Caboolture Hospital:
The Common Good’s support for healthcare in rapidly growing region
The City of Moreton Bay is one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, and sitting right in the heart of it is Caboolture and a hospital that saw more than 66,300 emergency department presentations in the 25/26 financial year.
Since 2020, The Common Good, an initiative of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, has proudly supported research, projects, patient care initiatives, and the purchase of vital equipment for Caboolture Hospital, leading to significant outcomes for patients, their families, and staff.
Given that a large percentage of the region’s population consists of young families, our focus areas include paediatrics.
Some of the impacts supported so far in this area include:
- The first-ever Child Life Therapist role at Caboolture Hospital
- A refreshed paediatric ward with a kids’ retreat where children and siblings can play
- Specialised infant incubator bed for critically ill newborn babies
- VR Googles for the paediatric ward, which aids in distraction therapy for sick and injured children
- Egg-shaped chairs for the Paediatric Emergency Department and Ward to help create a sense of security and safety for children with some sensory sensitivities
- Therapy dog visits to lift patient spirits
Along with research supported, such as:
- Identifying and detecting swallowing sounds in premature babies.
- Evaluating new models of antenatal care for young, vulnerable mothers.
“We are proud to stand alongside Caboolture Hospital in our shared mission of advancing research, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring that healthcare is equitable and accessible for all”, says CEO of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, Steve Francia.
First-ever Child Life Therapist at Caboolture Hospital
In July 2025, Caboolture Hospital’s first-ever Child Life Therapist started to help with the care of the hospital’s youngest sick and injured patients. This role – which involves play, positive distraction, controlled breathing, and trauma-informed care, to help children feel safe and in control during treatment – has been described by hospital staff as a having a deeply felt positive impact.
Lucy helps children in both the Paediatric Ward and Paediatric Emergency Department, and she works in conjunction with nurses, doctors and allied health teams to prepare children, ease distress, and improve cooperation during procedures.
During the 24/25 financial year, there were over 12,500 paediatric Emergency Department presentations, with an average length of stay of nearly four hours and the average age of children at the time of presentation being 7.5 years.
For the paediatric ward, over 3,500 children were admitted with an average length of stay between two to three days. The average age of patients at the time of discharge was 1.51 years.
The Child Life Therapist says her goal is to make the experience a little easier and more comfortable for patients and their carers, and sometimes it’s the small things that can have a big impact.
“When a child is anxious, the whole family feels it. My role is to support both parents and children,” she says, adding, “Sometimes it’s as simple as using a doll to show what will happen or slowing down and giving a child time to breathe.”.
This position was made possible following the success of a pilot program supported by The Common Good at The Prince Charles Hospital in 2022 which is now a permanent service.
“We were proud to fund the very first Child Life Therapist at The Prince Charles Hospital, and we’re equally proud to extend support of that role into Caboolture Hospital,” Mr Francia said.
We are proud to stand alongside Caboolture Hospital in our shared mission of advancing research, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring that healthcare is equitable and accessible for all.
– Steve Francia, CEO of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
Purposeful projects
Children’s ward upgrade: Constructing playful places for Caboolture Hospital
As the hospital expanded to meet the needs of a growing community, a refreshed paediatric ward was opened in 2024. With more beds and more families relying on care, the Foundation and the local community were determined to ensure that this growth included a special environment children deserved – a place where they could play, explore, and feel comfortable while unwell.
The children’s retreat offers a safe, colourful, and engaging space for young patients and their siblings. Eye-catching Healing Ceilings artwork provides a welcome distraction, while thoughtfully designed play areas encourage movement, imagination, and social interaction. This space supports cognitive, emotional, and social development of young patients and helps to maintain a sense of normalcy during what can be a frightening experience.
The Foundation acknowledges the Murphy Family Foundation, the Caboolture Hospital Auxiliary, Hospitals United for Sick Kids, the Matland Group and local community members for their support of this significant project.
Acute Care Unit: Caboolture Village
A very special project, called Caboolture Village, is scheduled for completion later this year in the ward where patients with dementia are cared for.
This project was inspired by Charlie’s Village—a unique, village-like space at The Prince Charles Hospital’s Cognitive Assessment and Management (CAM) Unit. Charlie’s Village was funded through the Foundation’s 2022 Giving Day.
This thoughtful upgrade at Caboolture was funded by a number of wonderful supporters Caboolture Hospital Auxiliary, a corporate supporter (Auto and General), and the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
Surroundings can significantly impact the mood, behaviours, and overall well-being of people living with dementia and other cognitive impairments, so, like Charlie’s Village, Caboolture Village will provide destinations that spark nostalgia and engagement.
The space is set to feature a workbench, a farmhouse kitchen, and a payphone—continuing the tradition of creating environments that support independence, social interaction, and well-being.
