Ronald McDonald House Charities WA works with The Magic Coat Foundation to help young children and their families better cope with the emotional toil of being sick in hospital.
The Magic Coat is an analogy of an imaginary coat that helps children to feel safe and deal with a number of difficult situations they may come across in their young lives.
“Programs like The Magic Coat are incredibly important to the services provided by RMHC WA because they focus on the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and their families during what can be really tough times,” RMHC WA Family Program Manager Julie Field said.
The Magic Coat program aligns with RMHC WA’s mission by offering simple, practical tools that help kids make sense of their feelings in an engaging way. “This kind of support is crucial when families are dealing with the stress and disruptions that come with medical journeys,” she said.
“It also gives children a sense of calm and confidence, helping them settle into new routines and environments more easily. By addressing both emotional and practical needs, programs like this ensure that families feel supported and cared for so they can focus on what matters most – healing and recovery.”
The Magic Coat has made an essential difference in helping the children who are ill or injured and their siblings staying at RMHC WA by supporting their wellbeing. “Its interactive and relatable approach gives kids the tools they need to cope with stress, fear, and uncertainty, which are often part of hospital stays and extended medical journeys.
“Using strategies that are easy to understand and apply, the program helps children feel more in control of their emotions. This seamless integration creates a supportive, reassuring environment for both kids and their families," she explained.
The Magic Coat was founded in 2021 by Di Wilcox, a primary school teacher who realised how many children were struggling emotionally and not enjoying their childhoods. She simplified cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and positive psychology strategies into a bright, fun filled analogy about a Magic Coat to teach children the skills to become more resilient and happy.
“When children are able to articulate and understand what they are feeling they are able to use the right strategies to manage the feeling appropriately so that they don’t hurt themselves or another person. The child also understands that having big feelings is normal and does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with you,” Ms Wilcox explained.
“When each family member knows how to appropriately express what they are feeling it strengthens each person’s mental and emotional well-being. The family can then work together as a team to resolve issues and manage these big feelings which ensures no one feels isolated and alone going through the difficult times.”
Working with RMHC WA enables families to deal with the strong feelings and emotions experienced by everyone in the family when a child is ill or injured. “The common language taught in The Magic Coat to deal with each of these emotions gives families the ability to go through this difficult journey with more compassion and understanding towards one another,” Ms Wilcox said.
The Magic Coat Foundation has been an incredible partner for RMHC WA since the foundation started. “Their dedication to supporting families is evident in the training they’ve provided to staff and the availability of their skills, knowledge and resources. Their approach is thoughtful and always puts families first, which has made a huge difference to the services we offer," Ms Field said.
The recent introduction of The Magic Coat into Perth Children’s Hospital has been an exciting and successful update, drawing greater recognition and broader context for our families. The Magic Coat isn’t just helping individual families; it’s fostering a culture of care, resilience, and understanding across our entire community.
“We’re incredibly grateful for their support, which in turn has helped us to better support families through some of the most difficult times in their lives," Ms Field added.
By Hearts and Minds
