wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of BMA and Auto Corner Mackay,” Ms Algate said.
“We, along with the staff and patients in CAU, are so grateful to these wonderful local organisations for their contribution which has enabled these ‘happy spaces’ to be created.”
Mackay Hospital Foundation was announced as Auto Corner’s charity of choice in 2021 and the relationship continues in 2022.
A second contribution made by Auto Corner Mackay in September will also be used in the Children and Adolescent Unit to provide upgrades for mental health care.
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