MAKE-A-Wish Australia has been forced to stop accepting wish requests from some of the country's sickest kids due to an overwhelming demand for their services.

The charity seeks to bring a little happiness to seriously ill kids aged three to 18, as well as to bring hope to their families.

But with a 25 per cent increase in applications and over 530 wish requests on their waiting list, the organisation has advised on its website it is temporarily unable to accept new applications.

General Manager of Marketing, Fundraising and Communications Kellie Johnston said the decision had been made to protect kids from being exposed to uncertain waiting periods in having their wish granted.

“We are still actively granting around 530 wishes at the moment,” she said.

“But sadly we are in a position where that fills our calendar for this year and into next year.”

The freeze on wishes is temporary and will be reviewed on a month by month basis, but with a large number of wishes revolving around travel – particularly to the ever popular Gold Coast – the charity is seeking new funding to help those in need.

“A major sponsor tomorrow could change it all,” Ms Johnston said.

It is the first time in Make-A-Wish's 26-year history that demand has outstripped funding.

Due to the short timeframes available to many of the children they are seeking to help the organisation said it would be irresponsible to keep taking new requests.

“It would be irresponsible of us to leave wish children and their families in a state of uncertainty about their wish granting for a prolonged period,” a statement on the Make-A-Wish website said.

Funding has decreased since the charity discontinued outsourced telemarketing on the grounds it was too hard to control.

“That was not a responsible way forward for us, certainly not as a principal stream of income,” Ms Johnston said.

Originally published as Sick kids miss out as charity money dries up