Reception in support of the Children's Hospital Foundation 2024

Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Ms Jasmina Joldić PSM; Children’s Hospital Foundation Board Chair, Dr Jane Black, CEO Ms Lyndsey Rice and Executive; staff, volunteers and supporters of the Foundation; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today.

Graeme and I are delighted to once again welcome supporters of the Children’s Hospital Foundation to Government House—and to be in the company of people who are so generous, thoughtful and visionary.

Next month, when the Queensland Children’s Hospital celebrates its 10-year anniversary, it will have delivered medical assistance to more than 418,000 sick or injured young patients, in an environment that is renowned for its incredible expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced approaches to treatment and care.

This anniversary also marks another decade of life-saving philanthropy, generated through the efforts of the Children’s Hospital Foundation, which over this same timespan has invested more than $110 million dollars in cutting-edge equipment, ground-breaking research and progressive clinical care programs.
As Patron, I am immensely proud of how the Foundation has helped the hospital earn its global reputation for excellence in paediatric care, and how it has remained true to the foundational goal it set back in 1985—to raise funds for all sick children, regardless of where they live.

What makes the Children’s Hospital Foundation so effective in its work, is its quest to promote better health outcomes across the board—whether this relies on funding a large-scale research study, initiating a new way to brighten a sick child’s day, or supporting family members when times are tough.

This holistic approach has furthered our understanding and treatment of life-limiting diseases and chronic illnesses such as brain cancer and heart disease, while enhancing our approach to improving health outcomes amongst the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Yet of course, none of this would be possible without the altruism and kindness of those who help the Children’s Hospital Foundation fulfil its vision. Each one of you here this afternoon is crucial to ensuring the Foundation can continue to raise the bar—to aim ever-higher in its quest to transform precious lives.

Whether you are generously raising or giving much-needed funds, or spending time with children and their families in the hospital’s waiting rooms and wards, there is no question that your involvement now will have a lasting effect on our children into the future, and this gift is absolutely priceless.

So, while I commend the Board, Executive, Committee members and staff for their vital work, I also thank all of you—the amazing corporate partners, donors, volunteers and supporters—for championing the vital objectives of the Foundation, and for “being the difference every kid deserves”.

And I congratulate the Children’s Hospital Foundation for helping the Queensland Children’s Hospital reach its ten-year milestone with such triumph. Thank you.