Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation

A heartfelt thank you to all the people and organisations who have supported the WCH Foundation this year. Your generosity has made an extraordinary difference for women, children, and families in our community Our office will be closed from midday on Friday, 20 December, and will reopen on Monday, 6 January. We wish you all a safe and joyful festive season 🎄🎅

Today, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible dedication and expertise of members of our Board of Directors and Research Grants Committee. These passionate volunteers generously give their time to ensure that every decision the WCH Foundation makes has a lasting impact on the lives of women, children and families. From strategic leadership to funding the most promising health and medical research, their commitment drives meaningful change. Together, we’re creating brighter futures - thank you for being at the heart of this mission. #WCHFoundation #ThankYou #Gratitude #Volunteers #Leadership #MakingADifference

Congratulations to Dr Zarina Greenberg of SAHMRI for being awarded the 2024 Malcolm Douglas Grant Award! This support provides Dr Greenberg with a postdoctoral fellowship for the next two years to further her work into finding treatments for children with Sanfilippo syndrome. Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare neurodegenerative disorder, causing childhood dementia. Most children develop normally for the first two years of life, after which they begin to progressively lose physical and cognitive function. There is no cure, and devastatingly, children tend not to survive beyond adolescence. Although there is currently a treatment showing promise in children less than two years of age, tragically most children are diagnosed between four and six years, leaving them with no option for treatment. Dr Zarina Greenberg hopes to change that, by exploring combinations of drug therapy on brain neurons in the lab. Over the next two years, she will test different combinations of FDA approved drugs, with a particular focus on treating neurons with advanced disease progression, mimicking the disease state of a child around the time of diagnosis. She says, "I am honoured to receive this support from the WCH Foundation. Sanfilippo syndrome is so devastating to the children and families affected, it is really a race against the clock. This funding will help us find a treatment that has the best chance of success and that we can move quickly into the clinic." This research is being supported by the Malcolm Douglas Grant Research Fund. The fund was established in memory of Malcolm Douglas Grant who was born with Morquio Syndrome, a disorder in the same group as Sanfilippo Syndrome. #WCHFoundation #MalcolmDouglasGrantAward #Sanfilipposyndrome

When you're finishing up (or starting) your Christmas shopping this weekend, don't forget to pick up the Charity Wrapping Paper from any BIG W location! This special wrapping paper was designed by kids in hospitals from across the country, including Adelaide. The best part? 100% of the proceeds from each roll sold will support the Play Therapy Program at the Women's and Children's Hospital. Wrap your gifts with love this year! #WrappedWithLove #BIGWAustralia #Christmas #CorporatePartnerships

A shout-out to those who make Christmas happen – we’re talking to you, parents and caregivers! This Christmas, we want to encourage parents and caregivers to care for themselves too, with a few tips from Dr Sarah Hunter from the Caring for Caregivers project. ☕ Take a break. Taking a moment to yourself for a quiet cup of tea or a short walk can fill your cup, making it easier to cope through the busier times. ♥ Be kind to yourself. Show yourself the same compassion you might show a friend when they are going through a similar experience. 🏃♀️ Take care of your physical health. Eating nutritious food and getting some exercise is great for your body and mind. Keep it simple – try snacks such as fruit, nuts, or yoghurt, and try parking a little further from your destination. Dr Sarah Hunter and team were awarded a 2023 Health Translation SA Medical Research Future Fund Catalyst Grant, supported by the WCH Foundation, to develop and trial a carer wellbeing program. The Flinders University led program was co-designed with Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) staff and users, and trialled within existing CaFHS services. Read more about the Caring for Caregivers project here: https://lnkd.in/g3rsU_WA #WCHFoundation #HTSA #selfcare

