As Victoria’s only children’s hospice, Very Special Kids provides 24-hour palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, while walking alongside their families through life, death, and grief. A lifechanging service to say the least.
This is why our Melbourne team take part in the Very Special Kids 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge - a community led fundraising event that fuels the care Very Special Kids provides to each child and their family during this period.
Before stepping onto the treadmills, we were lucky enough to step into the heart of Very Special Kids – where Michael Wasley, Very Special Kids’ incredible CEO were led through the newly rebuilt hospice.
We saw the environment Michael and his team have created - one filled with light, softness, and intention, leaving us with a deeper understanding of the impact Very Special Kids has on the children and families in their care.
It also reminded us why hiring a leader who is connected to the heart of the work, is felt in every detail - from the culture to the care, to the impact.
For Suzie McInerney, CEO of Six Degrees Executive, the tour wasn’t just a moving experience - it reinforced the role purposeful leadership plays in shaping organisations that care deeply and deliver meaningfully.
That conversation became the catalyst for a meaningful dialogue - one that brings together values-led leadership, the role of fundraising, and the emotional weight of the work Very Special Kids does every day.
The intention behind every detail in the architecture of the hospice was clear - it was designed with care, warmth, and a deep understanding of what each family goes through.
The plans focused far beyond medical equipment or clinical efficiency -
“A lot of the children, because of their conditions, spend far too much of their short lives in hospital and that creates anxiety for them, pain for them, left alone without parents for a while, strange adults coming in and out. So, if the clinical respite support is going to work, it needs to be in a home-like environment.”
For both Michael and Suzie, the connection between leadership and purpose was central to this year’s conversation.
For Michael, leading the organisation is not about sitting behind a desk. It’s about being in the building, understanding the stories, and staying connected to the heartbeat of the work.
“I believe in leading not from behind a desk, but by connecting quietly and respectfully with the families we support - always mindful not to stand in the way of the vital work our service delivery team does every day.
“I go to the back door when families arrive and give them a hug. I greet them by name. That’s how I stay close to the purpose of why I’m here.”
Watch Suzie and Michael in conversation on the importance of values-led leadership and why presence is crucial.
What came as a shock during the tour and what many people don’t realise is that Very Special Kids relies heavily on community and corporate fundraising to sustain its work.
“We receive about 20% of our income from government. The rest we need to raise through generous donations, events, corporate sponsorship, and so on.” Michael shared.
Events like the 24-Hour Treadmill Challenge help fund round-the-clock care - whether that’s complex medical support, creative therapies, respite care, or simply giving a family a night of uninterrupted sleep.
Watch how the Treadmill Challenge connects community, care, and hope year on year.