150 Years. Caring for you.
Front cover: Jenkins Lymphoma Fellow, Dr Paola Polistena with Alfred patient Hans Spierings. Photo by Anna Carlile. Above: Photography by Marcus Crook
Note: Images reflect PPE guidelines at the time photography was taken.
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Our Chief Executive Professor Andrew Way AM
2020 was one of the most challenging years in The Alfred’s history, as our health service grappled with how to best respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
While COVID-19 dominated 2020, our strategic priorities were steadfast. We continued to provide excellent care through our many and diverse services, including Intensive Care Unit, Emergency and Trauma Centre, mental health, oncology, neurology and cardiology.
We were not alone in this challenge; other health services in the state and across the country faced similar extraordinary circumstances. We were also not alone as we had the unwavering support from our community and you, our donors.
Because the need for these services never stops, even in a pandemic. The Alfred has a history of being on the frontline caring for our community in a crisis. This year our hospital celebrates 150 years of caring for Victorians. Founded in 1871 the hospital was only able to be built through significant donations from the community.
I am proud of the role our health service played in 2020, treating and caring for the community during the pandemic. Our expert care was a constant whether in our hospitals, in aged care settings or in people’s homes. The resourcefulness and courage of the staff to ensure the care and protection to those affected by the virus is to be commended.
Philanthropy is part of The Alfred’s rich history. It will be an equally important part of our future as we continue to find and deliver on the new generation of health care.
Our ICU team played a pivotal role, caring for the most complex of COVID cases in the state and possibly the country, while our experts in infection prevention guided national and state responses.
Thank you. Your support allows us to provide the excellence, the edge, that truly makes the difference in ensuring we continue to deliver extraordinary healthcare now and long into the future.
Your generosity enabled us to adapt and respond quickly to the urgent needs of the health service at this time, meaning we could direct funds where they were most needed. Thank you.
Professor Andrew Way AM CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALFRED HEALTH
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Our Chair Sir Rod Eddington AO
I doubt many of us were expecting a year quite like 2020! The significant health, social and economic challenges faced by so many across the globe were, and continue to be, considerable.
These are the things that not only see organisations survive but strengthen during a crisis. It is also the trust an organisation has built with its communities which sees it survive and The Alfred has this in spades. The people of Victoria have quite literally trusted The Alfred with their lives for 150 years and the organisation’s role in managing COVID-19 has clearly shown this trust is well deserved.
In my former role as CEO for British Airways, I was responsible for managing that organisation through the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Gulf War, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Air France Concorde crash in 2000. These extraordinary experiences provided great insight and shaped my perspective on management in crisis. I am impressed and proud of The Alfred’s expert leadership and specialised care for the Victorian community throughout the pandemic.
Unfortunately, for many around the world this pandemic continues and its effects will be felt for many years to come. The impact for the not-forprofit sector is likely to be acute, with many charities reporting a decrease in revenue, whilst the need for their services rise.
From the leadership shown by the hospital executive through to the commitment and resilience displayed by staff - frontline as well as the many support staff – the response has been extraordinary.
We are in uncertain times, however what is certain is that the importance of a truly exceptional public hospital such as The Alfred has never been more critical. On behalf of The Alfred Foundation Board I ask that as we negotiate these uncertain times you stand with us, supporting The Alfred in continuing to deliver the very best care to the people of Victoria and beyond.
I also applaud the efforts of Foundation staff during this time. Their adaptability and collective resolve proved they are a strong and professional team, continuing to engage and inspire the support of an ever generous Victorian community.
Thank for your unwavering support.
I liken it to what I experienced in my time at British Airways after 9/11. It’s the people and their willingness and ability to adapt and come together as a team, to work swiftly and have a collective focus.
Sir Rod Eddington AO CHAIR – THE ALFRED FOUNDATION
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Our Director Patrick Baker
In my Director’s Report for The Foundation’s 2019 Impact Report, I predicted a challenging 2020, due to Australia’s unprecedented bushfires. Little did I know just how challenging it would prove to be!
But 2020 wasn’t just about COVID. The Alfred continued caring for many non-COVID patients across its extensive services. This of course included emergency and trauma patients. The Alfred’s 30-year-old iconic helipad - the ‘front door’ for hundreds of critically ill patients every year - needed important upgrades. These improvements, so generously funded by our donors, will assist pilots achieve a safer approach and landing and provide better patient transfers.
The challenges of 2020 however did not dampen the resolve of The Alfred Foundation to ensure The Alfred continued to receive the support it needed. I am exceptionally proud of the tenacity, innovation and determination shown by the team. Combined with the support of our donor community we were able to achieve extraordinary things, despite the many social and economic challenges faced by us all.
