28/10/2026
Five years of wishes. Five years of memories. Five years of making the impossible possible.
Today, Ambulance Wish Western Australia’s Final Wish Programme celebrates its 5th birthday!
Five years ago, we launched Ambulance Wish Western Australia’s Final Wish Programme not knowing what the response would be and, in November 2021, we fulfilled our very first wish.
Rochelle was a patient in Joondalup ICU, and her wish was simple, yet incredibly meaningful - to attend her son's wedding. With the help of our volunteers and a wish ambulance, Rochelle was able to be there for one of the most important days in her son's life.
That first wish helped shape what Ambulance Wish Western Australia would become.
Today, five years later, we're fulfilling our 222nd wish.
Along the way, we've travelled thousands of kilometres, shared countless tears and smiles, and helped people living with life-limiting illnesses experience moments that might otherwise have been impossible.
We've taken people to the ocean to feel the sea breeze one more time. We've reunited families, helped people return to places that hold a lifetime of memories, and made it possible for people to attend events that matter deeply to them.
We've even beaten the movie 4 Weddings and a funeral - helping fulfil wishes to attend nine weddings and five funerals along the way, including wish recipient Mel who got married on her wish.
We've been recognised as finalists in both state and national awards, something we're incredibly proud of. The greatest recognition, however, has always been the smiles, the laughter, the tears and the heartfelt thanks from the people and families we've been privileged to support.
A wish is so much more than a journey.
A final wish isn't simply about getting someone from one place to another.
It's about giving someone the opportunity to continue living their life, rather than allowing their illness to define what remains of it.
It's about independence, dignity, connection and choice.
It's about a parent attending a wedding, a grandparent sharing another family gathering, or someone returning to a place that has shaped their life.
For families, these experiences create memories that can last long after their loved one has died. For the person receiving the wish, they can bring joy, comfort, purpose and a sense of normality at a time when so much may feel beyond their control.
We don't just transport people. We help them continue their life stories.
100% volunteer. 100% community supported.
Something that hasn't changed in five years is that Ambulance Wish WA remains an entirely volunteer-run charity.
We have no paid employees. No wages. No government funding.
Every wish is planned, coordinated and fulfilled by people who generously give their time, skills and experience around their employment, family responsibilities and other commitments.
From our wish crews and coordinators to those raising funds and supporting our operations, every person contributes because they believe in what a final wish can mean.
And every wish is provided completely free of charge to the recipient and their family.
The average cost of fulfilling a wish is just under $2,000. This cost covers the fuel, insurances, equipment, consumables, maintenance and other essential operational expenses that make our service possible.
When someone donates to Ambulance Wish WA, they're not paying salaries or funding a corporate organisation.
They're helping give someone the opportunity to fulfil a final wish.
One of the hardest lessons we've learned: don't leave a wish too late.
As our charity has grown, so too has the demand for our service.
We've received 142 wish requests and fulfilled 57 wishes during the last year.
Not every request meets our eligibility criteria, as our service is specifically designed for people who require specialised transport or assistance because of their medical, mobility or logistical needs.
But one of the most heartbreaking realities of our work is that approximately half of the wishes we plan are cancelled because the recipient's health deteriorates before the wish can take place.
Sometimes, despite the efforts of our volunteers, time simply runs out.
That's why we want to encourage families, healthcare professionals and palliative care services to think about Ambulance Wish WA earlier in someone's illness.
You don't need to wait until the final days of life to consider a final wish.
In fact, the benefits of a wish - the anticipation, the experience itself and the memories created afterwards - are often best enjoyed when the person is still well enough to participate fully.
Please don't wait until it's too late to ask.
Looking towards the next five years.
As we celebrate this milestone, we're also looking to the future.
Over recent months, we've begun one of the biggest transformations in our charity's history: redeveloping our management and volunteer structures to make Ambulance Wish WA more effective, resilient and sustainable.
We're creating new volunteer-led committees, strengthening our regional hubs, expanding opportunities for community involvement and building the foundations needed to support the growing demand for our service.
Our goal is simple: to ensure Ambulance Wish WA can continue making wishes possible, not just tomorrow, but for the next five years and well beyond.
To everyone who has been part of our journey — thank you.
To our volunteers, past and present, who have given their time, compassion and expertise.
To our donors, sponsors, fundraising supporters and community partners who have helped keep our wish ambulances on the road.
To the healthcare professionals and organisations who recognise the importance of a final wish and help make these experiences possible.
And most importantly, to the 222 wish recipients and their families who have trusted us to share some of the most personal and meaningful moments of their lives.
Thank you.
Five years ago, Rochelle's wish showed us what was possible.
Today, as our 222nd wish unfolds, we're reminded that while every person's story is different, the opportunity to create one more special memory is something truly extraordinary.
Here's to five years of wishes, five years of memories, and the next chapter of Ambulance Wish Western Australia.
Because even when time is limited, life still has moments worth living.
Help us make the next wish possible.
To request a wish, volunteer or support our work, visit the website at ambulancewishwa.org.au
