The Barwon South West will share in $3 million in funding from the Good Friday Appeal and The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) this year.
Victorian health minister Mary-Anne Thomas joined Good Friday Appeal chairman Penny Fowler and executive director Rebecca Cown in Ballarat to announce the funding on Monday.
Barwon South West is one of five regional areas to receive $600,000 from the annual children’s health fundraiser, with health services Barwon Health, Colac Area Health and Barwon South West Health Services among the recipients.
Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver expressed her organisation’s gratitude for the funding, which will boost equipment for neonatal care and paediatric sleep studies, as well as equipment to enhance service provision closer to home.
“As the tertiary referral provider in the Barwon South West region, Barwon Health is proud to partner with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal to support families when they need it most,” she said.
“The Good Friday Appeal is a powerful reminder that, by working together, we can help ensure families and children in our region have access to the highest standard of clinical care.”
Appeal chairman Penny Fowler said regional funding provided an opportunity to keep kids closer to home.
“This funding supports the hospital’s mission to extend its reach across the state and helps regional children and their families receive world-class care close to where they live, reducing an enormous stress for so many,” Mrs Fowler said.
“The Good Friday Appeal has had an unwavering commitment to supporting our state’s most vulnerable – sick children and their families – for the past 95 years and this new funding is a smart and efficient means to enhance regional capacity.
“On behalf of everyone at the Appeal I would like to express a big thank you to the whole community for your incredible support.”
RCH chief executive Dr Peter Steer said the hospital was proud to have partnered the Good Friday Appeal for more nearly a century.
“The Royal Children Hospital’s vision is a world where all kids thrive and children have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” he said.
“With the incredibly generous donations from Victorians, we can purchase life-saving equipment, upgrade training and improve the outcomes for sick children, no matter where they live.”
