Restoring the humanity in healthcare - empowering people through the arts and kindness to create cultures of care where staff and patients thrive together.
The Hush Foundation was established in 2000 by highly awarded and renowned physician, Prof. Catherine Crock AM, in response to her work with children undergoing painful medical procedures at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
Working alongside anaesthetists in the development of new pain relief systems for these young patients, Prof. Crock sought to reduce the stress and anxiety felt by patients, families and staff.
Additional research was undertaken to transform the environment of the operating theatre and recovery rooms through the use of especially composed music by some of Australia’s foremost musicians and composers. The Hush music collection now includes 20+ album releases featuring over 170 compositions, recorded by more than 230 Australian artists and ensembles.
Over the last 25 years, the work of Hush has expanded to encompass the culture of the system itself, and what can be done to improve the experience for patients, families and healthcare professionals.
With a annual Gathering of Kindness program of events, three theatrical plays about health care, and a delightful children’s book – the ways in which Hush works to engage our audience and supporters continues to grow. As does our impact in changing a system at the centre of the human experience – health care.
We have Deductible Gift Recipient 1 charity status, allowing you to make tax deductible donations.
Our goal is simple and systemic: reduce distress, improve communication and cultivate wellbeing for patients, families and staff so safety and compassion reinforce each other across the whole service.
Listen for what matters, explain clearly, create calm. Evidence shows arts and music reduce anxiety and support better engagement.
Build psychological safety and shared standards so teams speak up and learn. Evidence shows this is linked to better patient-safety outcomes.
Protect purpose through reflection and self-care. Evidence shows burnout is a workplace problem that needs cultural solutions.
“Healthcare without kindness and compassion is technical work, not healing work.”
We integrate applied arts with education and leadership to reduce distress, improve communication and grow cultures of respect.
Clarify our value, scale sustainable products, build partnerships & profile, grow philanthropy, and strengthen organisational sustainability.
When we treat patients, colleagues and ourselves with kindness, care gets safer, communication gets clearer, and everyone’s wellbeing improves. Join the movement.
The Hush Foundation
PO Box 1385
Camberwell, VIC, 3124
A Deductible Gift Recipient 1 charity
Make a tax deductible donation
ABN 751 380 88972
Join our mailing list to stay informed about Hush, our Music releases, the Gathering of Kindness and more
Your privacy matters to us. We will only use your details to send you our newsletter and updates. We never sell, trade, or share your information with third parties.
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the lands on which we live and work and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging.
Incorporating the Australian Institute of Patient and Family Centred Care.
© 2025 The Hush Foundation
