RBWH Foundation grant recipients announced

The Round 4 Grant Awards were presented at the RBWH Foundation’s Celebration of Giving, which paid tribute to curiosity, commitment and courage which, through the extraordinary power of giving, has kept healthcare strong over the past 40 years.

RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske said the combination was a powerful catalyst for medical and patient care innovation.

“Curiosity from brilliant medical minds who ask, “What if we could do better?”, commitment from a community of donors who say, “We believe in that vision” and courage to keep going, even when the path is long, uncertain or ahead of its time,” explained Ms Garske.

RBWH Foundation Patient Ambassador, Mark Berridge, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2019, shared his journey from tragedy to triumph and demonstrated how routine medical care, delivered daily by expert healthcare teams, can change the course of a patient’s life.

“My recovery was built by many people “just doing their job”,” said Mark.

“Some days it may feel like you are just doing your job – but believe me, that gift you ae giving is priceless.”

Grant Round 4 projects featured pioneering technologies like next-generation infection diagnostics and sensory rehab for stroke survivors, to embedding consumer voices in how care is delivered and how future clinicians are trained, these projects are reshaping healthcare to be more personalised, equitable and effective.

“Extending from the labour ward through to Palliative Care, this Grant Round will deliver real impact during some of life’s pivotal moments,” said Ms Garske.

“Research and innovation are all about questioning the status quo, testing ideas and solving problems, and we’re enormously proud to be supporting compassionate, enquiring minds to drive change not only across RBWH and STARS but throughout the healthcare system as a whole.

“Whether creating culturally safe pathways to care, walking with young people as they navigate cancer, or making the hospital experience better for older adults,

RBWH Foundation donors are partners in an exceptional program of change.”

Projects include:

• Testing the speed, sensitivity and accuracy of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for diagnosing infections, to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and deliver faster, more effective patient care
• The development of specialist training to upskill haemodialysis nurses to meet growing need across the Kidney Health Service
• The development of a video for young cancer patients, to help reduce social isolation and emotional distress and improve engagement with their care
• The creation of a stimulating walkway to improve movement and activity among older patients.

You can view the full list of Grant Round 4 recipients is available here.