Children's charity appeal, image of two boys Brax and Dre

Children's charity for sick kids in Sydney

Make-A-Wish Australia has granted thousands of wishes to critically ill children in Sydney and wider NSW since 1985.

Help us grant a life-changing wish for the hundreds of sick kids in Sydney and NSW currently waiting for their wish to be granted.

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Watch Bryson save Sydney with NSW Police

12-year-old Bryson's wish was to have a HUGE emergency services adventure, but he never thought he would be called upon to save Sydney!

Bryson's health journey started when he was just two years of age. At three, he was officially diagnosed with a rare condition called Gorlin syndrome.

As a kid that loves helping people and the emergency services, his wish was all about giving him the opportunity to save the day! With the help of NSW Police and generous supporters like you, his wish came true.

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Our Sydney charity fundraising events

Make-A-Wish along with our partners and volunteers host and participate in a number of fundraising events in Sydney throughout the year.

From our Sydney charity gala ball 'Wish Upon A Star' to one-of-a-kind events like Trees of Joy, there is many ways to us grant more wishes for the 900+ sick kids currently waiting on a wish.


We also have DIY fundraising options accessible anywhere in NSW for people who want to host a fundraiser, raise money at their school or workplace or even fundraise for their birthday. Some of our popular fundraising options are our Halloween fundraiser, Hallowish or you could bake to support wish kids as part of Bake A Wish.

Find a Sydney event

Our first ever wish granted in Sydney

In 1985, a young man named Shawn had the first wish ever granted in Australia. A group of insurance brokers who were in the beginning stages of setting up Make-A-Wish in Australia had contacted Shawn's Dad's best friend for a donation and were then asked if they had any candidates for a wish. They were told Shawn's story, and the rest is history.

Shawn was a 16-year-old in a wheelchair with Muscular Dystrophy that wished to go on his first ever aeroplane trip to Sydney to see his favourite football team the Footscray Football Club take on Sydney at the SCG.


Shawn was a Footscray superfan and was known to be able to tell you the possessions of any player on the ground off the top of his head. While the overall trip was a huge success, unfortunately for Shawn, his beloved Footscray went down by 76-points to the Sydney Swans on that day.

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Help grant more wishes for critically ill children

Your donation helps support making wishes come true across Australia, providing hope and joy where its needed most.

Volunteer for Make-A-Wish in NSW

Volunteers are an integral part of helping us grant the hundreds of wishes we grant every year. If you’re looking to join a community of people making a life-changing difference in the lives of sick kids and their families, becoming a Make-A-Wish volunteer could be the ideal opportunity for you.

Whether you’re supporting a family on their Wish Journey, involved in local fundraising events, or raising awareness about Make-A-Wish, every hour you give helps create hope, joy and lasting memories for families who need it most.

Our NSW volunteer branches

We offer various volunteering opportunities across Sydney and NSW - whether you're wanting to help bring wishes to life, volunteer a skill to help us grant more wishes or are a community fundraising hero, we need your help! Visit our volunteer hub to learn more about the different opportunities that may be available.

Make-A-Wish volunteer branches in NSW:

  • Central Sydney
  • South Sydney
  • North Sydney
  • Western Sydney
  • South-West Sydney
  • Albury-Wodonga
  • Wollongong
  • Port Macquarie
  • Newcastle-Hunter
  • Dubbo

Join a trusted kid’s charity and be part of a community that’s changing lives, one wish at a time.

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