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About Us

Our story and Inspiration

The Children’s Hospice Association (INC) trading as Hannah’s House, was founded by Martin Watson and Jacky Vigurs, parents of Hannah Watson, who was born with a rare syndrome called Opitz Trigonocephaly. Only about 70 cases have ever been reported in the world’s medical literature.

Hannah was not expected to live beyond her first birthday. Her condition caused profound intellectual and physical disabilities that resulted in her requiring constant care and monitoring. Hannah sadly passed away in 2010 aged 19 years, with Jacky and Martin managing her lifelong care at home.

Families like Hannah’s are often overwhelmed by the ongoing physical, emotional and financial challenges of nursing a child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Having a child with complex needs can lead to fatigue, social isolation, poor mental health and loss of wellbeing for parents and other siblings.

Founded in Hannah’s memory, ‘Hannah’s House’ supports children aged from birth to 18 years diagnosed with life-limiting conditions or complex conditions and their families. We provide support from diagnosis to recovery; or through palliative care to bereavement and beyond.

Our focus is on quality of life for the child and support for the whole family.

Our services include in-home respite, palliative care and end-of-life support, assistance with daily living, help to transition children home from hospital following diagnosis and complementary supports such as play therapy and education. Our programs are flexible and always tailored to meet the needs and goals of each family.

Alongside our in-home and community services, we are supportive of building of a dedicated children’s hospice to in Western Australia to provide families with a choice of care options within a holistic paediatric palliative care framework. We welcomed the announcement made by WA Health Minister Roger Cook in August 2020 that a children’s hospice will be built in WA by 2023 in partnership with Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) and the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS). Our News and Events page has the latest updates.

Find out more about our services

Our Inspiration

Hannah’s House has been inspired by Hannah Watson who was born in 1991 and passed away in 2010. Hannah had a rare syndrome called Opitz Trigonocephaly. She had profound intellectual and physical disabilities as well as chronic and complex medical conditions. She found it difficult to swallow, move, vocalise or display emotions, and had to be fed through a gastronomy button. Hannah required 24-hour nursing care including hourly feeding, oxygen therapy, and management of distress and agitation.

In 1996 the Watson family left Perth for a four month visit to the UK. During this period Hannah’s parents, Jacky and Martin, were introduced to Francis House, just outside Manchester, which cared for children with life-limiting illnesses like Hannah’s. Jacky and Martin had no idea what to expect from Francis House but were overwhelmed by the warm welcome they received and the competence of staff caring for Hannah. There was a great sense of community where the relentless care of a dependent or sick child could be shared and friendship and support offered in a practical way. It was, in every sense, a home away from home.

Their experience at Francis House inspired them to work towards building a facility here in WA to help parents in similar situations. A welcoming centre that would be fun and engaging for the child and also allow parents to feel secure in the knowledge that their child was being well cared for whilst they took a break. This opportunity to relax helps inspire and rejuvenate families, giving them the energy they need to continue with the full-time care of their child or children.

Epilepsy Awareness Month: Sophie’s Story

This March, Hannah’s House has been dedicated to celebrating Epilepsy Awareness Month!  The aim of this month is to encourage people to talk about epilepsy and remind those who live with seizures that they are not alone. This project supported by Epilepsy Australia and Epilepsy Action Australia is very close to our hearts, as Hannah’s House supports children with life-limiting or complex conditions, many of who have some form of epilepsy. One of these children is the lovely 12-year-old Sophie who has been diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome. You may remember hearing about Sophie and her adventures attending her year six school camp last year.  In honour of Epilepsy Awareness Month,

Read More »

Rare Disease Day 2021 – Dravet Syndrome

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of this day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. Meet Kobe, a child we support at Hannah’s House who has a rare form of epilepsy. We reached out to Kobe’s mum Sarah so she can tell her story about what it’s like raising a child with a rare disease and how it’s changed the everyday lives of her family. Age: 2 years Primary Diagnosis: Dravet Syndrome Occurrence: 1 in 20,000 – 40 000 live births Find out more about Drave Syndrome here.

Read More »
Emmi enjoying the ball pit

Our First Playtime Playgroups of the Year

Last year we launched our Playtime program which provides free access to a fortnightly playgroup for all Hannah’s House families. This includes a mix of incursions with activities such as messy mat play, music and art therapy as well as excursions to places including SciTech and Lollypops Bayswater. Our Playtime program gives more opportunities for children with complex care needs to play freely in a supported space while learning new skills, and for parents to have a chance to socialise and feel a sense of belonging with others who are on similar journeys. The response from our families about Playtime has been very positive, showing how much this program is

Read More »

Rare Disease Day 2020 – Patau Syndrome

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. Meet Zaina, a child we have supported at Hannah’s House who has a rare chromosomal disorder. Name: Zaina Age: 2 years Primary Diagnosis: Patau Syndrome/ Trisomy 13 Syndrome Occurrence: 1 in 10,000 live births More Info: http://bit.ly/2TaZDpn What was it like receiving the news your child had been born with a rare chromosomal disorder? In the first week after birth before the genetic results were out, the doctors kept coming at