The Betty and John Laidlaw AO Education and Innovation Hub also opened in late-2020. This space, in large part funded through philanthropic support, provides a purpose-built environment for staff to recharge, connect, listen, and learn. A unique space where healthcare intersects with art, technology and people, the Hub provides staff with a muchneeded environment to collaborate and advance their knowledge as well as nurture and propel innovation.
On January 25 2020 Australia recorded its first case of COVID-19. From February, The Alfred was operating a significant testing clinic, and since then has been front and centre on multiple levels in the response to the health crisis.
Thank you for your continued support of The Alfred. Your support is always vitally important, but it means even more in times of adversity and great uncertainty. Your unwavering commitment and generosity is hugely valued and very much appreciated.
Home to one of Australia’s leading ICUs with the most complex case mix in the country, The Alfred prepared early for a significant increase in patients. In readiness for potentially dozens of complex COVID cases, our 50 cubicle ICU more than doubled its capacity with the ability to expand even further if necessary.
I look forward to sharing more updates with you throughout 2021 on how your support is changing and saving lives. You can also follow The Alfred Foundation on Facebook for all the latest news at facebook.com/thealfredfoundation.
We knew this pandemic would put enormous strain on existing and emergency funding sources. We also knew to help the hospital protect and support the community through this crisis, we were going to need their help. We appealed for support and the response was overwhelming. Generous donations from across our community meant we were able to purchase additional critical care equipment, support groundbreaking COVID research and make necessary facility upgrades.
Patrick Baker DIRECTOR – THE ALFRED FOUNDATION
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Your Support Making an Impact Throughout 2020 your support has enabled us to fund critical projects and items within our four key funding pillars; transforming care, leading technology, advancing discovery and developing extraordinary caregivers.
TRANSFORMING CARE Projects funded Pandemic intervention and Monitoring system (PiMS) Pilot program Consumer Focus Group for Australian Centre of Blood Diseases - a first at Alfred Health Music therapy program for patients with cancer Helipad upgrade Patient accommodation facilities for rural and regional cancer patients
LEADING TECHNOLOGY Equipment funded Mobile CT Scanner New Generation Ventilators GridION - a device capable of running multiple DNA/ RNA sequencing experiments Paediatric ultrasound inducer Globex Pulsatile Pump (for simulation training) Cardioultrasound for ICU Music Therapist, Dr Lucy Forrest
Mini C-Arm for plastic surgery Bladder scanner
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ADVANCING DISCOVERY Projects funded Development of COVID-19 Biobank ‘Better, targeted therapies for heart failure patients’ study/research ‘Geriatric & Autoimmune Diseases’ study/research ‘The low emulsifier diet in Crohn’s disease’ study/ research
Brian Jenkins
The Alfred Cancer Biobank
DEVELOPING EXTRAORDINARY CAREGIVERS
Research into Human Skin Equivalent to treating skin loss in burns Development of leukaemia treatment research projects
Projects funded
Lung transplant research projects
Novel multidisciplinary team-based operating room simulation project Cardiac Medical Interventional Research Fellow (new opportunities in heart failure management) Two nursing scholarships for the career development of nurses (this funding was received for nursing students completing a PhD) The Jenkins Fellowship for Lymphoma Development of Cellular Cancer Immunotherapy Capacity and Clinical Trials
Iris and James Foster who funded The Alfred Cancer Biobank
The Alfred Foundation 2019/2020 Financial Year Summary
Total Income
Total Expenses
Net Income
$2,714,000
$17,871,595
Donations
$20.585m
Gifts in Wills
$3,916,937
Trusts & Foundations
$5,312,022
Corporate & Events
$1,021,466
Total Income
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$10,355,170
$20,585,595
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The Alfred - Year at a Glance
MAY
Lifesaving trial moves to Tasmania
MARCH
The Alfred prepares as COVID-19 cases begin to increase in Australia
Before COVID-19 struck, Natalia Rodriguez had been travelling from Launceston to The Alfred Oncology Unit every three weeks to take part in a clinical trial that could save her life. The Alfred was able to overcome considerable hurdles for Natalia to continue the treatment in Tasmania by setting up a satellite hub at The Royal Hobart Hospital through an innovative practice called ‘Teletrials’. This was the first time in Australia, and potentially the world, that the Teletrials model was used for a phase 1 clinical trial.
The Alfred significantly increased its capacity to care for critically ill patients with major expansions to its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Emergency Department (ED). ICU capacity was doubled, with the potential to expand further to more than 380 beds if needed. ED capacity was increased to treat up to 200 patients after a redevelopment across the ground floor.
