TLC Ambulance Service

Transporting children in palliative care to their most treasured destinations.

In 2019, the TLC Ambulance began delivering special moments to sick children in palliative care, transporting them to their most treasured places to experience that joy one last time. Each trip and experience is captured and commemorated for the family.

The TLC Ambulance service was developed as a response to fill a gap for these families. The original idea for the service was spurred on by conversations with a TLC Mum, Jemima (an Ambulance Victoria Paramedic), who offered invaluable advice as someone who has experienced the loss of a child due to terminal illness.

TLC Ambulance Maiden Voyage

In 2019, TLC for Kids Mum Jemima Tawse came to us with a vision. She wanted to create a program that enabled sick children one last trip away from hospital. A trip that would allow them time with family. A trip that would create lasting memories for everyone involved.

After 2 years of planning, hard work, fundraising and amazing offers of support, we were able to deliver our very first TLC Ambulance trip: taking Stephie, her mum Kylie and brother Robbie to Werribee Zoo for the day. Stephie has Mitochondrial Disorder and usually has to use a wheelchair to move around, but is an avid animal lover and wanted nothing more than to go to the zoo!

A Unique Service

The TLC Ambulance is the first program of its kind in Australia, offering an immersive and engaging experience that differentiates the vehicle from other patient transport vehicles. The TLC Ambulance is more than just a vehicle – it offers a beautiful, memorable day out for families to treasure forever.

Prior to the TLC Ambulance, there was no system available in Australia to provide medically appropriate transport for terminally ill patients, other than standard hospital to hospital, hospital to home or home to hospital transfers.

It came to light that an important component of caring for and humanising terminally ill patients is being able to provide, as much as possible, for a special, final request of the patient and their family. This provides comfort for the patient and enables the family to create happy memories to take with them into the future.

Many palliative patients have medical requirements that make normal transport difficult or impossible unless they utilise an ambulance or a non-emergency patient transport service, and even though these services are available, they are only to transport to and from hospital appointments, not for day trips with their families. This was another core reason the TLC Ambulance Program was created.

TLC for Kids is proud to be partnering with one of Victoria’s most respected institutions, Ambulance Victoria, to introduce The TLC Ambulance.

How It Works

The TLC for Kids Services Team receives requests from approved paediatric healthcare professional referrers.
Ambulance Victoria Paramedics are scheduled to drive the vehicle.
TLC for Kids team members organise and host the trip.

The Type Of Trips Include

Sitting by a favourite lake
An ice-cream on the shore of the beach
Patting their dog at the park or at home
A day trip to the zoo with the whole family
Visiting a friend or grandparent

Thank You To Our TLC Ambulance Victoria Sponsors

Thank You To Our TLC Ambulance Victoria Vehicle Sponsors

Thank You To Our TLC Ambulance South Australia Major Sponsor

Thank You To Our TLC Ambulance South Australia Supporting Sponsors

TLC Ambulance

TLC Ambulance in South Australia

The TLC Ambulance has expanded and hit the road in South Australia. We are so excited to bring this unique service to the children and families who need it most.

Learn more...

Watch Neil Mitchell talk to Stephie and Kylie on 3AW

It was just amazing. I got to be a normal parent for a day.
Kylie

Stephie spent hours wandering the zoo and engaging with zookeepers, soaking up the atmosphere and brightening the day of every single person she came across. As an added bonus, the presence of the TLC for Kids team and Ambulance Victoria paramedics enabled Stephie’s mother Kylie to relax and spend one-on-one time with her children. Stephie could finally do simple things and spend time with her brother Robbie (without the burden of stress) which most of us take for granted.

Stephie and her mother Kylie went on to tell Neil Mitchell at 3AW all about it.

Some other touching stories

“Andy had been going through a pretty tough time and the family had struggled to go on an outing due to his health complications. Thanks to the TLC Ambulance, we were able to take Andy and his family on a day trip to Werribee Zoo, where they enjoyed the Wild Life Safari and some family time together, without the stress of worrying about the trip back and forth to their home.”

For Your Kind Consideration

Donate to help fund TLC Ambulance Service in South Australia

TLC for Kids is in the business of putting smiles on the faces of sick kids and their families. The TLC Ambulance is one of our services that helps us achieve this. Through supporting our work, you or your business or organisation can help us continue providing this vital program and help create beautiful and lasting memories for so many families. Every dollar donated to our cause ensures we are there when sick children and their families need us the most. If you’d like to discuss a possible sponsorship opportunity, we can work with you to develop a mutually beneficial partnership that makes both business and community sense. Thank you for taking the time to visit our site and learn more about what we do.

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How it started

Ambulance Victoria

Program Partnership with TLC Ambulance in 2019

The idea of TLC Ambulance came from Ambulance Victoria ALS paramedic Jemima Tawse, whose daughter Emily, born prematurely at 24 weeks, received support from TLC for Kids before passing away at seven. Initially, TLC for Kids was being donated a retired ambulance, but Ambulance Victoria received a new Sprinter vehicle from Mercedes to help power TLC Ambulance. Thanks to TLC for Kids’ supporters, TLC Ambulance is now on the road fulfilling its purpose with every trip. Ambulance Victoria paramedics will volunteer their time to operate the vehicle, providing support and clinical care during special trips.