Read More »

Joy & Ben’s Well-Deserved Weekend Getaway

One of the things we love to do at Hannah’s House is support the whole family and make sure that parents can enjoy some much needed me time. Last weekend we were able to support Riley parent’s Joy and Ben to have their first weekend away together since Riley was born seven years ago. It was their wedding anniversary, and to celebrate they wanted to attend ‘Dinner For Dreams’, the Conductive Education Charity of Western Australia’s (CEWA Foundation) major fundraiser to support children with neurological disorders and allied special needs. Joy said that between appointments, Ben’s FIFO and Riley’s 24/7 care needs, they find it hard to find time to

Read More »

Read Hannah’s Story

Hannah arrived just before midnight on the 11th November 1991. She was our first child and we had no reason to think that there would be any problems. It was immediately obvious that something was wrong when she needed resuscitation. Having a seriously ill child was completely unexpected and for which we were totally unprepared. Prior to this, we had had very little to do with hospitals and so, for the first few years, we were on a steep learning curve trying to find out about her condition so that she could have the best possible life. During the first few months, it became clear that it would be impossible

Read More »

Epilepsy Awareness Month: Sophie’s Story

This March, Hannah’s House has been dedicated to celebrating Epilepsy Awareness Month!  The aim of this month is to encourage people to talk about epilepsy and remind those who live with seizures that they are not alone. This project supported by Epilepsy Australia and Epilepsy Action Australia is very close to our hearts, as Hannah’s House supports children with life-limiting or complex conditions, many of who have some form of epilepsy. One of these children is the lovely 12-year-old Sophie who has been diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome. You may remember hearing about Sophie and her adventures attending her year six school camp last year.  In honour of Epilepsy Awareness Month,

Read More »

Rare Disease Day 2021 – Dravet Syndrome

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of this day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. Meet Kobe, a child we support at Hannah’s House who has a rare form of epilepsy. We reached out to Kobe’s mum Sarah so she can tell her story about what it’s like raising a child with a rare disease and how it’s changed the everyday lives of her family. Age: 2 years Primary Diagnosis: Dravet Syndrome Occurrence: 1 in 20,000 – 40 000 live births Find out more about Drave Syndrome here.

Read More »
Emmi enjoying the ball pit

Our First Playtime Playgroups of the Year

Last year we launched our Playtime program which provides free access to a fortnightly playgroup for all Hannah’s House families. This includes a mix of incursions with activities such as messy mat play, music and art therapy as well as excursions to places including SciTech and Lollypops Bayswater. Our Playtime program gives more opportunities for children with complex care needs to play freely in a supported space while learning new skills, and for parents to have a chance to socialise and feel a sense of belonging with others who are on similar journeys. The response from our families about Playtime has been very positive, showing how much this program is

Read More »

Rare Disease Day 2020 – Patau Syndrome

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. Meet Zaina, a child we have supported at Hannah’s House who has a rare chromosomal disorder. Name: Zaina Age: 2 years Primary Diagnosis: Patau Syndrome/ Trisomy 13 Syndrome Occurrence: 1 in 10,000 live births More Info: http://bit.ly/2TaZDpn What was it like receiving the news your child had been born with a rare chromosomal disorder? In the first week after birth before the genetic results were out, the doctors kept coming at

Read More »

Joy & Ben’s Well-Deserved Weekend Getaway

One of the things we love to do at Hannah’s House is support the whole family and make sure that parents can enjoy some much needed me time. Last weekend we were able to support Riley parent’s Joy and Ben to have their first weekend away together since Riley was born seven years ago. It was their wedding anniversary, and to celebrate they wanted to attend ‘Dinner For Dreams’, the Conductive Education Charity of Western Australia’s (CEWA Foundation) major fundraiser to support children with neurological disorders and allied special needs. Joy said that between appointments, Ben’s FIFO and Riley’s 24/7 care needs, they find it hard to find time to

Read More »

Read Hannah’s Story

Hannah arrived just before midnight on the 11th November 1991. She was our first child and we had no reason to think that there would be any problems. It was immediately obvious that something was wrong when she needed resuscitation. Having a seriously ill child was completely unexpected and for which we were totally unprepared. Prior to this, we had had very little to do with hospitals and so, for the first few years, we were on a steep learning curve trying to find out about her condition so that she could have the best possible life. During the first few months, it became clear that it would be impossible

Read More »

Charitable Status

The Children’s Hospice Association (INC) trading as Hannah’s House is a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) and registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). We have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status meaning all donations made to Hannah’s House of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Hannah’s House is an accredited and registered disability services provider through the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Registered NDIS Provider

Children's Hospice Association INC is a registered charity trading as Hannah's House

Want to find out more? Please give us a call.

Talk to us on 08 6319 2850 or send us a message.

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In-home care for kids with complex needs

Registered NDIS Provider

Children's Hospice Association INC is a registered charity trading as Hannah's House

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