Reception in support of Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) Foundation

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation Chair, Ms Susan Buckley, and fellow Board Members; Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Ms Simone Garske; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. 

 I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today.  

As proud Patron of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation, I extend a warm welcome to you all this afternoon. 

It is a pleasure to be as informed as possible about the life-changing work you undertake day in, and day out. 

I am aware that the projects funded by the Foundation contribute greatly to the best possible outcomes for both those who research and administer health programs, and those in receipt of hospital care, including the wider patient community such as family members. 

This ranges from crucial health and medical research initiatives, patient education strategies, and the care provided before, during and after treatment, and to the creation of health-care resources.  

The thousands of lives that are positively impacted by the RBWH Foundation every year are testament to your concerted and well-orchestrated efforts to raise major funds.  

I attended The Extraordinary Power of Giving event in July this year, and I know the extent to which the Foundation underpins the life-saving work of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. 

This includes the Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service, the Redcliffe Hospital and the prestigious research Institutes and Centres at the Herston Health Precinct.  

Funds from the Foundation have supported some 700 research projects, 1.1 million episodes of health care, and 225 potentially life-saving clinical trials, and extensive work on infectious diseases. 

For all of this, we offer a heartfelt thanks to those involved in the organisation. 

You were named the inaugural Queensland Community Foundation Philanthropic Foundation of the Year in 2022, and deservedly so. 

Just as it delivers funding that truly makes a difference, the Foundation has built a brand that is trusted by the community.  

Add to this your ongoing support of the best research clinicians in Queensland so that they can continue their ground-breaking work.  

As a result, countless Queenslanders and their families benefit from what you do. 

On their behalf, I offer my sincerest thanks.