APRIL
Cracking the code on COVID-19 Dr James McMahon, infectious diseases physician and Head of Clinical Research at The Alfred and Monash University, led a new COVID-19 research project which tests what the virus does and how it behaves in different people. The project also focuses on the interactions between medicines and the virus to better understand how effective any treatments might be.
AUGUST
New hope for brain cancer treatment The Alfred’s Neuroscience department began investigating a new drug to find a safe and effective treatment option for glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumours. The team found a drug called AZ10606120, that substantially reduces the number of tumour cells by stopping a protein found in the GBM called P2X7R. The drug has the potential to halt tumour growth and has an anti-cancer effect that is more effective than conventional chemotherapy treatment. 6
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SEPTEMBER
Clinic to measure heart health after COVID The first specialist clinic in Australia to study the impact of COVID-19 on the heart opened at The Alfred. While some international evidence suggests the infectious virus can leave behind cardiac scarring, cardiologists and respiratory physicians are working together to explore whether unexplained breathlessness may be the first sign of trouble.
SEPTEMBER
Artificial intelligence (AI) could become a powerful tool in skin cancer assessment
OCTOBER
The Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred began conducting the Skin Cancer Management with Artificial Intelligence (SMARTI) trial which directly compares artificial intelligence results to that of doctors in the real-world setting.
Triage Response established to support mental health Following a thirty per cent increase in demand during COVID-19, The Alfred’s Mental and Addiction Health Triage Team established the Triage+ response to help support the growing number of people seeking mental health support. The team provides 24/7 support and intervention and is now a permanent part of our Mental and Addiction Health service.
OCTOBER
Professor Peleg receives prestigious Fellowship Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at The Alfred Hospital Prof Anton Peleg was recognised for his contributions to infection-immunity research, clinical trials, prevention of outbreaks, device infections and microbial genomics with a fellowship from the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
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We had good reason to do some philanthropy in this area. DI AND NEVILLE BERTALLI
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Transforming Care The Victorian Melanoma Service (VMS) at The Alfred was founded 25 years ago as the state’s first and only comprehensive multidisciplinary service for people with melanoma. Our team is globally renowned for its expertise in enhancing detection and improving patient outcomes in Australia where one person is diagnosed with melanoma every half an hour*. Neville and Di Bertalli know first-hand the devastating impacts of melanoma. Twenty years ago Di tragically lost her brother to melanoma while Neville also lost his mother to the disease when she was just 45.
deaths from a rapidly growing melanoma, nodular melanoma. This work drew attention to the importance of detecting this unusual melanoma with a different presentation that had previously been misdiagnosed and overlooked.
These experiences spurred the couple 15 years ago to donate to the VMS, a contribution which has had significant impacts on driving melanoma research outcomes ever since.
Dr Jonathon Ng’s research looked at the accuracy of different biopsy methods for diagnosis. The research evaluated the outcomes of 2500 melanoma biopsies and demonstrated pitfalls with some partial methods of biopsy leading to failure to detect the presence of melanoma. Recent publications from the VMS on melanoma biopsy have shed further light on the implications of different biopsy methods, demonstrating the ongoing impact Di and Neville’s support continues to have 15 years later.
Thanks to the generosity of The Bertalli Family Foundation, the VMS was able to develop a translational database including 150 data items to what is now more than 11,000 patients. This data has enabled research to answer many questions about melanoma susceptibility, detection, progression and treatment and the results have generated many publications. The database continues to grow and develop capacity to provide critical insights and inform future research at the VMS.
The VMS is now one of Australia’s largest multidisciplinary treatment services for melanoma caring for more than 1,500 Victorians each year. In 2020, The Alfred announced plans to expand on the service by building a world-class treatment and research centre – The Victorian Melanoma Centre.
Founder and pioneer of the VMS, Adjunct Professor John Kelly AM said the Bertalli’s generosity allowed him to step away from his ‘day job’ as Head of Dermatology at The Alfred and concentrate his efforts on melanoma – a decision which has recently seen Prof Kelly receive a Member of the Order of Australia award for services to medicine through the management and treatment of melanoma.
We look forward to sharing more information on this exciting project throughout 2021. * Source: melanoma.org.au/understanding-melanoma/ melanoma-facts-and-statistics/
‘By helping The Alfred link and expand our existing melanoma database the Bertalli grant was instrumental to our research efforts to continually improve our knowledge of the disease and the success of treatment,’ Prof Kelly said. Di and Neville also generously funded two research scholarships (Dr Hugh Roberts and Dr Jonathon Ng) which later translated to advances in patient care. Dr Hugh Roberts undertook important research demonstrating the large contribution to melanoma Professor John Kelly AM
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The Hub provides a place for growth in ideas, knowledge and skills. CHRIS MCLOUGHLIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE, ALFRED HEALTH
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Developing Extraordinary Caregivers The field of healthcare is by its very nature a field of constant innovation and collaboration. Without it there would be no modern medicine – no antibiotics, no organ transplants, no vaccines, no advanced medical equipment and along with it a much shorter life expectancy for all. In 2020, The Alfred was extremely proud to open a contemporary space, designed specifically to foster innovation and collaboration. The Betty and John Laidlaw AO Innovation and Education Hub, or ‘the Hub’ for short, encourages the coming together of staff to recharge, innovate, teach and learn in order to constantly improve care and develop healthcare leaders.
