For health professionals
Partnering to support children, young people and families to live well
The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Paediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Service (PPCHS) is Western Australia's statewide specialist paediatric palliative care service for babies, children and young people living with life-limiting conditions.
PPCHS works alongside referring clinicians and multidisciplinary teams to provide coordinated, family-centred care that focuses on quality of life, symptom management, care planning and psychosocial support.
Our role is not to replace a child's existing healthcare team. We work in partnership with local and specialist providers to support children and families throughout their journey, from diagnosis onwards.
Why refer early?
Paediatric palliative care is often misunderstood as being solely related to end-of-life care. In practice, it is an active and supportive approach that can be introduced from the time of diagnosis and delivered alongside disease-directed and life-prolonging treatments.
Early referral enables children, young people and families to access:
- Specialist symptom assessment and management.
- Practical, emotional and psychosocial support.
- Advance care planning and goals of care discussions.
- Care coordination across multiple providers and settings.
- Support navigating community services and available resources.
- Access to respite and hospice services, where appropriate.
- Continuity of care throughout the child's illness journey.
Introducing PPCHS early allows relationships and trust to develop over time, ensuring families are supported before periods of increased complexity or uncertainty arise.
Working together
PPCHS is committed to collaborative care and works closely with a child’s existing healthcare team, which can include general practitioners, paediatricians, neonatal and paediatric subspecialty teams, child health nurses, regional and rural clinicians, Allied health professionals, and community service providers.
We recognise that healthcare professionals often have longstanding relationships with children and families. PPCHS aims to complement existing care by providing specialist palliative care expertise while supporting continuity of care within established treating teams.
Children can receive support from PPCHS while continuing to access treatment and care from their primary and specialist healthcare providers.
Services available through PPCHS
PPCHS provides statewide specialist paediatric palliative care support, including:
- 24/7 specialist advice and on-call support, no matter where you are in WA.
- Symptom management and specialist clinical advice.
- Family-centred care planning.
- Psychosocial and emotional support.
- End-of-life care support.
- Bereavement support.
- Education and support for healthcare professionals.
- Access to Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) Children's Hospice. Topics
The service supports care across hospital, home, community and hospice settings.
Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) Children's Hospice
Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) Children's Hospice is Western Australia's first purpose-built children's hospice and forms part of the integrated PPCHS model of care.
The hospice provides specialist paediatric palliative respite, symptom management, end-of-life care and bereavement support in a family-focused environment. Sandcastles is available to eligible children and families receiving care through PPCHS, regardless of where they live in Western Australia.
Referral criteria
Children and young people can be referred to PPCHS at any stage, including from the time of diagnosis. Because children's conditions can change in different ways and at different times, we encourage early referral so families can access support, information and care tailored to their needs alongside their existing healthcare teams.
PPCHS accepts referrals for babies, children and young people from birth to 18 years of age with a life-limiting condition where the child is expected to die in childhood.
This may include:
- Life-threatening conditions where treatment may not be successful.
- Progressive conditions without curative treatment options.
- Severe non-progressive conditions with a significant risk of health complications.
If you are unsure whether a referral is appropriate, we encourage you to contact the team to discuss the child's circumstances.
How to refer
Referrals can be submitted via e-referral. Referrals from all specialties and locations across Western Australia are welcome and are reviewed at intake by a multidisciplinary team.
For urgent referrals, healthcare professionals should contact the PPCHS Professionals Advice Line on 0429 687 698 during office hours or through the PCH Switchboard (08) 6456 2222 after hours and ask for the Paediatric Palliative Care consultant on call.
Professional advice
Healthcare professionals seeking advice regarding referrals, eligibility, symptom management or care planning can contact the PPCHS Professionals Advice Line.
PPCHS Professionals Advice Line: 0429 687 698 (during office hours)
After-hours support: Perth Children's Hospital Switchboard (08) 6456 2222 and ask for the Paediatric Palliative Care consultant on call.