Loving God, we thank you for the work of your creation; the life that it gives, and the life it continues to nourish. We thank you for giving us life, and for sacrificing yourself to offer us eternal life.
We thank you for the example of those who have paved our way in following your humble generosity: St Teresa who recognised that with all you have given us, we can be your body in the world; St Ignatius who knew that all we need is your love and grace; and Venerable Mary Aikenhead, whose legacy of caring we maintain today.
We are grateful that you continue to nourish and inspire generosity in the hearts of those who support a work of helping and of healing. We ask that you bless everyone committing their work, prayer, and resources to support the flourishing of all people, that we may never turn away someone in need.
Matthew Hasking
State Pastoral Care Coordinator (Qld)
St Vincent’s Care Services
A Gift for Future Generations
At St Vincent’s, we are often asked by our grateful community and their families how they can give back. While not everyone is in a position to support us now, there is a simple and powerful way to make a lasting impact— by leaving a bequest (a gift in your Will) to St Vincent’s.
Planning for the future might seem daunting, but it is something everyone needs to consider. Having your affairs in order provides peace of mind and ensures your wishes are honoured.
St Vincent’s remains a place of healing, innovation, and compassion.
Your Free Online Will— A Gift from Us
A bequest costs nothing during your lifetime, yet this thoughtful gesture ensures that our doctors, nurses, carers, volunteers, and other staff can continue providing compassionate care for generations to come. Your legacy can support any of our St Vincent’s facilities, including St Vincent’s Care, St Vincent’s Private Hospitals in Brisbane, Northside, and Toowoomba, or St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland.
One of the earliest recorded bequests to St Vincent’s Hospital was made in 1880 for the sum of £20 (equivalent to approximately $2,500 today). This long tradition of giving has had a profound impact, ensuring that
As a special thank you for your support, we are pleased to offer you access to a free online Will through our trusted partner, Gathered Here. This simple, secure service allows you to create a legally binding Will at no cost, with free and unlimited updates for life. Having an up-to-date Will is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones.
There is no obligation to include a gift to St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland in your Will, though we hope you consider the lasting impact such a gesture could have. If you would like to take advantage of this free service, simply visit: www.gatheredhere.com.au/c/svha-foundation-qld OR SCAN QR CODE
Your generosity today can help shape the future of healthcare and aged care in Queensland. Thank you for considering this meaningful way to give back and ensure St Vincent’s continues to deliver better and fairer care. Always.
A Stay Filled with Care and Compassion
Being in hospital can be a stressful experience—new surroundings, unfamiliar sounds, and a different routine. At St Vincent’s Private Hospital, our mission is to make sure those worries fade into the background. We want every patient’s stay to be filled with care, comfort, and compassion.
That’s why it’s so rewarding to hear from patients who have experienced just that:
“Absolutely EVERY part of my experience was incredible—from walking in the door and my interaction with the reception staff, to the lovely volunteer who took me to check-in, to the admissions nurse who calmed an extremely anxious patient, to the care and professionalism of the medical team, and even the food and room service. I am so thankful for everything.”
“The staff were friendly and informative, treating me with dignity and understanding during a stressful time (facing surgery). The after-care team was supportive and attentive, helping me adjust to my new ‘normal’— managing crutches, wound care, and the uncertainties of recovery. Thank you for the care and attention you put into staff training; it made me feel reassured and in safe hands.”
“The service from the nursing staff was outstanding. Every staff member treated me with kindness and respect, making me feel that nothing was too much trouble.”
Hearing these stories reminds us of the real difference compassionate care makes. Every day, our staff live out the values of compassion, justice, integrity, and excellence, ensuring each patient feels safe and supported.
But delivering exceptional care takes more than dedication—it requires the right training and equipment. That’s where our generous supporters make all the difference. Your support helps us replace and upgrade vital equipment, fund staff education, and ensure every patient receives the best care possible.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we make sure care and compassion are always at the heart of what we do.
St Vincent’s Care Carina
Hosts Virtual Reality Experience
St Vincent’s Care Carina recently hosted an incredible virtual reality (VR) experience, made possible by the generous support of St Vincent’s Foundation QLD, Carina Leagues Club, and the innovative team at Silvr Adventures!
Through immersive VR experiences, Silvr Adventures helps residents feel more connected to the world around them.
During this special session, residents were whisked away on a virtual tour of the wonders of Italy, all while enjoying an Italianthemed afternoon tea that brought the adventure to life.
“This is a must-have for us seniors. I could even get the smell of the place,” says Anne.
“It’s a privilege—it’s a marvellous invention, out of this world. It saves a lot of pollution in the world because you can see it without needing to travel by plane,” says Thomas.
The benefits of this cutting-edge therapy are already being felt at St Vincent’s Care Carina. VR experiences have been shown to reduce agitation, improve mood, and provide meaningful engagement, especially for residents with cognitive decline. By transporting them to familiar places or calming environments, VR offers a powerful tool for reminiscence and social connection.
Building on its success, we’re now working to bring this opportunity to another 10 facilities, ensuring even more of our residents can benefit from this innovative therapy. Your support can help make this program available to more facilities, bringing joy and connection to more residents in need.
Diversional therapy like this plays a vital role in enriching the lives of our residents, helping them remain connected, engaged, and happy.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Greg Potent at gregory.potent@svhq.org.au or phone 0479 187 610.
St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba is proud to support the next generation of rural doctors by partnering with the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway (QRGP) to provide neonatal resuscitation training. This hands-on program helps Rural GP and Rural Generalist trainees undertaking an Advanced Skills Training Year in Paediatrics gain essential skills to enhance their rural practice.
For the past five years, Paediatrician Dr Leanne Browning has run this vital training at our hospital, equipping doctors with the knowledge and confidence they need to care for newborns in rural communities. In January, three trainees took part in the latest workshop, preparing them for the challenges ahead as they pursue careers in rural General and Hospital Practice.
“St Vincent’s support in providing facilities for neonatal training each year has been invaluable, and the trainees are extremely grateful,” said Dr Browning said. Programs like this are essential to ensuring families in regional areas receive the best possible care when they need it most. A key part of its success is having the right training equipment that needs to be updated over time.
Thanks to your support, we can continue providing top-quality training and care for future rural doctors and the communities they serve.
Brisbane’s First Bereavement Walking Group Celebrates One-Year
Anniversary
Brisbane’s first Bereavement Walking Group, run through St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane, recently marked its first anniversary, catching the attention of ABC Radio Brisbane.
Group leader Silvano Basso, along with St Vincent’s counsellor Anna Young, shared the inspiring story behind the group with ABC listeners. Breakfast show host Loretta Ryan joined the walk and took part in a live radio interview on the new Kangaroo Point Bridge. Silvano, who sought support from St Vincent’s palliative care counselling service before and after the loss of his wife Annie to cancer in 2023, started the walking group
“It’s a learning experience for all of us in understanding where the walking group fits in the grieving process and how each person copes with their loss,” says Silvano. “Every day brings different emotional and psychological elements, and we support each other through that journey.”
St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane is now working to expand the initiative, with plans to partner with other palliative care providers across Brisbane and southeast Queensland to create a network of walking groups to benefit the wider community.
To learn more about the Bereavement Walking Group and hear the ABC Radio interview, visit: https://www.svph.org.au/patient-news/walks-the-bereavement-journey
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