About Make-A-Wish^® Australia

Our mission

To grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Our vision

To make every eligible child’s wish come true.

Donating to Make-A-Wish^®

Make-A-Wish Australia Ltd is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient from 1 July 2000. It is covered by Item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Funds donated to Make-A-Wish Australia solely benefit our cause and the children we serve in Australia.

You can make a secure donation online or call us on 1800 032 260 to make a donation over the phone.

History

In 1985, two Australians heard a speech that changed their lives. Since that time, Make-A-Wish Australia has granted over 7,000 wishes to children in Australia with life-threatening medical conditions.

Our first wish

Our first wish was granted to 16-year-old Shawn Cleland of Footscray in Melbourne in 1985. An avid fan of AFL, Shawn's wish was to meet the players of his beloved Footscray.

Shawn had never flown in a plane – so Make-A-Wish added an extra-special touch, flying Shawn to Sydney to see the Bulldogs play the Swans.

"Walking was my first choice of a wish", said Shawn who was confined to a wheelchair due to his illness. His second was to play cricket for Australia or football for Footscray.

Shawn's favourite player, Footscray legend Simon Beasley, paid him a visit before the trip, "Tell the team that if they get a thrashing they deserve a salary cut", Shawn joked.

The first wish

All his life, Christopher James Greicius dreamed of becoming a police officer. This wish was to become the inspiration for the largest wish-granting organisation in the world.

In 1980, at the age of 7, Chris was diagnosed with leukaemia. Upon learning that Chris's most cherished wish was to be a policeman, members of the Arizona State Troopers began working to ensure his dream came true. They arranged for Chris to take a flight in a police helicopter, ride in a patrol car and presented him with his very own uniform. He was even sworn in as an honorary member of the force.

Sadly, Chris passed away shortly afterwards. But the seed had been planted.

After attending Chris's funeral, two of the State Troopers reflected on the experience of making his dream come true. They thought that if one boy's wish could be granted, maybe the same could be done for other children. At that moment, the idea for Make-A-Wish was born.