YOUR IMPACT

Research

Investing in research teams who push the boundaries of paediatric medicine, and seek treatments and cures for diseases that threaten the lives of children across Australia and around the world.

Equipment And Technology

Funding progressive, state-of-the-art equipment and technology that helps the Hospital improve the quality of health care provided to patients.

Patient And Family Centred Care

Donations help bridge the gap between government funding and the world class care the hospital provides to patients and their families.

LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Supporting the RCH team by fostering staff excellence through investment in academic leadership, education programs, scholarships and fellowships.

MELBOURNE CHILDREN’S CAMPUS MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY

This ambitious multi-year project aims to provide a uniform and evidence-based approach to mental health prevention, care and advocacy for all patients and their families across the Melbourne Children’s Campus, which includes the RCH, the MCRI and the University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics.

We can see first hand how vital the prevention and support of mental health care for children and young people is through the impact on children like two year old Arlo, the Face of the Appeal for this year. Arlo was born with half a heart and by the time he was five months old, he had undergone six open-heart surgeries. After spending months in hospital, Arlo had developed terrible anxiety about staff. The Infant Mental Health Team, who are part of the hospital’s acute service, helped Arlo tackle his anxiety and this work has paid off as Arlo has come a long way, he has no anxiety and he is very confident when interacting with everyone

The Strategy is committed to ensuring that all children and their families can access high quality, equitable and consistent prevention, advocacy and mental health care where and when they need it - helping to sustain and optimise health and wellbeing outcomes for the community.

Cardiology Research

Thanks to support from the Good Friday Appeal, researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) are helping to ensure a brighter future for children with cardiac conditions.

This research project examines the variation in blood pressure readings between a child’s arms and its effect on the child’s diagnosis. This study is the first of its kind worldwide to determine the extent and frequency of inter-arm blood pressure differences in children and adolescents. Preliminary results show that even a slight difference in blood pressure readings between arms could result in an inaccurate diagnosis.

“Children with high blood pressure, many of whom appear to be healthy, have a greater risk of developing hypertension in adulthood, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease,”

Associate Professor Jonathan Mynard, Bioengineer and Cardiovascular Researcher, MCRI.

Upgrade Of Retcam

Each day some of Victoria’s sickest babies and infants are admitted to the Butterfly Ward at the RCH, the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with many teams from across the hospital coming together to provide specialist care. One of the teams caring for these babies is the Ophthalmology Department.

Through Good Friday Appeal support, RCH Ophthalmologists will have access to the latest equipment and technology, with the upgrade of a vital tool used in screening for eye disease in newborns, known as a RETCAM. The current system has been in use at the RCH since 2002 with almost 6,000 babies already directly benefiting from this sight-saving technology.

CHRONIC ILLNESS PEER SUPPORT (CHIPS)

The ChIPS program is a vibrant youth program that aims to improve the lives of young people aged 12-25 living with a chronic illness. This is achieved through developing peer networks, social skills and increasing abilities in illness self-management and general life skills. ChIPS has been a valuable part of the RCH for nearly 30 Years. Our Ambassador Carly Findlay has been a member and mentor of ChIPs.

Projects receiving ongoing support include:

- New Electrosurgical Units

- Garden Program Vision

- Wadja Aboriginal Family Place

- Integrated Primary Health Teleheath Trial

- RCH TV, Child Life Therapy and Comfort Kids

- Total Therapy Study for newly diagnosed ALL and lymphoma

- MCRI Research

- Allied Health and nursing outreach education

- Clinician Scientist Fellowships

Plus more, visit goodfridayappeal.com.au/your-impact/ for details.