Local Sick Bay To Pilot In Western And South Western Sydney

Key Facts:

• Local Sick Bay is a proposed short-term care service for children experiencing minor illness, injury or recovery needs.
• The service is designed to give working families another option when a child is too unwell for school or childcare but does not require hospital care.
• Children would be cared for in a safe, supportive environment with paediatric nursing supervision.
• Proposed support includes symptom monitoring, rest and recovery areas, medication support where permitted, and regular communication with parents.
• Founder: Monique Annetts.
• The concept was created in response to the gap families face when a child becomes unexpectedly unwell and a parent must leave work or find alternative care at short notice.
• Children would only be accepted subject to clinical eligibility criteria, regulatory requirements and the final pilot model.
• Pilot programs are planned for Western Sydney and South Western Sydney.
• The project is currently working to identify suitable premises for the pilot.
• Planning is also underway around health, regulatory, operational and staffing requirements.
• Local Sick Bay is exploring partnerships with government, councils, health services, community organisations and other stakeholders.
• The longer-term vision is to potentially expand the model across NSW if the pilot shows strong demand and positive outcomes.
• Local Sick Bay is seeking input from parents, carers, employers and healthcare professionals to help shape the pilot.
• Families are being encouraged to share their experiences of managing work when a child becomes unexpectedly unwell.
• The service aims to support children's wellbeing, family stability and workforce participation.
• The project is currently in the premises identification, clinical planning, regulatory planning, staffing and community consultation stage.