Giving Together for a Healthier Tomorrow
Every day across our region, acts of generosity, big and small, change lives. A neighbour buying a raffle ticket, a bowls club hosting a fundraiser, a school hosting a casual dress day or a local leaving a legacy gift in their will. Each one of these gestures builds something bigger than any of us alone.
This week, we join the global community in recognising the International Day of Charity (September 5), an initiative of the United Nations that reminds us of the extraordinary power of generosity to change lives. At its heart, charity is about the belief that together we can create better futures.
At the Barwon Health Foundation, this spirit drives everything we do. What many may not realise is that the Foundation is an independent charity. We exist to fund the lifesaving and life-changing care provided Barwon Health - always together with our community. It’s not just about buildings or equipment, but about the lives behind them. The families strengthened, the patients supported, and the futures made possible.
In the past decade alone, with the support of our incredible donors, our Foundation has invested more than $15 million in local health facilities. This funding has helped deliver state-of-the-art environments where patients can receive health care close to home. On top of this, over those ten years we have invested over $5 million in research and clinical trials, supporting breakthroughs that are shaping the future of medicine and helping give local patients hope.
More than 100 pieces of additional innovative medical equipment have also been purchased thanks to this generosity. Tools that empower Barwon Health clinicians to enhance how they deliver care for locals. These investments have transformed countless lives, from premature babies receiving the very best start in life, to cancer patients accessing cutting-edge treatments right here in Geelong.
Every gift matters. Every donation has an impact. Our work is only possible because of the people across our region who believe, like we do, that health care should be accessible for everyone in our community.
As the UN reminds us, charity is “an act of solidarity and an expression of our shared humanity.” On this International Day of Charity, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the donors, volunteers, and supporters who walk beside us. You are the reason Barwon Health can continue to innovate, expand, and deliver the highest quality care.
You are the reason that our charity can passionately focus on driving fundraising, inspiring philanthropy and advancing the health of Greater Geelong.
By Zoe Waters, Executive Director, Barwon Health Foundation