Equipment
Philanthropy helps to bridge the gap between what hospitals are required to have and what they can only hope to acquire for the benefit of their patients. In the years supporting Caboolture Hospital, the Foundation has been able to provide:
- Specialised infant incubator bed for critically ill newborn babies
- VR Googles, which serve as distraction therapy for sick and injured children in the Paediatrics Ward
- Washer and dryer in the older adult’s ward to ensure patients have fresh, clean clothing
- 4 CPR machines for the Emergency Department
Research: CKW Grant Schemes
The Foundation’s support of the Caboolture Hospital, Kilcoy Hospital and Woodford Corrections (CKW) Research Development Unit began in 2020.
Since then, it has supported:
- Over $450,000 in research grants
- Over $900,000 in research capacity building
There have been three specific Caboolture Health Research Grant rounds (2022, 2024 and 2026), with the Foundation awarding a total of 17 research grants. Ten of these projects have been completed, with seven currently underway.
Research priority areas identified by Caboolture Hospital Researchers include:
- Child and adolescent research
- Preventative therapies for chronic diseases and/or multiple co-morbidities
- Innovative, sustainable, integrated models of care
- Consumers in research
- Improving health outcomes and health literacy in vulnerable populations (e.g. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, multicultural communities)
The inaugural Health Research Grant round in 2022 provided small project grants to both novice and experienced researchers. This funding stream has continued in subsequent rounds, supporting a broad range of research projects.
In 2024, the program was expanded to include a Collaborative Grant scheme, supported by matched co-funding from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Two Collaborative Grants were awarded in the 2024 round. A second Collaborative Grant round was offered in 2026, and up to two projects will be funded.
Including the two Collaborative Grants awarded in 2024, the Foundation has supported a total of 17 research grants for Caboolture Hospital researchers. This number will increase further once the 2026 Collaborative Grant round is finalised.
“The Common Good has supported me to progress small ideas that have led to innovations in detecting feeding/swallowing problems earlier in premature babies. As a woman in STEM, I have been able to sustain a clinician researcher career through their generous support over the years. I am humbled by their support of me and my program of work- this support motivates me to continue pushing for better ways of helping,” says Adjunct Associate Professor Thuy Frakking, Acting Research Director, Caboolture, Kilcoy & Woodford Clinical Directorate.
I am humbled by their support of me and my program of work- this support motivates me to continue pushing for better ways of helping.
–Adjunct Associate Professor Thuy Frakking, Acting Research Director, Caboolture, Kilcoy & Woodford Clinical Directorate
Caboolture Hospital Volunteers
The Foundation has been proud to manage the volunteer program at Caboolture Hospital since July 2022. Along with greeting members of the public and assisting with wayfinding, the volunteer service has been expanded to provide broader assistance to patients, staff and members of the public throughout the hospital.
When the Foundation first began managing this program, there were just 12 volunteers. Now, the Foundation employs a fulltime Volunteer Manager to assist more than 50 people contribute over 300 volunteer hours each week and play a vital role in creating welcoming, supportive hospital environments, making a difference every day.
Meet Barbara, Caboolture Hospital’s first Community Ambassador
The Caboolture Hospital Community Ambassador Program brings together passionate local advocates who have a personal connection to the hospital – as former patients, family members, carers or supporters who have experienced the impact of compassionate care firsthand.
As champions for Caboolture Hospital, Community Ambassadors help build awareness and inspire local support by sharing the hospital’s story throughout the region. Whether speaking at community events, visiting schools, connecting with local organisations or supporting fundraising campaigns, they play an important role in strengthening the bond between the hospital and the community it serves.
Barbara has proudly called the Caboolture region home for more than 30 years and has witnessed the generosity and community spirit that define the area. She knows how important a strong local hospital is to the health and wellbeing of the region and is passionate about encouraging others to support Caboolture Hospital, helping ensure local patients can access exceptional care close to home for generations to come.
Social enterprise: The Café for The Common Good at Caboolture Hospital
We are proud to serve fresh food and delicious Merlo Coffee to hospital staff, visitors and patients as part of our social enterprise model.
The Common Good took on The Caboolture Hospital Café in mid-2019, and it became The Cafe for The Common Good with a new café space opened in early 2024.
Currently, the cafe brews over 2500 coffees a week, along with approximately 550 hot meals and 500 cold food options such as sandwiches, wraps and salads.
“It is very rewarding to be able to support the hospital staff, patients and visitors by providing a friendly atmosphere, delicious coffee and fresh food options, knowing that every purchase contributes to funding vital medical research and patient care programs at Caboolture Hospital,” said Nicky Forrester, Cafe Manager, Cafe for The Common Good, Caboolture.
Supporting Caboolture Hospital
As demand on this busy public hospital grows, so too does the swell of community support.
Caboolture Hospital is more than a place of healthcare – it is a source of local pride.
Businesses, schools, community groups and individuals continue to rally behind their local hospital, caring for the hospital that cares for their community.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to our supporters – individual, businesses, and community partners – whose generosity makes this life-changing work possible,” said Steve.
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