The Allan Labor Government is donating $1 million to the Good Friday Appeal in 2024 - supporting the lifesaving and lifechanging work of the world-renowned Royal Children's Hospital (RCH).
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today met with families and the hardworking doctors and nurses at the hospital, before attending the Kids Day Out at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - a family day filled with amusement, activities and entertainment helping to raise funds for the Appeal.
Beginning in 1931, the Appeal has become an annual Easter tradition in Victoria, raising more than $444 million over the past 93 years.
Now, for the first time in its history, this year's donations will not only help support the RCH but will also generously share a portion with regional health services.
The Good Friday Appeal announced in February that they will distribute $2.5 million among six regional health services offering paediatric care to kids in regional Victoria:
Barwon Health
Bendigo Health
Goulburn Valley Health
Grampians Health
Latrobe Regional Health
Albury-Wodonga Health.
Each year, the generous donations from thousands of Victorians contribute to groundbreaking research, purchasing world-class equipment and technology, patient and family centred care programs, and fostering staff excellence through education programs, scholarships and fellowships to attract and retain the brightest minds.
Providing care to the community for over 150 years, the hospital is Victoria's major specialist paediatric hospital and extends its care to children from Tasmania, southern New South Wales and other states around Australia and overseas. It is also home to the Nationally Funded Centres for cardiac and liver transplantation.
In 2023, the Appeal once again broke records by raising more than $23 million - a powerful demonstration of the community coming together to support a hospital that means so much to Victorians.
Thanks to the Appeal, RCH can attract the best clinicians from across Australia and the world - supporting world-leading research at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the University of Melbourne's Department of Paediatrics.
For more information on the Good Friday Appeal and to donate, visit goodfridayappeal.com.au.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"Like so many Victorians, our family was deeply touched by the care and dedication of the doctors and nurses at the Royal Children's Hospital, and I'll never be able to say thank you enough."
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"The Appeal brings out the best in our state as we all give back to our much-loved hospital - and by sharing these donations with regional health services, it will make a real difference to the lives of kids right across Victoria."
