MyWish App

MyWish is designed to support younger wish children in the early stages of their Wish Journey. Activities are developmentally appropriate for children aged 6 to 12, however use this as a guide; every child is different.

• Missions are designed to the Wish Capture stage (before kids land their final wish idea); and Wish Anticipation (while waiting for their wish to come true).
• Your child will be able to write, draw, upload a photo from their device, and record their voice in different activities.
• A parent or older brother or sister may need to be more “hands-on” in helping early learners read and follow instructions.

Within the MyWish app, wish children will be introduced to Wishy, their guide as they embark on an adventure through time and space. Your child's mission is to boldly navigate a series of pre-wish missions, helping them brainstorm wish ideas, developing their creativity, learning about their super-hero-inspired strengths and a gaining a greater understanding of emotions along the way.

Missions are structured around five key areas:

• Creativity – providing kids with different activities to inspire creative thinking and encourage them to use their imagination.
• Contemplation – a chance for kids to sit and think about themselves, what likes or interests are important to them, and who the support people around them are.
• Wellbeing – evidence-based activities designed specifically for children that focus on their emotions, strengths and relationships.
• Wish Capture – to help children think about their wish and start to imagine, knowing anything is possible.
• Fun – a chance to be a bit silly and have a laugh.

While Make-A-Wish won’t see your child’s content, you’re welcome to share any screenshots with your child’s Wish team any time, to help us get to know your child and their greatest wish, getting to the heart of what they truly want and why.

• No, only you can see what your child creates in the app, as this content is saved locally to the device.
• We would love to see any screenshots, photos or videos you’d like to share with us!
• You can email them to mywish@makeawish.org.au

The MyWish app has been developed and made possible thanks to our partners who share Make-A-Wish Australia’s values and understand the power of imagination for children facing critical illness:

• The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand are our founding and creative partner, with unparalleled expertise in the critical areas of creativity, imagination and storytelling.
• Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD is a world-leading psychology expert who has developed the positive psychology principles, framework and activities that underpin the app.
• DEPT® / Family & Kids They are digital experts when it comes to redefining what technology can do to educate and immerse kids by crafting innovative joyous experiences.

We'd also like to acknowledge the work done by Christopher Peterson, PhD and Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD, in their book Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification, where they explore a multitude of character strengths.

The reference for the book is: Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press and Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

On opening the MyWish app, you'll be introduced to Wishy, your intergalactic guide! Wishy will prompt you on what to do at each pivotal stage of the pre-wish missions.

First you arrive at the centre of your MyWish universe - the sun!

• Your first mission is to create your very own MyWish avatar, personalising a range of facial features and accessories.
• If you get stuck, try “rolling the dice” to start with a randomly-generated avatar :-}
• Once complete, hit the green “tick” – your avatar is now saved and appears on the sun.
• You can come back and update it anytime, and also get to create more avatars during your travels!

With your first mission accomplished, pinch and zoom on your screen around to see new planets appear. Anything with a "question mark" is now unlocked and ready to explore.

• Some activities can be completed quickly. Others might make you think. You don’t have to do it all at once!
• The more activities you complete, the more planets will appear!
• To save an activity (or come back later), tap the green “tick”.
• To exit an activity without saving, hit the red "cross".

Wishy is your MyWish navigator, and appears at the top of each mission screen, prompting you on what to do next.

• Some activities are designed to spark your imagination and start capturing ideas for your wish.
• Other activities are designed to build resilience and strength.
• Draw, write, add photos or voice-record your answers - with each mode of entry designed to flex your creativity muscles!

Yes…but you have to input something first before the next planet will appear

• MyWish will (only) show a couple of new planets at a time.
• If you want to skip a question or come back later, just add something to the screen – depending on the type of activity you might draw a squiggle, record a short sound, write some gobbledegook, upload a random photo… as long as you enter something then hit the “green tick” to save it, new planets will appear! You can always go back and re-do them at any time.

Learn about superhero strengths

• Look for the little blue “superhero” icon amongst your planets. This should appear after the first couple of activities have been completed.
• Tap on it to learn more about character strengths.
• Choose one of the super-strengths YOU have, then pick a Disney character to represent it in your galaxy! You can do any 3 character strengths at a time.
• You can go back to this any time and change your characters strengths or Disney icon.

Think about who is important to you

• Swipe to the left of your galaxy to find a whole other galaxy made up of diamonds, where you can add all the important people in your life.
• Create avatars for your friends and family, and choose which strengths you think they have too.

Currently, MyWish supports you at the very beginning of your Wish Journey: in the Wish Capture stage (before you’ve shared your wish with us) and during Wish Anticipation (while you’re waiting for your wish to come true).

• When you reach the end of the first stage of the app, Wishy will ask you if you’d like to let your Wish team know of your wish choice, or if you want to go back and do the activities again.
• If you've shared your wish with Make-A-Wish, and have been told it’s coming true, you can ask your Make-A-Wish team to send your parent or guardian a new code to unlock more activities.
• When no more prompts appear, you may have reached the end of your MyWish space journey.
• You can always go back and re-do any activities if you want to keep having fun!

If you have any hiccups and need a hand, Make-A-Wish is here to help!

• Call 1800 032 260 (in business hours) or email mywish@makeawish.org.au to let us know what's happening, and share a screenshot if you can
• If you've lost your special login code, please email or call us - we can easily look this up for you.
• If you're moving from Wish Capture to Anticipation, look out for a new code to unlock more activities.