Bear Cottage Christmas Caravan of Care visits Dubbo Hospital

The trip replaces the annual Bear Cottage Christmas party, which had to be re-imagined this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Nurse manager of Bear Cottage Narelle Martin said it was important for the team to bring the Christmas cheer to current and bereaved families of Dubbo, especially after a challenging six months.

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"It's really important for us to keep a connection with our families no matter where they live, what their location, if its metropolitan Sydney or in rural parts of NSW," she said.

"We thought this year because we can't have a Christmas party, lets reach out to everyone in their communities and make that connection in their home towns."

Staff from Bear Cottage, along with Santa visited the Dubbo Hospital on Tuesday to deliver donated Christmas presents on to families.

Ms Martin said the tour was also a way recognise and give back to the hospitals who support the children they care for.

"We want to give back to those communities as well, so delivering some toys to the hospitals, like the paediatric ward [in Dubbo] means a lot to us, because we know they care for our kids before we do," she said.

"We're very fortunate, we do get quite a lot of donations each year, so It's a great opportunity to give what we have to some of those, who may not get as much as we do."

The Christmas Caravan of Care tour began on the Central Coast and will see the team visit families in Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Penrith, Orange, Rouse Hill, Wollongong, Mollymook and Canberra.

Ms Martin said they have been "amazed" by the reaction, and it was just as rewarding for Bear Cottage staff as it was for the recipients.

"It's just been incredible, and that comes back to our staff as well," she said.

"It's actually a really good team bonding exercise and a really great opportunity in what's been an average year for so many, to bring some fun and happiness."

Bear Cottage is a centre dedicated to caring for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Located in Manly, Bear Cottage is considered a home away from home to offer 24-hour paediatric medical care.