Executive Director of People and Culture, Chris McLoughlin said with many of our staff having to demonstrate their versatility this year, working in new environments or roles, including the State Government’s hotel quarantine program, the Hub had provided a welcoming space for staff to reconnect and recharge. ‘The space was co-designed to engage our great diversity of staff across The Alfred precinct. As well as being a place to meet, collaborate and create, the Hub also provides a place for growth in ideas, knowledge and skills.’
Located within the hospital, the Hub enables Alfred staff and research partners to come together to share and test new ideas, learn from each other and rapidly translate their ideas back into care delivery. A variety of spaces bring people together with art and technology to inspire, challenge and drive sustainable innovation and facilitate best practice education.
The Hub was made possible through the incredible legacy of significant philanthropists and long time Alfred supporters Betty and John Laidlaw AO. Other major contributors include Bulla Family Dairy, the Ian Potter Foundation, Gras Foundation, Robert C Bulley Charitable Fund, WTMS and our community.
Projects such as the Palm Vein Scanner highlight how when innovation and collaboration are central to problem solving, you find creative new solutions that move healthcare forward.
We would also like to acknowledge the generous loan of significant aboriginal artwork made by Anita Castan during the opening of the Hub.
Patient identification is imperative in all healthcare settings however, this is complicated in the Psychiatry High Dependency Unit (HDU) where approximately half of the patients remove their ID wrist band in the first two days of admission. The Palm Vein Scanner Project is the result of a collaboration between Alfred Psychiatry and the Australian Centre for Health Innovation and addresses the issue by using infra-red light to reveal an individual’s unique vein pattern in their hand. Similar to fingerprints, this pattern can be used to help identify both staff and patients in the mental health units. This project is currently being implemented in the ground floor psychiatry unit as part of usability testing, with the aim being to role this out to other units in the near future.
Alfred staff connecting in the Hub
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Rapid helicopter access to The Alfred from the scene has helped halve the death rate from serious injuries in Victoria. PROFESSOR MARK FITZGERALD, DIRECTOR OF TRAUMA SERVICES AT THE ALFRED
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Leading Technology The Alfred’s helipad provides a lifesaving service for all Victorians. For over 30 years it has received more than 10,000 patients requiring critical lifesaving care, including from the Bali bombings, the Longford gas explosion, Black Summer and Black Saturday bushfires and more recently the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, this vital piece of infrastructure received significant improvements to safeguard landings and provide faster, safer transfers for some of our most critically injured patients.
The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre operates 24 hours a day to provide the community with timely, quality care for people who are acutely ill and injured. In the year 2019-20, the centre received almost 70,000 patients, around 1500 of these were considered major traumas.
The $250,000 upgrade includes the installation of new lighting, illuminated wind direction indicator, surface upgrades and implementation of a new Pilot Activated Airport Lighting Control (PAALC) system allowing pilots to control the helipad lights via remote radio control on approach. These improvements all contributing to more efficient patient transfers into our Trauma Centre, where the next phase of their lifesaving care begins.
Director of Trauma Services at The Alfred, Professor Mark Fitzgerald said airlifting patients from more remote parts of the state was critical. ‘Rapid helicopter access to The Alfred from the scene has helped halve the death rate from serious injuries in Victoria,’ he said. Andrew has made incredible progress with his recovery and remains grateful to The Alfred for helping him get back on his feet. ‘I was in a wheelchair for three weeks and the staff were unbelievable – from the surgeons, to the occupational therapists, to assessing my home and supporting my day-to-day living.’ Andrew’s own parents were so appreciative of his lifesaving care they made the decision to donate to upgrade the helipad, ensuring it continues to serve future generations of families just like their own.