Exciting opportunity: Marketing Manager! Are you a dynamic marketing professional looking to make a real difference? The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation is seeking a Marketing Manager to join our growing team and support our mission of improving the health and wellbeing of women, children, and families. Why work with us? ✅Be part of a purpose-driven organisation with a positive philanthropic impact. ✅Exceptional workplace culture – recognised as one of the best workplaces for three years. ✅Lead innovative marketing and communications strategies to inspire change. Role highlights: ✅Full-time role based in North Adelaide. ✅Develop and execute comprehensive marketing, brand, and communications strategies. ✅Partner with internal and external stakeholders to increase engagement and support for our mission. ✅Drive creativity and innovation in the digital space to connect with diverse audiences. How to apply: Submit your application via Seek, including a cover letter addressing the responsibilities in the position description. You can view the position description here: https://lnkd.in/gXRWXhg Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Interviews may be delayed until the week of 13 January 2025 due to the Christmas period closure. Be part of something extraordinary. Apply now and join us in making a difference! No recruitment agencies, please.

We were honoured to be the recipient of Procare Group's inaugural South Australian Charity Cricket day, and also get to come along for the fun!   We have to congratulate EML on their win, but also want to congratulate all teams for enthusiastically participating in all the fundraising activities on the day. This helped Procare Group nearly double their expected fundraising total! These funds will support women, children, and families under the care of the Women's and Children's Health Network's, and we can't wait to see how this event grows next year!   If you're interested in following Procare's example and exploring Corporate Relationships with us, please reach out directly to Ansley Easterlin, our Corporate Fundraising Manager, here, or visit https://lnkd.in/ghjTtx6b for more information.

Join our team as a Finance Manager! The Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation is embarking on a period of strategic growth, and we are looking for a passionate Finance Manager to join our Business Support team in this newly created role. Why join us? ✅Purpose-driven organisation making a positive impact on women, children, and families. ✅Exceptional employee engagement – recognised as one of the best workplaces for three years. ✅Opportunity to drive strategic financial innovation and lead a dynamic team. Role highlights: ✅Part-time (0.8 FTE) based in North Adelaide. ✅Lead financial management, investment reporting, and strategic planning. ✅Coach and manage a talented finance team. ✅Be a key player in driving innovation and efficiency across the organisation. How to apply: Submit your application via Seek, including a cover letter addressing the responsibilities in the position description. Download the position description here: https://lnkd.in/gXRWXhg Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Interviews may be delayed until the week of 13 January 2025 due to the Christmas period closure. No recruitment agencies, please.

We are incredibly proud to support the award-winning FAAIRI Service through the provision of IV Ultrasound Machines, enabling this exceptional team to deliver innovative care for children. Congratulations to the Women's and Children's Health Network on their outstanding success at the 2024 SA Health Awards, with three incredible wins highlighting innovation, Aboriginal health, and patient care. These awards celebrate the expertise, dedication, and innovation of the teams at WCHN. Congratulations to all winners and finalists on this well-deserved recognition!

The Mind in Labour Mind in Life program supports parents-to-be to work on mindful practice both before, during and after birth. The course, which has been supported by the WCH Foundation for several years, is a unique opportunity to bring a holistic approach to birthing and beyond. The program empowers parents to use mindfulness skills through activities such as the “ice challenge” where participants safely experiment with responding to strong physical sensations. Participant, Kara, pictured here with her baby said, “The mindfulness practice and routine that was instilled from the course made not just birthing but also the days that followed a really enjoyable experience.” “I was very fortunate to have my dream birth. I gave birth with absolutely no intervention or pain medication whatsoever. I channelled my experience during the ice exercise and found the waves of contractions very manageable. But even more importantly, the days that followed included lots of unexpected challenges! Breastfeeding has been very difficult, and lack of sleep making rest very hard as well. But from the mindfulness course I find myself taking everything very slowly, one step at a time, breathing through any stressful moments and communicating with my partner with ease as we had done the listening practices at home and found it very powerful.” For more information about antenatal education, visit: https://lnkd.in/gEB-ShT3 #WCHFoundation