A Changing Places facility was launched recently at the Children's Hospital in Westmead to meet the needs of families with severely disabled adult sized children. A first for an Australian hospital, the Changing Places facility includes a toilet, hoist and adult size change table, with enough room for two carers.

Executed over a period of two years, the Changing Places facility was finally realised through sponsorships and donations.

Enware Australia, together with Pressalit, donated the height adjustable change table, an important element in a fully useable facility for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Very often, these people cannot use standard accessible toilets as they need support from one or two carers. In the absence of a height adjustable change table, carers and families are forced to risk their own health and safety by changing their child on a toilet floor.

Image: Annette Pham with Liam, her severely disabled son has campaigned for the facility and partnered with the Hospital to make this a reality.