Only 10 years ago it was commonplace for people across the Loddon Mallee region to require to travel to a major metropolitan hospital for diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation.
Thanks in large part to the generosity of our local community and the development of a state-of the art hospital facility, Bendigo Health can now offer many of these services locally, keeping patients closer to home and their loved ones.
Each year, the Bendigo Health Foundation team is proud to facilitate donations in excess of $2 million to fund specialised equipment and programs.
Some of our most impactful projects are listed below
Cancer Wellness Program
Bendigo Health’s Cancer Wellness Program incorporates oncology massage, cancer rehabilitation, yoga, meditation, music and pet therapy and importantly a Cancer Wellness Coordinator to connect our patients to the services that best meet their physical and emotional needs. The Program is underpinned by funding received through Dry July and from the Dry July Foundation and many generous community donations.
Gobbé Wellness Centre
The Gobbé Wellness Centre is a space for all patients needing to take time out in a quiet, nurturing environment to reflect, relax and regroup. Named in honor Alan and Helen Gobbé for their significant financial contribution in their Will, the Centre is also only possible through funds received from Agnico Eagle, the Dry July Foundation and McKean McGregor.
Emergency Patient Clothing
Our Emergency Patient Clothing Program supplies basic clothing and underwear in our Emergency Department, most commonly for people who have been involved in trauma and their clothing has had to be cut away for treatment.
Books for Babies
Language and literacy levels for children aged 0-5 years in Greater Bendigo are lower than the Victorian average. With research indicating that more than 80% of brain development occurs in the first years of life, our Books for Babies promotes the involvement of families in early language and literacy development by providing every newborn in Bendigo with a free book and literacy information.
Music & Arts Project
The Music & Arts project coordinates volunteer musicians to come into the hospital to play the piano or other instruments in clinical areas. The project aims to provide a calming environment for patients and help reduce anxiety during their hospital visits. It forms part of a broader push to focus on the holistic care of patients, particularly within Bendigo Health’s Cancer Centre.
Pet Therapy
We are proud to fund pet therapy services. The dogs provide a welcome distraction and help reduce the stress and anxiety that can accompany hospital visits. Our pet therpay dogs include Sharlee who supports our Cancer Wellness Program and Orlando who works within our Mental Health areas. Orlando is currently taking a well-earned rest while his carer is on maternity leave.
Bendigo Health Foundation Funding Round Grants
Over $120,000 has been committed to specialised equipment and programs through the 2022/23 Bendigo Health Foundation Charitable Trustee Funding Grants. The program helps us support Bendigo Health’s staff by funding a range of initiatives that improve patient experience.
It is often the “little things” that create big impact, along with important equipment to support vital healthcare.
Our impact
Over recent years we’ve funded the technological advancement of our hospital through significant pieces of equipment including an Automated Dispensing System for our Pharmacy, a second Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab), a new volunteer driven patient bus and other vital medical equipment.
Our Promise
Thank you for supporting us in our purpose to advance the provision of high-quality healthcare for patients from the Bendigo and Loddon Mallee region.
Your generosity enables us to play a meaningful role in the health of our local community through:
- Medical and healthcare research and innovation
- The purchase of new capital equipment
- The upgrade and construction of healthcare infrastructure and facilities
- Scholarships and the appointment of key personnel
- The development and delivery of innovative healthcare programs
Every gift, of any size, makes a genuine impact and goes towards these crucial areas.
To reflect our gratitude and the importance of your support, we promise:
- To say Thank You
This is the smallest way that we can express our gratitude for your support. All donations will receive a tax-deductible receipt and we will contact you to say thank you for your contribution.
- To utilise your contribution effectively
We appreciate the trust that you place in us to spend your donation for the greatest possible impact. If you wish your gift to be used in a specific program area, we will honour this request.
We use every dollar donated to us as efficiently as possible and commit that at least 85% of every donation will go directly towards the five focus areas listed above. To ensure that, together, we can exist and grow our impact, a maximum of 15% of each donation will support the essential day-to-day operations of the Foundation. This will enable us to raise additional funds from our generous community, and multiply your impact.
These percentages may vary at times, but we commit to the maximum and minimum figures above.
For reference, the average across all charities in Australia is 67% of donations going directly to the cause. We are committing to the higher target of 85% to ensure that you have confidence and trust that your support is making a genuine difference to the healthcare of people in our region.
- To share your impact
We will communicate with you to keep you updated on the impact of your gift so that you can see, and take pride in, how your donations are making a difference.
- To be responsible with your data
Your personal information will be handled with respect and confidentiality in line with our privacy policy.
- To listen to you
We are constantly striving to improve to be able to have an even greater impact. We value any feedback that you may have for us in this endeavour.
