Healthier Futures Initiative

Australia has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. But sick children and young people need more than the exceptional care that our clinicians can offer. They need the social and emotional support that lets them be a child. Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and young people by replacing pain, fear and stress with fun, joy and laughter. Since 1988, Starlight has expanded to become the broadest reaching children’s charity in Australia
However, there is still a significant gap between the health status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids have some of the highest levels of preventable diseases in the world.
Starlight Children's Foundation's Healthier Futures Initiative is helping to change that. Access to health services is often limited in remote communities and clinic visits can be met with anxiety and fear - especially for kids.
Until they meet Captain Starlight!
Partnering with health professionals, our Healthier Futures Initiative brings Captain Starlight to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health clinics to provide positive distraction for kids through song, dance, games and storytelling.
By engaging with kids through fun and play, Starlight helps boost participation in healthcare. And by enhancing the clinic experience, community engagement in the healthcare system has increased too. When Captain Starlight visits remote health clinics, kids are more likely to participate in the vital health checks they need.
This video was created as part of a fundraising mission for Healthier Futures Initiative, to enable the Starlight Captains to visit more remote communities and have an impact on countless children and young peoples lives and health.