In June 2020, while supporters were generously donating to upgrade our helipad, 54-year-old Andrew Mackay was up a ladder at his Rushworth property in central Victoria, trying to remove a 20-foot-long dead branch from a tree. Things took a tragic turn and Andrew ended up being pinned to the ground by the branch. Andrew remembers looking down at his “shattered” legs and realising he was in considerable trouble. ‘Andrew presented with significant injuries to both his legs but the most time critical was his compound left ankle injury which paramedics at the scene described as a near complete amputation,’ said Alfred Orthopaedic Surgeon, Andrew Hughes. ‘With an injury like this it is imperative that we stabilise the ankle and re-vascularise the limb as soon as possible in order to have a chance of salvaging it. With the rapid helicopter transfer we were able to achieve this within six hours from the time of injury.’
On December 22 Andrew and Kim were able to see out the year on a positive note by celebrating their wedding, with Andrew proposing to Kim while recovering at The Alfred.
Following surgery, Andrew spent two weeks recovering in ICU and a further three weeks in rehabilitation. 'Thanks to The Alfred's extensive experience in these types of complex injuries and the plastic surgical skills of Edmund Ek and Eugene Lim, Andrew had a successful free tissue transfer to cover the soft tissue defect in his left leg, said Mr Hughes.
Alfred trauma patient Andrew Mackay being rescued after being crushed by a tree branch
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For the present time, we've had a good win. ALFRED PATIENT HANS SPIERINGS WITH WIFE ROSIE
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Advancing Discovery In 2020, thanks to the generous decision made by Brian Jenkins to include a gift of $500,000 in his Will, The Alfred was able to establish The Jenkins Fellowship for Lymphoma – one of four fellowships in our clinical haematology department dedicated to finding new treatments and therapies for people living with blood disorders. Brian was a committed supporter of The Alfred, dating back to 2010, when he first funded lifesaving equipment for our Intensive Care Unit. This was followed by continued support for a further seven years until, unfortunately, Brian was admitted to The Alfred himself with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February 2017. Melinda and Nicole, Brian’s daughters, learned the extent of his incredible philanthropy at this time.
that could be done when, through his locum GP, Hans learnt of a clinical trial being conducted at The Alfred.
‘Dad was never one to brag about his ‘good deeds’ or require recognition. So it wasn’t until we saw his name on the donation honour board in The Alfred’s main entry hall that we realised just how much he had been supporting the hospital during his lifetime,’ Nicole said.
Paola believes in the importance of establishing a good doctor/patient relationship and it is clear the pair have built a winning team. Thankfully Hans is taking well to the treatment with his recent results showing he is now in complete remission. ‘How long that lasts I don’t know. But for the present time we’ve had a good win,’ he said.
After deciding Hans was suitable for the trial, he received the innovative treatment through continual infusion which is when he first met Paola. ‘Being in the hospital for around a month, I got to know Paola and I just found her to be a beautiful person – I feel very comfortable with her.’
Brian realised he wanted to do something more significant with his giving to The Alfred and decided to create a legacy by including a generous gift in his Will to the hospital.
One of Nicole and Melinda’s hopes for their father’s legacy was to see improvements in life expectancy and better treatment options for lymphoma patients. ‘Dad wanted his gift to make a difference to the lives of others and have measurable results for fighting lymphoma,’ said Melinda. ‘We are so pleased to hear this is already happening and Paola's work will continue because of the gift Dad left to The Alfred in his Will.’
Sadly, Brian passed away in July 2017. Nicole and Melinda worked with the Foundation team over time to establish a fellowship for lymphoma research in their father’s name. Dr. Paola Polistena was appointed to the fellowship position in February 2020. She is currently enrolling and managing patients onto clinical trials with the aim to further advance research and treatment for lymphoma patients. The Alfred is seeing an increasing number of patients with higher grade lymphomas and the fellowship is already impacting patient outcomes for people like 71-year-old Hans Spierings from East Gippsland. Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January 2020, Hans commenced an eighteen-week course of chemotherapy which saw his cancer reduce by around half. Unfortunately, Hans became immune to the treatment. It seemed there was nothing more
