You helped put Ollie in the driver’s seat
Just days after celebrating his fifth birthday, Ollie was diagnosed with leukaemia.
He spent 123 gruelling days in hospital during his first year of treatment. His mum Anna said Ollie lost his ‘spark’ during those long months
“I no longer saw my little Ollie, just a sad little boy.”
Thanks to your support, amid so much sadness, Ollie found joy again.
Ollie loved going to the Starlight Express Room to challenge his dad in car racing games on PlayStation!
When Ollie received his Starlight Wish, your support made his dream of having his very own Go Kart come true.
“It’s the wish that keeps on giving,” Anna said. “Ollie’s now part of a beautiful community on and off the track and has made friends he’ll have for years to come.”
Your support has had a lasting impact on Ollie and his whole family and we can’t thank you enough for your kind generosity
Lego, laughs and the gift of belonging
Thanks to your support, teenager Ethan has recently joined Livewire online and has discovered a place where he feels accepted and can just be himself.
After winning the “New Member Bingo Challenge”, he earned a prize that truly made his year! As a single parent, Ethan’s mum Gillian shared how this incredible LEGO prize was something she could never afford, but something Ethan had always dreamed of.
Ethan has spent years navigating complex health challenges and his mum said knowing there are people like you who care has given them so much hope and joy.
“With Livewire, Ethan finally has a place where he feels like he belongs and won’t be judged for his disabilities and illnesses.”
Your support means so much to Ethan and his family and Gillian says she is in awe of the kindness and generosity.
Supporters like Alex go the distance for sick kids
Alex has been volunteering for Starlight since 2016 helping to bring joy to sick kids in Perth and Sydney. Inspired by the happiness he saw in hospital, Alex set himself an extraordinary challenge: running from Sydney to Perth and BACK to raise $780,000 to help brighten the lives of 20,000 seriously ill children.
Alex’s epic 7,800km journey is a powerful example of how ALL our supporter go the extra mile for sick kids.
Whether you give, fundraise or volunteer — every effort helps create happiness when sick kids need it most.
We’re here cheering on all our supporters — because we can’t do what we do without you!
Hip, hip hooray! You made Ameera’s birthday spectacular!
It was recently Ameera’s 7th birthday and thanks to your support, it’s one she’ll always remember.
Instead of dreading another hospital visit, Ameera woke up at 5am buzzing with excitement. Captain Starlight had planned a special Barbie-themed birthday party for her!
From pink slime and party hats to face painting, LEGO and a glow stick disco, Ameera’s special day was filled with happiness instead of sadness.
Her mum said, “Ameera had so much fun and said to me the Captain Starlights are her best friends.”
Thank you for helping make birthdays and every day, so much brighter for sick kids like Ameera.
Thank you for creating happiness in the heart of Australia
Thanks to your generosity and our incredible 15-year partnership with Virgin Australia, 10-year-old Kate and her family experienced Happiness in the Heart of Australia, an unforgettable five-day adventure to Uluṟu.
From sunrise camel rides and dot painting to exploring sacred sites and watching the Field of Light glow across the desert, every moment was filled with joy and connection.
“It wasn’t just a holiday — it was a gift of joy, togetherness and memories we’ll always treasure,” Kate’s dad said.
Since 2010, Virgin Australia has helped grant over 3,000 Starlight Wishes helping families like Kate’s to reconnect and create new shared memories to hold onto forever.
This milestone Wish experience was only made possible thanks to your kindness and is a reminder of the power your support has on the lives of seriously ill children and their families.
From hospital bed to the Great Barrier Reef — you made Ollie’s day!
Thanks to your support, seriously ill children like Ollie are discovering the excitement of the unexpected, even when they’re stuck in hospital.
During National Science Week, Ollie joined a Planet Starlight livestream and piloted an Underwater Teleportal to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef in real time.
From amazing coral and schools of brightly coloured fish to a possible shark sighting, Ollie was in awe!
When I got out of bed to go to hospital today, I didn’t think I’d be driving a drone under the sea! This is awesome,” he said.
Your generosity creates these incredible, awe-inspiring experiences for sick kids and turns hospital into a place of fun, wonder and joy
Starlight Insider series: meet Claire
In our new Insider series, we answer YOUR questions! In our recent supporter survey, you told us impact matters — so we sat down with Dr Claire Treadgold, National Manager of Research & Evaluation, to share how we measure our impact at Starlight.
Claire, how do we measure Program impact?
We use an evidence-based approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Most importantly, we listen to children and families to understand what truly matters to them.
We focus on four key impact areas from our "Theory of Change":
Mental and emotional wellbeing
Social connections
Positive participation in healthcare
Overall healthcare experience
Can you share a story that shows this impact?
One story is from a parent who shared how Starlight helped her son feel less scared about hospital as he was so excited to see Captain Starlight – so much so, that when the family were on holiday in Perth her son lit up and asked, “Can we stop by the hospital to see the Captains!”
Curious about Starlight? Share your question here