about us
We are on a mission to get kids back to the things they miss

Why we started
Our research showed us that no matter the reason a kid was in hospital, there’s one thing they all suffered from - homesickness.
“Around 90% of hospitalised children aged 8 to 18 suffer from homesickness with 50% suffering moderate to severe levels.”
Homesickness in children is associated with social and behaviour problems, symptoms of depression and anxiety, coping difficulties, and feelings of helplessness which can affect patient outcomes.
“Every year children and young people account for up to one million admissions to hospitals across Australia.”
That means that in addition to the impact of their injury or sickness, hundreds of thousands of kids in Australian hospitals experience moderate to severe homesickness every year.

what is Hospitals united for sick kids?
Founded in July 2019, Hospitals United for Sick Kids is a national alliance that brings together children’s hospitals, foundations and paediatric services from across Australia.
Together with our unique alliance of state based partners, we work with trusted corporate partners to sell products and services that fund our mission to help sick kids get home, back to the things they miss.
United, we create meaningful local impact
“In our first three years, initiatives funded by Hospitals United For Sick Kids made a significant impact on the lives of more than 400,000 sick kids in hospital across Australia.”
How we fund our work
Working with corporate and hospital alliance partners, we’ve created a shared value model of fundraising that benefits sick kids in hospital and our partners.
Together, we create commercial opportunities with products that link Australian households to the things kids miss most when they’re in hospital.
A percentage of product sales goes directly to helping fund the vital equipment, services and research needed to provide care at, or closer to home for children and their families.

Hospitals United For Sick Kids Board and Team

Carrie is a Non-Executive, Entrepreneur, CEO and Commercial Director with over thirty five years of global experience spanning the Communication and Media industries.
Carrie started her career in London in media, having a long executive career with FTSE 100 company Emap. Spanning roles from CEO of a publishing division to running the high profile multimedia group sales operation. She was an Exec Director of both the Consumer andInternational board. Here she oversaw sales, creative, marketing, editorial, distribution, production and had full P&L responsibility. Carrie moved toAustralia as CEO of Emap Australia, working with the main board to recommend and oversee the sale of the company to ACP Magazines for a record price. She subsequently moved to NetworkSeven to oversee the commercial operation of Pacific Magazines.
After 30 years in corporate life, she joined two partners at start up experiential and branding agency the projects*, growing the business commercially by attracting many top tier clients such as Scentre Group, Gumtree, Audi, and Reebok. After 3 successful years the projects* grew internationally launching in London and LA.
At board level, Carrie drives growth by leveraging a proven track record in transforming businesses by focussing on strong product and brand development, maximising commercial revenue, cost management, team building and cultural change.
Carrie is a NonExecDirector of Machine Hall PTY LTD, overseeing a world class new cultural andevent precinct in the heart of Sydney, partnering with construction companyBuilt. She is also an Exec Director of Precinct Live - the management company running Machine Hall and commercialising the space.
She has an Hons degree in Industrial Economics - specialising in business, marketing and finance and graduated the AICD’s Company DirectorsCourse with a high merit.

Ann Billington leads Hospitals United for Sick Kids with a simple mission: helping sick kids in hospital get home to the things they miss.
She brings 20+ years of high-value partnership leadership to the role, having secured over $100M in commercial partnerships and raised more than $4M for children's charities across her career, including two years leading the Ronald McDonald House Charities fundraising committee.
Her background spans senior roles at Snapchat, Nine and Pacific Mags, where she built and led major enterprise partnerships and high-performing teams. Ann made a deliberate choice to bring that expertise into purpose-led work. Now, she's channelling it into building the partnerships that will help even more sick kids get home.

With over 25 years of diverse experience in General Management, Finance, HR, and IT, Andrew Georges is aseasoned executive with a remarkable track record. He has held pivotal roles in leading multinational corporations across consumer electronics, healthcare and capital equipment sectors, fostering a robust business acumen along the way.
Andrew's journey spans across theAsia Pacific region, where he honed his skills in leadership and strategic management. During his tenure at Tennant Company, a prominent US multinational, he played a pivotal role in developing and mentoring finance, human resources, and customer support teams across various territories.
Joining Nikon ANZ, Andrew assumed a leadership position overseeing Finance, Corporate Governance, and risk management, contributing significantly to the company's strategic direction and operational excellence. Andrew's commitment to excellence extends beyond his corporate roles. He has been instrumental in developing leadership programs for senior managers and leadership teams, showcasing his dedication to nurturing talent and fostering growth.
In March 2024, Andrew further expanded his leadership portfolio by joining the board of Hospitals United ForSick Kids (HUSK), marking his first Directorship appointment. This role perfectly complements his extensive Company Secretarial experience.
Andrew holds a Bachelor ofCommerce (Accounting) and is a Fellow of CPA Australia. His commitment to professional development is evident through his completion of the AustralianInstitute of Company Directors program, reflecting his dedication to continuous learning and growth. With a wealth of experience, a strategic mindset, anda passion for excellence, Andrew Georges continues to make significant contributions to the corporate landscape, driving success and innovation wherever he goes.