Brian Jenkins with daughters Melinda and Nicole
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Thanks to our Supporters Financial Year 2019 - 2020 HOSPITAL BENEFACTORS
Foundation
nib Health Funds
Brian Jenkins
The Alfred Intensive Care Foundation
Women @ The Alfred
Nuttelex Food Products
Kelvin Kellett
VOLUNTEERS
Orloff Family Charitable Trust
Alberta King
Robert C Bulley Charitable Fund
Guenter Langhanns
Australian Food Allergy Foundation
Suan Chan
Marie Kuca
Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation
Dianne Dymond
Collier Charitable Fund
Doreen Phillips
Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation
Ian and Maria Cootes
Uri Rosenberg
Richard Smith
Eva and Les Erdi Humanitarian Charitable Foundation
Jenny Temple
Susan Harris Foundation
PRINCIPLE DONORS
Graeme Peter White
Bettine McCaughan
AAMI
Tung Bow Wong (黃東寶) and Tew Gook Wong (黃陳 秋玉)
Kathleen McGarvey Allan McNicol
Kevin and Nancy Wood and Family
Audrey Nancarrow
GIFTS IN WILLS
Trang Nguyen
Graeme Anderson
Donald Owen
Lungitude Foundation
Allan Armstrong
Brian Pekin
Jeffrey and Yumi Markoff
Jean Barrie
Noel Ricardo
Muriel May and Leslie Talbot Batten Foundation
Nina Blazic
Rosemary Richards
Brian Butcher
O'Donohue Family Foundation
Bella Rigbye
Madeleine Carrier
Swiss Concept Australia
Athalie Ross
Allan Casey
Norman Clyde Wellington
Bruce Rowe
Valerie Cath
Zaparas Lawyers
Doris Ryan
William Chambers
Grant Senior
Merrin Foundation
TOP DONORS
Giacinto Cincioni
Geoffrey Smith
The Percy Baxter Charitable Trust
The Alfred Café
Jeffrey Coles
John Storey
Brian M Davis Charitable Foundation
Kathleen Cotes
Colin Such
Robert Cross
Craig and Melissa Campbell
Keith Tiedemann
Santina Di Natale
Dry July Foundation
Anthony Trumble
Gary Efron
Gras Foundation
June Tunks
Judith Fisher
The Holckner Family
Ian Tyler
Barbara Gillham
James and Elsie Borrowman Trust
Thirza Williams
Eileen Hansen
Leonard Wintour
Joe White Bequest
Lesley Jackson
The Fox Family Elgin and Leslie Charles Gordon H and L Hecht Trust Helen Macpherson Smith Trust The Ian Potter Foundation The Jack Brockhoff Foundation Pamela Myer Jacobson John and Betty Laidlaw The Life Support Committee The Margaret Pratt Foundation The Marian and E H Flack Trust
Peter and Lyndy White Foundation The Pratt Foundation Szental Family Ewa and Ezriel Rabinowicz Tattersall's George Adams Foundation Whole Time Medical Specialists The William Buckland
Rhonda Moroney
Bulla Family Dairy Fox Family Foundation John F Marriott Charitable Trust Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation
Henrick Larsen John Liddle Harvey Lie Marjorie Marris
Beverley Murcia Pamela Newton
Ethel Hird
Lew Foundation
THE ALFRED FOUNDATION BOARD Sir Rod Eddington AO (Chair)
Meg Landrigan
George Richards
Patrick Baker (Director, The Alfred Foundation)
Chris Nolan (Alfred Appeal Committee Chair)
Rob Sayer
Ravi Bhatia
Nicholas O'Donohue (Life Support Committee Chair)
Carolyn Stubbs OAM (Women@The Alfred Chair)
Greta Bradman Anthony Charles Allan Hood
Paul Sheahan AM
Juli Ogilvy Tony Phillips
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Professor Andrew Way AM (Chief Executive, Alfred Health) Alan Williams Sir Donald Trescowthick AC KBE (Patron)
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ENDURING GIFTS IN WILLS
E and D Rogowski Foundation
Colin Bourke
Judy Matear
Joseph Augen Trust
The Geoffrey Mallin Rollason Trust
Breathe Easy for CF Julia Breen
Elizabeth McEniry and Cameron Green
Estate of Lindsay James Baldy Estate of Arthur and Anne Barry Estate of Amelia Batten E C Blackwood Charitable Trust Major Arthur Lyndhurst Blannin Estate Nola Therese Bren Donation Estate of Ernest Lonsdale Brown Estate of Dorothy Isabel Buttle Dennis Osborne Clarke Charitable Trust Estate of Alfred Noel Curphey Estate of Philippe Andrey Davies Estate of Mary Ann Edwards The Helen Fookes Trust Grace and Herbert Foulkes Charitable Trust William Samuel Godfree Charitable Trust The Grant Bequest Jean and Gerrard Harper Bequest John Henry Charitable Trust Estate of Mrs Grace Horton The Doris and Rupert Joseph Charitable Trust Estate of Ernest John Kebby Joseph Kronheimer Charitable Fund Martha Miranda Livingstone Fund The Sarah Josephine Logue Memorial Fund
Carr Family
Vladimir and Georgia Selar Bequest
