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Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

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About Us

For our patients and their families, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse is more than a cancer hospital; it's a place of hope and healing.

Our achievements, care and services are possible thanks to the generosity and compassionate support from our community.

From our wig library which instils confidence and empowerment to our patients, to our integrative inpatient services such as reflexology and massage, and our You Can Centre which serves as a haven for adolescent patients - funds raised through Dry July offers comfort in a challenging time.

Together, we are working towards a cancer free future.

Latest Updates


Artist in Residence at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

An integral part of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse complementary therapy program, Arterie supports a holistic approach to cancer patient care through an innovative participatory arts program. Arterie’s mission is to improve outcomes for patients, families, carers, staff and visitors by easing the side effects of cancer and its treatment as well as providing a therapeutic distraction from treatment through art engagement and participation.

Dry July has helped with funding the Artist in Residence program at Arterie. The current program consists of the following: 

9 Day residency over 3 weeks making a variety of art forms

• August 2016 - Mary Burgess Weaver - ‘The Joy of Silk’

• October 2016 - Penelope McKweown + Annabel Mason, Sculptors,

‘The Happenstance Journey’

• December 2016 - Michael Bogle - Book binding

• February 2017 Lynne Sung - Paper artist ‘The Reef’

• April 2017 Helen Gauchat - Painter - Landscape acrylic painting

• June 2017 - Ro Murray

• AIR sit in the foyer of Lifehouse - its a high public and traffic area - with a performative nature of the art process. Most artists work slower than they imagine end work in their own time on the project that in most instances is gifted to the hospital.

Carterie Program at Lifehouse

Part of the complementary therapy program at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, the current Arterie 'Carterie' program consists of the following:

• Mobile Art and Craft studio - Delivered Tuesday Wednesday Thursday to wards and waiting areas. Each day between 1-5 Carteries are in use (volunteer dependent)

• Arterie provides approx 45 volunteers per month to the Lifehouse Program

• All Carterists are trained artists - with formal qualifications in art, design, art therapy, social science etc.

• Various art and craft packages are on board the cart and prepared by volunteer ‘pit-crew’

• Projects vary from traditional textile crafts such as embroidery and knitting to collage, colouring-in and assemblage

• All members of the Lifehouse community from patients, staff, volunteers and carers are welcome to participate.

• Projects are often installed in public areas of the hospital adding a level of satisfaction, fulfilment and pride to the participant. Arterie artworks are installed throughout the hospital.

• Pictured - Carterie celebrated International Womens Day - making and wearing all things pink.

• Carterie projects make a difference to people with cancer - it is a welcome, meditative and often fun activity to help fill the many hours that are involved in cancer care.

• The project is evaluated in the process of delivering - sitting and engaging with the Lifehouse community; and in the end results - dozens and sometimes hundreds of each small project. Sometimes these are displayed and installed in the hospital, at other times the patients takes the completed project.

• Carterie projects are constantly evolving, Potential projects are researched, designed and trialled for suitability + fun. Projects are discontinued after a certain period to ensure the projects are fresh and exciting for the long term participants.

Arterie - art in health complimentary therapy

Some of the art projects delivered under this program, it is open to patients and carers alike of the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse.

Supporting Lifehouse

Dry July 2016 funding will go towards continuing the Carterie program at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, and toward an entertainment package for young adult patients.

Lifehouse's Arterie art therapy program supports the centre's holistic approach to cancer patient care through an innovative participatory arts program. Arterie’s mission is to improve outcomes for patients, families, carers, staff and visitors by easing the side effects of cancer and its treatment (stress, pain, fatigue, isolation and depression) as well as providing a therapeutic distraction from treatment through art engagement and participation. Carterie  is a mobile art studio manned by Lifehouse volunteers with pre-packaged activities considered and designed around neuropathy, fatigue and nausea that are delivered one to one during waiting and treatment. Costs covered by Dry July include displays, mobile trays and art materials. Carteries house up to 10 art/craft projects each term and the design, innovation, research and invention of new projects is ongoing.

Young adult patients' feedback has resulted in a request for individual CD players with a range of mindful meditation and relaxation CDs to help them cope with long chemo treatment. Audio books on CD provide an excellent way to escape from the reality of treatment and recovery. Kindles with pre-loaded books may also be provided. The idea is to be able to provide a comprehensive “entertainment” package to allow some respite from the long waits and even longer treatment times.

Patient Ambassador: Pepi

Pepi was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and has been undergoing treatment at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse since then. She is taking on the challenge of Dry July to give back to Lifehouse and in particular the support she has received from their complementary therapy arts program, Arterie. She started attending Arterie’s Open Studios to fill the gap between appointments and has found them lots of fun and interesting. Pepi doesn’t drink so instead will be giving up swearing, which she says may prove quite the challenge when in the car in traffic so she’s taken to creating her own “non-swear” words. So far Careless Clots, Fat-Headed Geese and Abominable Ninnies have all been given a work out.

Thanks for being part of Team Lifehouse, Pepi.

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