Skip to Navigation Skip to Content

Thanks to the generosity and unwavering support of the Queensland community, the Children’s Hospital Foundation invested a record $12.9 million into working wonders for sick kids in 2018-19.   

This outstanding achievement included a record investment of $8 million into life-changing research into childhood illness and injury, and life-saving medical equipment for the Queensland Children’s Hospital 

Thanks to our very generous and committed supporters, fundraising income for the 2018-19 financial year from individuals, corporate partners, and philanthropic trusts increased by 7.7%. Gifts in wills returned to $1.3 million, in line with our five-year average after a significant lift in gifts in wills to $4.69 million in the previous year.  

Children’s Hospital Foundation Chief Executive Officer Rosie Simpson said the record investment into research, medical equipment and patient and family support services, supported by sustained growth in fundraising, delivered a tremendous year for the Foundation – and all the children and families it helped.

In line with the Foundation’s commitment to ensure sick and injured kids receive the highest level of care, regardless of where they live in Queensland, we have also funded $1.1 million worth of equipment and services for paediatric wards in regional and rural hospitals throughout the state.

We are grateful for such strong support from our donors, partners and the Queensland community who have always put sick kids first,” Ms Simpson said. 

Foundation staff and our wonderful volunteers also continued to make a real and meaningful difference to the lives of sick kids and their families by providing all important support and entertainment services during a hospital stay. This includes bedside play, the Book Bunker library, our Steggles Cuddle Carers service, and support for anxious parents when a child has surgery.”  

“In total our volunteers provided 31,382 hours of support and provided more than 94,500 positive interactions with sick kids and their families.” 

Other highlights of the 2018-19 financial year included:  

  • The launch of the Australian first Centre for Child and Adolescent Brain Cancer Research in March 2019, to which the Foundation has committed $5 million over five years, to deliver a globally significant program of research focused on improving both the survival and survivorship for children with brain cancer.  
  • The first full year of operation of the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Researchresearch centre aimed at better understanding key issues in childhood nutrition, and how to tackle them.  
  • Funding more than 7,000 free, home-cooked meals for parents in the Queensland Children’s Hospital through a new partnership with the Scarlett May Foundation.   
  • Boosted funding for the social work team at the Queensland Children’s Hospital to ensure the most vulnerable patients and families receive the support they need. 
  • Opening of the new Kidzone playspace on level 6 in the Queensland  Children’s Hospital, including a silent cinema and childcare for children. 

On behalf of the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and every Queensland family whose lives have been touched by childhood illness or injury, thank you to everyone who has contributed to another wonderful year,” Ms Simpson said. 

“Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes a difference. We strive to stretch every donated dollar as far as possible. With your generous support, we can continue to work wonders and save young lives.” 

The Children’s Hospital Foundation Annual Report is available online.