Wattle Cottage

27/09/2026

25/09/2026

🌸 Spring at Wattle Cottage

It’s lovely watching the garden wake up after winter. The memorial roses are beginning to bloom, and the grounds slowly fill with colour.

We’d like to acknowledge three special roses:
Yellow Rose in honour of Joey.
The Pink Rose in honour of Mia.
The purple in honour of McKenzie.

We’re looking forward to seeing children and families enjoy these spaces. For many children and their families, time outdoors doesn't always come easily, days can be full of appointments, equipment and routines, so a garden where you can simply feel the sun, smell the flowers and take your time, means a lot to us.

Do you know we also have a little fruit garden? 🍊 We’re growing citrus fruits, mulberries, peaches and plums, with more fruit trees planned for the future.

There's always something new to notice at Wattle Cottage. We can't wait to share it with you.

Here's to a gentle spring.

18/08/2026

Wattle Cottage is the cornerstone of the Paper Crane Foundation.

There is a need in our community for a place where medically complex children and their families can receive support from specialised, highly trained care and nursing teams, while also experiencing the warmth, comfort and familiarity of a true home-like environment.

Wattle Cottage is our response to that need.

With deep respect for the historical and cultural significance of native plants in Australian Aboriginal culture, we have thoughtfully chosen the names of our five guest rooms to honour the stories, traditions and enduring significance of Australia’s remarkable native flowers.

The name Wattle Cottage itself carries a deeply personal meaning. It honours two incredibly brave children who sadly lost their battles with life-debilitating conditions. The Golden Wattle symbolises strength, resilience, connection and new beginnings- values that are at the heart of everything Wattle Cottage will represent.

Nestled in the peaceful suburb of Springwood, Wattle Cottage is surrounded by the beauty of nature. With native trees, birdlife and wildlife right on our doorstep. The setting offers a sense of calm, privacy and connection to the outdoors. Despite its tranquil surroundings, it remains conveniently close to local amenities and the wider community.

This fully accessible space has been thoughtfully and uniquely designed around the needs and wishes of children and their families. Every detail has been considered to create an environment that feels welcoming, nurturing and, most importantly, like home.

Wattle Cottage is a model we are deeply passionate about bringing to life. A place where families are supported, understood and cared for during some of lifes most challenging times.

This is only the beginning.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more about Wattle Cottage and the spaces we’ve created, the stories behind them, and the heart that has gone into every detail.

Follow along and join us as we bring Wattle Cottage to life 💛 💛 💛

08/08/2026

💛 Say their name. Today, we are going yellow for Joey. 💛

Four years ago today, Joey's courageous battle with a life-limiting condition came to an end. But his story didn't.

Joey may no longer be with us, but the mark he left continues to touch hearts, inspire kindness, and remind us that even the smallest souls can leave the biggest footprints.

Thank you, beautiful boy, for teaching us about resilience, love, compassion, and the strength of the little human spirit.

As we promised, we will continue your legacy. We will keep working towards making Wattle Cottage a place where children and families can find support, connection, and a safe space and we hope to open our doors in the not-so-distant future.

Today, let’s paint the world yellow for Joey 💛
For his memory.
For his legacy.
And for all the children like Joey who are facing their own big battles.

07/08/2026

Today’s Jeans for Genes Day - we’re all in denim at Paper Cranes.

Here’s something that really hits: 1 in 20 kids will face a birth defect or genetic disease, things like cancer, cystic fibrosis, or serious metabolic disorders. That’s 12 kids, every single minute, around the world.

We see this up close. Families that we assist with, worn out from hospital visits, sleepless nights, and just trying to keep going while caring for a medically complex child.
It’s a lot to carry.

So today we’re wearing our jeans in support of Jeans For Genes day, are you?

01/08/2026

At Wattle Cottage, we make use of every space for everyone.

Our hallway has space for therapeutic play; with magnetic sensory accessories on the walls to practice fine motor skills, imaginary play. We’re vision impairment friendly and have heaps of fun for all Lego enthusiasts.

Come and see us! We’d love to hear from children and families to help us with more creative ideas for our future guests to enjoy.

Comment below or send us a message 💛

24/07/2026

What kid doesn’t like dinosaurs? 💛🦖
Every part of the renovation tells our story. A donated set of Jurassic theme bedding sheets and the matching picture soon inspired our dino-room, Wollemia, named after the ancient Australian tree known as the "living fossil." This NSW native dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.

This room looks completely different now! But we had determination and a vision. And then, an ordinary bedroom transformed into a welcoming fun room for a child to come and stay.

Starting with smash therapy went very well! Plenty of plastering for Galia to do!

Come behind the scenes and discover what makes Wattle Cottage so special.

A special thanks to:
Gambling Community Benefit Fund Queensland for the grant. We couldn’t do it without this assistance.
Flooring/tilers - Sean and the team at First Class Tilers
Electrician - Asi at Smart Electrical Solutions QLD
Stephan at SKW Home Improvements
Erin as smash demolition enthusiast and Joey's Mum 💛
Galia for plastering, design, and renovations expert
Pat for all heavy-duty labouring
Families for donating equipment

15/07/2026

A sneak peek at Wattle Cottage progress! This is the future of Respite and Wellness for families raising children with complex care needs.

We want to give a huge shout out to PostStudio-Events and BTS Photography for generously donating their time and talent to photograph the indoor space at Wattle Cottage.

Reading nook, sunlit family spaces, sensory play and therapy corner, and a sense of home.

We are so privileged to have access to arts, crafts, music therapy, and endless play.

Do you know we also have accommodation for families, with their own on suite?

This is where our families will come to recharge, to be the parents while their child will be fully supported, siblings will be looked after. They can relax as a family while making precious memories.

Every photo captures what this space means and all the love we put into creating Wattle Cottage to ensure that the centre has a non - clinical feel, a safe , comforting, calm, and happy environment for families to stay. The team behind the lens brought care and warmth to the shoot, and it shows in every frame.

Thank you, Ilya and Anna studio, for believing in our mission and giving your time so freely. We're so grateful here at Paper Cranes Children’s Foundation to have friends like you and our partnerships 📸💛

For anyone curious to see our space, shoot us an e-mail or call to make an appointment! We’re open for visits.