Catherine Bowe brings over two decades of marketing expertise to her role as a board member. Currently theSenior Director of Marketing for Salesforce in the APAC region, she spearheads initiatives tailored to the diverse cultural intricacies of Asia-Pacific. Catherine's distinguished career includes a tenure as the APAC Client Council& Industry Relations Lead at Meta, where she was pivotal in driving key regional strategies and sustainability efforts.
Anesteemed recipient of the 2021 Women Leading Tech Award, Catherine is dedicated to promoting diversity and sustainability. She is actively engaged in advancing these causes through her membership in the AANA Sustainability Council and the Unstereotype Alliance by UN Women. Her professional journey is marked by continuouslearning, including pursuing a Master of Creative Intelligence and StrategicInnovation at UTS, enhancing her capacity to address the complex challenges ofour interconnected world.
Catherine's leadership is characterised by her commitment to operational excellence and strategic vision, significantly impacting the marketing industry and fostering robust, strategic connections across various sectors.
Mindy Fraser joined Hospitals United for Sick Kids in July 2026 as Partnerships Manager, bringing more than 20 years' experienceacross the media, partnerships and not-for-profit sectors. Passionate about creating meaningful partnerships thatdeliver both commercial and community impact, Mindy is focused on growing our innovative Product for Purpose fundraising model, connecting leadingbrands with opportunities to make a tangible difference for sick children and their families.
Prior to joining HUSK, Mindy led the Bounty Parents platform for more than a decade, where she developed strategic partnerships with some of Australia's leading consumer brands, delivering high-impact integrated advertising campaigns while driving audience growth and engagement across digital channels.
Most recently, Mindy held a partnerships role with ReachOut Australia, one of Australia's leading digital mental health organisationssupporting young people aged 12–25.
Mindy combines commercial expertise with a genuine passionfor purpose-driven partnerships, working collaboratively with brands and stakeholders to create innovative campaigns that generate meaningful outcomes for both partners and the communities they support.
Kim Roberts has 10 years Executive Assistant experience and over 18 years working in administration. After finishing TAFE, an opportunity to work as a receptionist at Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (Transport NSW) came up, which would eventually lead into the Executive Assistant’s world. While working for Playgroup NSW, Kim developed a passion for the not-for-profit sector so when the opportunity to work for Hospitals United for Sick Kids came up, she jumped at the chance. Kim took on the National Coordinator role in February 2022. Her main responsibilities include stakeholder management, wide range of administration duties and supporting the team.
Shilpi is a brand and marketing specialist with over 18 years of experience in content marketing, strategy, branded content and marketing solutions, client engagement and strategic partnerships. She has worked with some of the largest media conglomerates in India, like CNBC, Network18 and the ZEE network. Shilpi spent almost 10 years with CNBC, leading their marketing division while also expanding their offering of business news channels.
Taking a break from media and entertainment, Shilpi moved with her family to England in 2015 and enjoyed traveling through Europe while venturing into the fast-paced world of start-ups. She relocated to Australia and joined the team at Hospitals United for Sick Kids in 2023.
Shilpi is passionate about creating compelling brand narratives that connect businesses of all sizes with their customers while driving mentoring and inclusivity.
Danielle is a passionate Digital Marketing Specialist with 15 years’ experience in marketing and partnerships across the Retail, Pharmaceutical and Not-for-profit sectors. Danielle began working with the Hospitals United for Sick Kids team during the annual Coles Card Campaign as our Digital Marketing Specialist and has remained working on our social strategy and campaigns.
How you can help
Support our mission by purchasing our products, becoming a corporate partner, or sharing us on social.
“Homesickness, or the distress of being away from home is a serious issue for children in hospital.”
Michael Crouch, Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health – a joint position at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre.
our alliance partners
Our network brings together hospitals, foundations and paediatric services from all over Australia.
Our Alliance Partners are:
- Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation
- Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation (SA/NT)
- Canberra Hospital Foundation
- Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation
- The Common Good (QLD)
- Monash Children’s Hospital
- Royal Hobart Hospital
- John Hunter Children’s Hospital (NSW)
Together with our partners, we’ve funded over 77 projects, positions and pieces of equipment. The list includes innovative research, therapy positions, play therapy programs, redevelopment of a home equipment centre, Children’s emergency department and much more. Read more on our impact page.






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