Charles & Cornelia Goode Foundation
Estate of William Arthur Shipperlee
CMV Group Foundation
N and M Wodetzki Family Fund NRC Fund at Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation
Raymond Corrigan
Papamichael Family
John Henry James Symon Charitable Trust
Domenico Donato
DIY Resolutions DPM Susan and Geoff Duncan
Robert John Ousley PayPal Giving Fund Loris Peggie Adele M Pernell R W Peters Sarvesvari Rajakulendran
Estate of Alice Letitia D'Esterre Taylor
Sir Rod Eddington AO
Estate of Doreen Taylor
Andrew Eger
Flora Louisa Thompson Charitable Trust
Philip Elg
Estate of William Eastwood Thompson
Meredith Evans
Judith Roach for L Ian Roach AO
Anna Fauci-Russo
Ken and Gail Roche
Alfred Frohlich
Kevin Ruddell
Christine Gilbertson Giorgio and Dianne Gjergja
Sandra Jackson Benevolent Fund
Sydney Maxwell Wellard Charitable Trust
CM Gray
Gordon Sargood
Hacer Group
Greg Shalit and Miriam Faine
Estate of Emily Vera Winder
Halad to Health
Kim Shoppee-Lynch
Charles Wright Charitable Trust
Hardman Family Fund, a sub fund of ACF
June Smith
Estate of John Frederick Wright
G R and L D Hastings
Graham Spring OAM
HealthSmart Pharmacy
Judith Stembridge
MAJOR DONORS
Rachel M Hornung
Russell Stocker
Mary Adamson
Yen Hu
AFL Players' Association
Peter and Mandy Hui
Norman and Renee Super and Family
Alfred and Jean Dickson Foundation
Geoff and Denise Illing
Christine Tarascio Thomson
Roseanne Amarant
Insureware J and E King Foundation
Ken and Helen Turnham
Jacks Five Foundation
Michael and Leanne Wells
Keith and Mary Jeffery
Andrew Wheatland
Alfons and Gertrud Kaiser
The Will and Dorothy Bailey Charitable Fund, managed by Equity Trustees
M J and S E Edwards
Eliza Wallis Charitable Trust Annie Josephine Wellard Charitable Trust
Kevin Azo and Peter Reid
John Robertson Grigor and Mrs Eva McKenzie Bequest
Robert Ferguson Baird
Estate of Edith McTaggart
BAMFA Properties
Estate of L I Roach
Morgan Mansell Fund, a sub fund of ACF
Opalgate Foundation
Rodney Dalton
Mary Symon Charitable Trust
Gordon Miller
Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund
The Yvonne Patricia Stevens Family Trust
Estate of Charlotte Marshall
James Richardson Medical Research Foundation
Anita Castan
Estate of Heather Sybil Smith
Auimatagi Family
Thomas B Payne Fund
The Carji Club
Sartori Medical Research Fund
Estate of William Marshall
Eugene and Janet O'Sullivan Memorial Fund
Marion and Bob Campbell
Mr and Mrs Simon Rothberg Charitable Trust
Elizabeth Balson
Ke-Ane Kassulke Jeffrey Kaufman
Bell Charitable Fund
The Ky Enterprises
Graham Berry
L R Cazaly Trust Fund
Bird Family Trust, managed by Victorian Community Fund
Colin Lock Lung Foundation Australia Angus Mackay
Patricia and Kevin Birkett
Christopher Leigh Maddock
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Relton Co John Renison Jan and Keith Richards
Spotlight Foundation
Lyn Williams AM Ronald Wong Kenneth Woolfe The Yulgilbar Foundation
TH E A L F R E D FO UN DAT I O N
Responding to COVID-19 Research was a key part of our response to COVID-19, with a number of studies and leading experts strengthening our ability to provide treatment and care to those affected by the virus, thanks to the support from Trusts, Foundations and the community.
INTELLIGENT HOME MONITORING TO PREVENT COVID DEATHS RESEARCH Thanks to funding from nib health funds and our donors, people self-isolating with COVID-19 can have their health observed from afar, with a hospital-monitored software system that gets smarter with each patient cared for.
YOUR SUPPORT IMPACTING COVID RESEARCH
CovidCare, developed by Alfred Health and Deakin University, uses an intelligent decision-support system to remotely manage and triage patients with confirmed COVID-19, while they self-isolate at home.
In response to COVID-19 and its impacts on immune compromised people, The Alfred established its third biobank – The COVID-19 Biobank. Biobanks are used to store biological samples such as blood and tissue to advance clinical research.
Alfred emergency and trauma physician, and CovidCare study lead Associate Professor Joseph Mathew, said self-isolating at home is the best option for many people with the potentially deadly virus, however even those with mild symptoms can deteriorate without warning.
Thanks to the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, The Orloff Family Trust and our donors, the COVID-19 Biobank team has collected over 16,000 nasal, throat and blood samples from more than 330 participants across five Victorian hospitals. This collaborative effort allows researchers from across Australia access to these samples with 12 applications for the data already occurring.
