The Starlight Children's Foundation, with the support of Optus, has launched the Livewire online community in Queensland to give young people with a serious illness or disability a safe environment to make friends, gain peer support and share experiences with others who understand them.
Livewire and Optus have donated computers and wireless internet connectivity to the Royal Children's Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane to provide hospitalised young people with access to Livewire when they need it most.
Livewire gives members the opportunity to chat with other young people, create blogs, play games, listen to music and watch videos. Research from the Murdoch University's Centre for Everyday Life reveals that having access to a supportive network of peers is highly valuable for young people facing such difficult circumstances.
With the support of Optus, Livewire has provided six Livewire on Wheels units featuring a specially designed hospital trolley with computer, and wireless connectivity, for six wards at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. The units can be wheeled straight to the patient's bedside to give them access to Livewire.
Livewire and Optus have also provided two netbooks, and wireless connectivity, to the oncology ward at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. Now adolescents battling cancer at the hospital can access Livewire from the comfort of their beds.
The Royal Children's Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital are the first of five hospitals in Queensland to receive the Livewire program thanks to Optus. The program is now available in 19 hospitals around the country. The service will also be delivered to the Gold Coast Hospital, Cairns Base Hospital and Townsville Hospital by the end of the year as part of the Queensland roll-out.
The Livewire program is a welcome addition to Queensland which has a markedly high proportion of children in the state; 28.5% of the total population and growing. Furthermore, the Royal Children’s Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital service a region with the most rapidly increasing childhood population in the state of Queensland.
State Member for Brisbane Central, Grace Grace MP, congratulated the Starlight Children's Foundation and Optus for providing this valuable service to young people in need in Brisbane and Queensland more broadly.
"Livewire is a fantastic initiative that will meet a real need in Queensland. For young people, whose lives are disrupted by hospital stays, Livewire will be a welcome comfort; connecting them with their peers and lessening their isolation. A huge thank you to the Starlight Children's Foundation and Optus for supporting hospitalised young people in our region," said Ms Grace MP.
"Today's launch of the Livewire Hospital Program at the Royal Children's Hospital is great for young people. Livewire provides them with the opportunity to connect with other young people facing similar challenges so they won't feel alone," said Jennifer Crimmins, Executive Director of Allied Health, Royal Children’s Hospital.
"Over half of the patients admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital come from rural and regional Queensland. It's fantastic that when they return home from hospital they can still remain connected, via Livewire’s online community, to other young Australians with a shared experience despite their geographical isolation," said Ms Crimmins.
Simone Grundy, Leisure therapist at Princess Alexandra Hospital agreed that the Livewire program makes the hospital experience for young patients a far more positive one.
"Princess Alexandra Hospital is primarily an adult hospital, so Livewire is great for our teenage and young adult patients facing chronic illnesses like kidney disease and cancer. It helps with the isolation they might be feeling by connecting them with people in the same age group who are facing the same problems. The patients have said they love the service because it's fun, interactive and they can talk to other young people with the same illnesses," said Ms Grundy.
Optus' support for Livewire makes it possible for young people living with a serious illness or disability to stay connected during their hospitalisation; providing them with invaluable peer support and friendship in Livewire's online community.
"Communication breaks down barriers and connects people. We're proud to support the Livewire program so young people across Queensland can communicate and support one another in a safe environment using Optus' wireless broadband technology. Since we launched the national Livewire program in 2009, we have connected 19 hospitals across the country," said Maha Krishnapillai, Optus Government and Corporate Affairs Director.
"Right now in Australia there are up to 50,000 young people experiencing social isolation, lower peer support and lower wellbeing as a result of living with a serious illness or disability," says Kylie Johnson, Head of Programs, Livewire.
"With the latest internet applications such as chat, blogs, forums, music, video and games, as well as a team of moderators who ensure a safe environment for all, Livewire is filling a gap in the lives of these young people by providing them with a fun place to hang out and interact with peers who are going through similar experiences as them," said Ms Johnson.
This program was initially established with funding from the Australian Government under the Clever Networks program, and now relies on the support of donors and major corporate partners such as Optus to continue to grow the community.
Any young Australian aged over 10 and under 21, who is currently living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability who wishes to join Livewire or find out more information should visit www.livewire.org.au or contact member.services@livewire.org.au.
For further details or to arrange an interview please contact:
Heather Marano, Livewire, Ph: 02 8425 5929, Mob: 0450 904 875, Email: heather.marano@livewire.org.au
Kasia Ciszak, Optus Corporate Affairs, Ph: 02 8082 8315
About Livewire.org.au
Livewire.org.au is an independent subsidiary of the Starlight Children's Foundation and is supported by funding from corporate partners and donors. www.livewire.org.au
About the Starlight Children's Foundation
Since 1988, the Starlight Children's Foundation has been providing innovative programs designed to lift the spirits of these children, young people and their families when they need it most. There are over 600,000 child and teenager admissions to Australian hospitals every year and currently Starlight is only able to reach "1 in 3". Starlight's ultimate goal is to enable every seriously ill child, young person and their family the opportunity to access and benefit from Starlight's innovative programs. www.starlight.org.au
About Optus
Optus is an Australian leader in integrated communications. The company specialises in a broad range of communications services including mobile, local, national and long distance telephony, business network services, internet and satellite services and subscription television.
For Optus, corporate responsibility and business success go hand in hand. We believe that our responsibility as a leading corporate is more than just solid financial performance. Our responsibility to our society, our people and environment is also important. We partner with organisations that work to improve the welfare of the communities in which we operate. Optus is the exclusive telecommunications partner of Starlight and Livewire Program. We partner with organisations where there are shared objectives and where through the use of our technology, products and services, we can help build better communities and remove barriers that may prevent people from accessing the benefits of technology. For more information please visit www.optus.com.au/corporateresponsibility.