On Thursday October 16, we had the privilege of gathering with our valued donors, partners and supporters at the Playford Hotel for our Impact Event, celebrating the remarkable difference our community has made over the past year.
We were honoured to be joined by special guests Chris Picton MP, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Tung Ngo MLC, Member of the South Australian Legislative Council, and Rebecca Graham, CEO of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN). Their presence underscored the shared commitment to advancing children’s healthcare across South Australia.
Throughout the evening, we celebrated the wide-reaching impact of donor generosity. With over 300,000 children attending the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) each year, this support touches every corner, from vital family support services and new facilities to the therapeutic benefits of our Arts in Health program.
“The philanthropic community, brought together by the Foundation, is an integral part of the search for the solutions that will positively transform children’s healthcare and the hospital experience for families,” shared Verity Gobbett, CEO of the WCH Foundation.
We reflected on the profound impact of programs that support families throughout their healthcare journey, with Janine Herbert sharing her son Jonah’s story and how the gift of spending time together at the WCH Foundation’s Laklinyeri Beach House has been life-changing.
Another highlight of the evening was the engaging panel discussion featuring Professor Michael Stark, Head of Neonatal Services at the WCH; Jodie Beck, founder of the Loving Lucy Mae Fund who has raised more than $20,000 in honour of daughter Lucy for the WCH Foundation; Andrew Bills, CEO of SA Power Networks; and Kirstie Morgan, Head of Unit for Neurodevelopmental Physiotherapy at the WCH. Their insights highlighted the importance of community and innovation in shaping the future of healthcare.
We were also proud to recognise our 2025 Bloom Research Grant recipients, with the Minister for Health and Wellbeing presenting awards to the researchers shaping the future of children’s health in the areas of rare diseases and youth mental health.
“This past year, thanks to the generosity of our donors, many personally connected to the Women’s and Children’s, we have been able to inject more than $5m into the network as we strive for healthcare without limits for every patient and family,” said Verity Gobbett.
Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible, ensuring the best care for families today while driving discovery and delivering healthcare without limits for the families of tomorrow.