‘A system that is intelligent and can predict and flag which patients may need greater medical assistance before their health declines, is a powerful tool to prevent an intensive care stay, or even death,’ Associate Professor Mathew said. 109 patients were enrolled onto the platform with scalability up to 10,000 patients and potential for other broad applications, including The Alfred’s ‘hospital in the home’ program.
Early results have shown promising advances in our understanding of long-term immunity for those infected with COVID-19. Further work is underway to learn more about immunity duration and immunity as it relates to vaccines. This important research project would not have been possible without funding and we thank our supporters for their remarkable contribution. There is more amazing research soon to emerge from the COVID-19 Biobank which we look forward to sharing with you in the near future.
‘We all have a role to play in helping fight COVID-19 as well as supporting our community, and as a health insurer this is even more paramount. This system does just that, helping patients to recover at home while also reducing pressure on hospitals,’ nib Managing Director, Mark Fitzgibbon said.
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YE A R I N R E VI E W 2 02 0
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PHILANTHROPY DEVELOPS THE CAREER OF LEADING COVID-19 EXPERT
We really need that broad and long-term range of expertise.
In 2008, The Alfred established a Chair in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, thanks to generous funding from the James and Elsie Borrowman Trust. This distinguished position was a major career development milestone of one of Australia’s leading infectious diseases experts – Professor Allen Cheng.
PROFESSOR ALLEN CHENG
Professor Cheng held the Chair position for three years from 2009-2012, publishing over 24 research papers and generating competitive research funding valued at over $3 million. In what would be a career defining moment, the day of Prof Cheng’s appointment, the H1N1/09 virus, known more commonly as swine flu, was declared a pandemic.
‘If someone had said they were an expert in coronaviruses prior to SARS, or in retroviruses prior to HIV, we would have thought that’s a really niche area. However, we are now acutely aware of how important that knowledge can be; no knowledge is ever wasted.’
Professor Cheng said the opportunities provided by The Borrowman Trust were essential to career development in a field where research outcomes can often take many years.
Aside from his role as Director of Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology at The Alfred, Prof Cheng also holds positions as President of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) and as Victoria’s Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer where his expertise continues to contribute significantly to both the Federal and State governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘A lot of early career researchers are funded by very short-term grants and it’s important to nurture scientists and academic clinicians so they can become independent and acquire their own funding down the track,’ Prof Cheng said.
The Alfred - COVID-19 Facts & Figures
77
6,882
COVID-19 tests conducted
confirmed COVID-19 positive admissions
suspected COVID-19 admissions, including
72,090 at our public Screening Clinic. 17,452 at our Surveillance Clinic.*
25 requiring intensive care.
1,091 requiring intensive care.
107,208
*Made up of staff, teachers, aged care workers and other health care workers.
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TH E A L F R E D FO UN DAT I O N
Community Support More Important than Ever Adaption was a key theme in 2020 and community fundraising was no exception. With usual in-person events off the table, we turned to virtual events in their place with the goal of creating the same opportunities for meaningful community engagement. As part of Dry July, The Alfred ran an online trivia evening with the help of Funky Bunch Trivia. The evening raised more than $2,000 and also offered an opportunity for fun and connection during a period of lockdown.
Dry July Foundation grant rounds will also see the continuation of our patient accommodation program for rural and regional cancer patients. We also saw extraordinary support from the broader community in 2020 by way of donated goods and messages of support for our staff. Everything from chocolates to hand creams was donated to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Alfred staff during the pandemic. Staff spirits were also lifted from the beautiful messages received from the community, including many hand drawn pictures and letters from local children.
A huge thank you to all the participants who went dry this July in support of The Alfred and to everyone who donated. Together we raised more than $42,000, an incredible outcome for our cancer patients. Money raised will fund a continuation of the music therapy program which brings joy and relief to patients going through treatment. Further funding from the
An act of extraordinary selflessness 2020 was particularly difficult for our star community fundraiser Gary Denson. Gary was diagnosed with a rare stage 4 melanoma in December 2019 and in the early months of 2020 was told he had just 90 days to live. However, in June 2020 the team at The Alfred was able to perform an emergency surgery to remove cancerous growths. It wasn’t a cure but it gave Gary the precious gift of more time with his wife, sons, family and friends. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Gary started his own ambitious community fundraising campaign to raise $90k in 90 days. The response was incredible, with Gary reaching his initial target in just 26 days! Gary quickly realised the potential to achieve something truly extraordinary and set his sights on raising $500,000.
All money raised will support clinical trials and treatments to help others facing cancer. Gary has also been proactive in urging the public to practice caution in the Australian sun and have their skin checked regularly. Gary is enjoying his remaining time with his wife Keri, and his three sons.
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