A presentation given by Felicity McMahon at the CHA Conference 2012, The Journey, in 'The How To of Family & Patient Centred Care' stream.

1. ‘Space’ Matters: Creating
Starlight Express Rooms
Felicity McMahon, Head of Programs
Elizabeth Kelly-Dalgety, Research and Evaluation
Dr Ralph Hampson, Research and Evaluation

2. Design is about making things good (and
then better) and right (and fantastic) for the
people who use and encounter them — Matt
Beale.
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3. Who we are?
The Starlight Children’s Foundation (Starlight) provides a
range of programs for seriously ill and hospitalised children,
young people and their families, including:
– Captain Starlight
– Starlight Express Rooms
– Starlight TV
– Wish granting
– Livewire.org.au
– Livewire in hospital
– Community Outreach (NT)
Focus of this presentation:
Starlight Express Rooms (SER) are located in 7 paediatric
hospitals in Australia.
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4. What is a Starlight Express Room?
State-of-the-art, multimedia entertainment and distraction rooms
Encompass a range of arts, entertainment and recreational
activities
Provide a medical-free space
Facilitated by Captain Starlight, volunteers and Livewire
Facilitators
Incorporates Starlight TV which broadcasts movies and live
shows from the SER to children and young people on the wards
Opens between 5-7 days per week with the majority opening
between 10am-4pm daily
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5. Who uses the SER?
Inpatients: from toddlers through to young adults
– Medical conditions vary
Outpatients
Siblings and friends of the patients
Parents
Starlight team: Captain Starlight, Livewire Facilitators and
volunteers, Hospital Program Manager
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6. Starlight Express Rooms
Assist in the reduction of loneliness and isolation for children and
young people in hospital
Accommodate the different developmental needs of children and
young people
Are inclusive and supportive of the whole family
Connect patients and their families with others
Provide free activities for children and young people
Provide a platform to reach out to children on the wards who
cannot physically come to the SER through Starlight TV and
Ward Rounds
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7. A conceptual model of the effects of children’s physical
environments on child health outcomes
Physical Environmental Health
Environment Satisfaction Outcomes
• Nature • Subjective • Physical
• Noise appraisal of • Psychological
• Crowding environment • Emotional
(social and • Feeling of • Cognitive
spatial) control over • Behavioural
• Art/Decorations the
environment • Social
• Lighting
• Temperature
• Music
Reference: Sherman, S. A. Shepley, M. M., & Varni, J. W. (2005). Children’s Environments
and Health –Related Quality of Life: Evidence Informing Paediatric Healthcare Environmental
Design. Children, Youth and Environments 15(1), 188-223.
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8. SER at the Women’s And
Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
First SER opened at the Children’s Hospital Camperdown in 1991
SER at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide opened in
2011
This was the first build in many years with the design influenced
by:
– A review of the research on the impact of hospital and
indoor play spaces on children’s wellbeing
– Needs Analysis interviews with young people, parents and
health professionals
– Feedback from a national survey of SERs
First multi-purpose space catering for children during the day,
and a space exclusively for young people in the evenings
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9. Let’s take a look …

10. Video
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11. Then and Now
Previous SERs WCH SER
• Tunnel entrance • Shop front
• Use of primary colours • Use of calming colours
• Outer-space themes • Themes of nature
• One centralised activity • Dedicated activity spaces
space
• Standard lighting • LED lighting
• Standardised hospital • Nature themed floor
flooring approved by hospital
• Standard finishing • Need specific finishes, e.g.
Use of patterned vinyl decals
on walls to create a line of
vision.
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12. Display window to
show case
children’s art work
and monthly
themes
TV screen
advertising daily
events
Open ‘shop front’ to Enclosed working and
encourage families to multi-media areas
enter
Large windows to
allow for natural light
and viewing of
activities
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13. Display area for
art work
Movable
furniture for ease
of wheelchair
access
State-of-the-art,
arts facilities to
Pebbled garden
support participant
Vine leaf patterns to provide path – emulate
and staff
line of sight (safety) without nature; encourage
engagement in
being obtrusive focus on
activities
destination
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14. Lockable
office and
kitchenette
out of view of
the Room
LED lighting to add State-of-
excitement and the-art in
mediate gaming
‘atmosphere’ in the technology
Room
Use of wood
paneling to add
‘warmth’ /
‘homeliness’ to
the space
Screens and
Seating designed to adapt cupboards
to a multitude of activities built into the
Flooring
and support ‘nature’ theme walls
durable and
inspired by
nature
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15. Our experience and incorporation into the
WCH SER, Adelaide:
FEEDBACK/SUGGESTION RESPONSE
Adaptable/Flexible • Fixed items are embedded into the walls,
space to accommodate remaining items can be easily moved or stored
a variety of activities out of sight, e.g. retractable stage
Disability Access • Accommodates wheelchairs, medical equipment,
e.g. IV drips, beds
• Creation of open spaces and ample room around
portable furnishings
Supports interactive art • Designated arts and crafts glassed room.
activities; opportunity to • Display window to show case visitors work.
display work; storage • Storage facilities available across three walls.
• Surface of cupboards designed to support and
highlight art work
Colour that emulates • LED lighting system to randomly change colour
positivity and fun
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16. Our experience
FEEDBACK/SUGGESTION RESPONSE
Noise Management • Use of sound absorbing materials
Access to elements of • Interior design emulating elements of nature,
nature, including if e.g. cloud and wood panelling
possible, an outside view • View though front windows onto courtyard.
Flexible lighting to • Strength of lighting controllable
support a range of • Access to natural light available
activities
Use of technology in new • State-of-the -art technology and multi-media
and innovative ways and gaming facilities
• LED lightning to facilitate ‘atmosphere’ of
room
• TV screen at entrance promoting activities
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17. Snapshot Review – what did we
learn?
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18. Snapshot Review – what did we
learn?
Visitors were able to move Younger children (under 7)
freely and safely were more likely to engage in
arts-based activities
Separate activity spaces
supported immersement in Preteens and adolescents
designated activities engaged with the gaming
facilities.
All children and adolescent
visitors participated in Easily adapted to
activities accommodate needs of
visitors with a disability
Parents engaged with, or
supported involvement of Noise levels can be adjusted
their child in activities to accommodate children’s
needs
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19. Snapshot Review – what did we learn?
Staff/volunteers: Children:
Active in supporting children, Participated and were
young people and parents to immersed in in a range of
participate in activities activities of their choosing
Adapted and worked within Visibly agitated parents
the space to engage a range calmed down
of age appropriate and
Encouraged and supported
cognitive needs
to engage activities that
Collaborated with other extend their skill set
hospital departments e.g.
Interacted with family
educational services
members – supported by the
Visitors: use of electronic or logic
games
Seating design and flexibility
encouraged interaction Parents talked positively
amongst visitors about their experience and
18 made plans to return

20. Snapshot review – what did we
learn?
Staff/volunteers indicated high levels of satisfaction with their
personal and visitor engagement
Staff/volunteers did not identify structural and interior aspects of
the WCH SER they would like changed
Minor ‘tweaking’ of the space - suggestions focused
predominately on improving the capacity to display and store
large art projects
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21. What next?
Building upon our experience and evidence base
we continue to evolve the SER design

22. Thank you
www.starlight.org.au
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