Future Stories: Virtual reality for young people in hospital
Transforming the hospital experience through creativity and technology
The Future Stories project uses co-designed virtual reality experiences to support young people aged 12-21 during extended hospital stays, addressing social isolation, boredom, and disconnection from their everyday lives. The project is funded through an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant.
What we do
Through artist-in-residence programs at partnering hospitals, we work one-on-one with young people to create personalised virtual reality worlds that reflect their passions, memories, and dreams. These might include journeys to meaningful places, explorations of favourite activities, or entirely imagined environments—all co-designed with professional VR artists over a series of creative workshops.
Our approach transforms the clinical environment into a creative space where young people can exercise agency, imagination, and control during challenging times.
Why it matters
Hospitalisation affects more than physical health. Young people facing extended stays often experience:
- Social isolation from friends and family.
- Anxiety about procedures and treatment.
- Loss of developmental experiences and learning opportunities.
- Feelings of powerlessness and disconnection.
Future Stories addresses these non-clinical needs by providing meaningful creative engagement that sits alongside medical treatment.
Our approach
Working flexibly with each young person's health needs and interests, artists guide participants through 4-6 creative sessions over a 10-week residency.
Young people are creative partners from start to finish, using sketches, stories, photos, and conversations to shape their unique VR world.
With participant consent, VR worlds are stored securely in the cloud, creating a growing library of experiences that future patients can explore—building a community of care across time.
Research impact
This transdisciplinary project brings together expertise in arts, health, and technology to generate evidence about:
- The benefits of creative co-design processes for young people in hospital.
- The effectiveness of VR as a tool for social wellbeing and distraction.
- Best practices for arts-in-health programs using emerging technologies.
Our work contributes to the growing Arts and Health field, aligning with national health frameworks and policies that recognise the role of creative arts in promoting wellbeing, resilience, and quality of life.
Partner institutions
Research partners
- UNSW Sydney
- Griffith University
- Central Queensland University
- Creative Arts and Health Laboratory, Leeds Beckett University (UK)
Hospital partners
- Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane
- Sydney Children's Hospital
- Cairns Hinterland Hospital
The research team
Our team combines expertise across paediatric palliative care, participatory arts, film and media, applied drama, and virtual reality technology. Led by Chief Investigators Prof. Michael Balfour, Dr Guy Lobwein, and Dr Jenny Penton (Research Fellow) (UNSW), Dr Jan Cattoni (CQU), Dr Margaret Gibson (Griffith), and Professor Persephone Sextou (Leeds Beckett University), and Dr Anthony Herbert, Lynne Seear (Queensland Children’s Hospital), Dr Susan Trethewie and Kirsty-Leah Goymour (Sydney Children’s Hospital) and Dr Neil Archer, Cairns Hinterland Hospital we work closely with medical specialists, arts-in-health coordinators, and international collaborators to ensure the project meets both creative and clinical excellence.
Contact & further information
Please contact the research team for more information about the Future Stories project, research findings, or collaboration opportunities. Conatct: m.balfour@unsw.edu.au
Future Stories is supported by transdisciplinary partnerships between academic institutions and healthcare providers, which work together to enhance the wellbeing of young people during hospitalisation.