News

Hospital visits can be overwhelming—especially for children facing medical procedures. The Pre-Admission Resource Centre (PARC) Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) is designed to help families prepare for upcoming admissions, but even with the best medical care, stress and anxiety can still run high. That’s where the Clown Doctors come in—bringing laughter where it is unexpected, yet most needed.

Fifteen-year-old Ruby and her younger brother share a very rare, undiagnosed genetic condition, the long-term prognosis of which is unknown. As a result of her condition, Ruby has cerebral palsy and is mostly non-speaking, using single words and gestures to communicate. In her short life, she has undergone numerous procedures, including lumbar punctures, respiratory and orthopaedic surgery, lower limb Botox injections, MRI scans, blood tests, sleep studies and ECGs. 

From the laughter-filled corridors of hospitals to the Hyundai-gifted LOL Express van that has travelled all over Australia, over the past 10 years, Hyundai Help For Kids has helped Clown Doctors Australia bring countless moments of joy, laughter, and connection to children and families across Australia. Let’s take a look at the highlights.

Over the past few months, our Laughter Care program has demonstrated the power of humour and connection in two significant ways—through a special visit from the Governor-General to one of our partner facilities and the continued success of our Playfulness in Care workshop. These initiatives highlight our commitment to enhancing well-being and fostering meaningful connections in the communities we serve.

With your special gift, Clown Doctors Australia can continue to safeguard the future of our programs and deliver the health benefits of humour to thousands of families for years to come. You can include us in your Will in many ways including a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate or allocating the residual or percentage of your estate after your bequests to your loved ones have been distributed. 

On the 13th of June 2024, Clown Doctors Australia had the pleasure of being one of the beneficiaries at the Unite4Kids Gala Fundraising Lunch. Held at the Adelaide Oval, this event brought together a community of passionate supporters, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children through laughter and joy.

Humour in the Highlands was held in Bowral on Saturday 15 June 2024. It was an evening of good food, great company and endless laughter .. all in support of Clown Doctors Australia!

Join our CEO, Emma Pollard, a giggle of Clown Doctors, and hundreds of passionate STRYDERs on Thursday, 24th October, for an unforgettable day. Choose between a 10km or 21km coastal walk or paddle 14km along Sydney’s iconic coastline raising vital funds to help us bring joy to children and young adults with life limiting illnesses.

Clown Doctors Australia proudly celebrated a quarter-century partnership with our founding partner, CommBank, as we wrapped up Smile Month (April 29th to May 24th, 2024). This milestone marked 25 years of support and nearly 1 million smiles delivered through our Clown Doctors program.

It is with a full yet heavy heart that we share the passing of Kerry Reid, our deeply beloved Clown Doctor, Dr Prim-Rose, and Laughter Care Specialist, Rosie Prim-Rose, who died peacefully in March with friends at her bedside.  

In New South Wales, targeted funding for mental health enabled us to focus on this growing area of need at The Sydney Children’s Hospital.

In South Australia we successfully adapted our Laughter Care program to a hospital environment, supporting patients over 65 years at Flinders Medical Centre