Alianna Celisano and her three boys. Photo: supplied
Camera IconAlianna Celisano and her three boys. Photo: supplied Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Discovery Centre lightens the load for hospital families

Staff WriterWestern Suburbs Weekly

FOR Wembley woman Alianna Celisano and her three boys, the past eight years have seen repeated trips to hospital.

Her children, Louis, Michele and Nicolas each have compromised immune systems, meaning visits to Perth Children’s Hospital are frequent.

The opening of the Telethon Kids Discovery Centre in June has made those trips much more bearable, according to Ms Celisano.

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“The opening of the Discovery Centre has definitely made our lives easier,” she said.

“We’ve been a ‘hospital family’ for quite some time and the chance for the three boys to have an enjoyable experience here while learning something new is really special.

“Before the Discovery Centre, it was hard to find an incentive for the boys to come; now it’s a struggle to get them to leave.

“I would like to thank the support and efforts of staff at the centre, their influence on my three boys mean the world to us.”

Lotterywest supported the new facility with a $1.5 million grant, and Discovery Centre and Events Manager Cristin Taylor said without that that support, the Centre would not exist.

“The centre is an interactive space full of games that have science and research related themes,” she said.

“It’s a place that kids can relax and have fun which for many is a welcome distraction from what is going on in their personal lives.

“The Discovery Centre can also help kids and young people learn more about the research being done relating to health issues that might affect them, their siblings or friends.”

The technology within the Discovery Centre has been developed by South Australian-based Exhibition Studios with WA digital agency Hungry Sky.

The Centre is free and open from 9am- 4pm Monday to Friday.

Visit the Telethon Kids Discovery Centre website to find out more.