Bear Cottage

Bear Cottage is the only children’s hospice in NSW, one of only two in Australia, and the only one in the world affiliated with a children’s hospital. We provide support, respite and end of life care for children with terminal illness and their families. Bear Cottage is located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, in Manly. Our vision is to be as far removed from a hospital environment as possible.

Staff don’t wear uniforms, no medical procedures are carried out in the bedrooms, and children’s rooms are designed to like a normal bedroom. This ‘home away from home’ is complete with a pet dog, Frankie, who is always around to provide some extra comfort. That said, Bear Cottage is set up to provide excellence in paediatric medical care 24-hours a day, and our affiliation to Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network means we have access to some of the best medical resources in the world.

Bear Cottage has ten children's bedrooms and three family units. Children may stay at Bear Cottage unaccompanied or with family or carers. There is communal tea room, lounge room, outdoor areas to talk, read or look at the lovely sea views.
There is a quiet room, spa room, multi sensory room, teen room with TVs and video game consoles, messy play area and an outdoor wheelchair swing and seesaw.

There is also the beach and the lovely surrounds of Manly for the children and families to enjoy. The city of Sydney is just a short ferry ride away also.

Bear Cottage has a Child Life Therapist, Music Therapist and an Art Therapist as well as a full time chef and housekeeping staff. Families can do as much or as little as they choose whilst staying at Bear Cottage.

There is no charge to families for their stay at Bear Cottage and we rely heavily on the community for donations. For more information, please visit our website at www.bearcottage@chw.edu.au