YO U R LO CAL IM PACT REP ORT
For a Healthy Community THANK YOU! A baby’s life saved. Precious time with loved ones in grandma’s final days. Hope for local men with prostate cancer through the latest 3D technology. That’s all thanks to friends of Redcliffe Hospital like you. In this first ever Local Impact Report, you will read of what’s possible when a community comes together – what you make possible. More than 2,000 health care workers and staff serve at Redcliffe Hospital. Each year they ensure life-saving emergency care is available 24/7, right here on the Peninsula. They support the journey to parenthood, welcoming newborns and laying the foundations for more happy and healthy local families. They care for those who are critically unwell, and improve the quality of life for those on the road to recovery after life-changing events. They mend the broken bones, and repair the knees and hips of those who have worked their whole lives for their community. And, alongside all of that, they conduct leading health research that will make that care even more effective in the years to come.
Redcliffe Hospital is at the heart of a healthy community. Your hospital sees you and your loved ones through the seasons of life. It provides a job for hundreds of locals. It gets injured workers back on deck. I am proud to serve this amazing community and call it home. Will you also join me in thanking the RBWH Foundation? Their collaborative vision and partnership with Redcliffe Hospital brought ‘Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital’ to life. Together with you, so much more is possible. Let’s make a great hospital even better. For patients. For families. For businesses. For you. Now and for years to come. That’s the extraordinary power of community. Louise Oriti Executive Director Redcliffe Hospital
I am inspired by the Redcliffe Peninsula and the Moreton Bay people for supporting the Hospital so generously. It’s a real tribute to your rich community spirit. I’m excited by the impact we can have together through Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital – providing first-class healthcare close to home.
Simone Garske CEO, RBWH Foundation
GIVING TOGETHER FUNDS LIFE-CHANGING PATIENT CARE AND HEALTH RESEARCH AT REDCLIFFE HOSPITAL It is said that Redcliffe Hospital is the heart of the Peninsula, and over the past 12 months, the Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital fundraising collaboration has certainly proven that statement. In the twelve months since inception, response from patients and staff - past and present - as well as the broader community, has exceeded expectations. More than $200,000 has been raised and is already making an impact to patient care and life-changing health research. In 2022, this incredible generosity will help fund: • A new Senior Nursing Researcher to advance evidence-based patient care • Urology research at Redcliffe Hospital to help men with prostate cancer • Initiate the ‘Bring a touch of home’ project for the Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Units • Establish a much-needed Maternity Bereavement Room, a private space for women and families experiencing loss or special care needs • Wishlist Grants for most needed patient and staff care programs. ‘Raise it for Redcliffe’ was established in late 2020 as a partnership between the RBWH Foundation and Redcliffe Hospital.
R A I SE I T FO R RE DC L I F FE H OSPITA L The first ever Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day was held on Wednesday 13 October 2021. Thanks to the incredible support of local business, community groups, staff and the public, more than $170,000 was raised to support health research and innovative patient care programs.
The impressive tally was a wonderful indication of the Moreton Bay region’s engagement and trust of Redcliffe Hospital and its dedicated health care workforce. Many organisations were pivotal to Giving Day’s success, including community radio station 99.7 Bridge FM which broadcast the day’s activities; Lewis Land Group, owner of The Komo and The Belvedere Hotels, which donated a staggering $50,000 to be used to match public donations; and the substantial community support provided by BallyCara, GKS Law, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Dominos and Dolphin News.
R ED CLIFFE RESEARCH GIVING CIRCLE There is no greater recommendation for a local hospital than the support of its local medical fraternity. The support of Moreton Bay hospital and community practitioners for the newly founded Redcliffe Hospital Research Giving Circle was instrumental in reaching Giving Day’s fundraising goal. Founded by former Director of Surgery at Redcliffe Hospital, Associate Professor Cliff Pollard AM, the Giving Circle played a leading role in raising just over $26,000 for a senior nurse researcher position.
IDING FOR RE DCLIF F E: R A MA RAT HON WIT H ME A NING A driving force behind ‘Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital’ fundraising has been Redcliffe Hospital Director of Research and Medical Education, Dr Joel Dulhunty. An avid cyclist, Dr Dulhunty held two major fundraising events during 2021. In April, Dr Dulhunty and wife Naoni set the pace when they rode 2500 km from Cairns to Brisbane to raise funds for a proposed Senior Nurse Researcher position. Dr Dulhunty then followed up with an ambitious 500km Penny Farthing fundraising marathon for Giving Day. His efforts personally helped generate more than $23,000 and leveraged a further $103,000 to secure the inaugural three-year Senior Nursing Researcher position. ' RA IS E
IT ’ TO B RING A TOU CH OF HOME TO RE DCLIF F E HOS PITA L
Among the first priorities of ‘Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital’ will be refurbishment of the Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Units. Both provide outstanding patient care but aspire to create a more family and child-friendly experience for visitors. Mango Hill grandmother Eleanor spent more than six months in Redcliffe Hospital after she contracted the debilitating Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a virus which attacked her immune system and caused paralysis.
“All I could do was move my head. I couldn’t talk or even drink water,” said Eleanor. Eleanor spent the first four months in the Intensive Care Unit followed by another two and a half in Rehabilitation. “Redcliffe Hospital was my ‘home’ for more than six months. I have nothing but praise for all the staff, from the cleaners to the top doctors. They were there for not only me, but my husband and family.” Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital will help patients like Eleanor feel they truly are in a second home, not a hospital.
RA IS E IT LIK E R E D DY F U N A ND F IT NE S S Fundraising is proving to be a great way to get fit on the Peninsula! For two years ‘running’, REDDY Fun and Fitness has held a fun run to promote health and wellbeing and raise funds for Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital. It was first held following cancellation of the Gold Coast marathon. Redcliffe Hospital staff members and Peninsula locals Rhonda Neal and Brooke Starkey-Luke decided to donate their Gold Coast entry fees to Redcliffe Hospital and hold their own run to raise even more. The first year saw 60 starters and raised $4,700. In 2021, Reddy Fun and Fitness increased its tally to an impressive $13,624 with more than 180 participants.
If we support men better in our community, they’ll be able to look after themselves better and look after their families better.
Associate Professor Alka Kothari, Redcliffe Hospital researcher and senior obstetrician
RESEARCH TO HELP FORGOTTEN FATHERS Seven years ago, Redcliffe father Ben Mills’s wife, Candise, almost died because of a serious pregnancy complication. The couple, who had been trying for some time to have their third child, lost the pregnancy and emergency surgery left Candise unable to have any more children. In the past little support existed for fathers like Ben. That changed thanks to research by Redcliffe Hospital researcher and senior obstetrician, Associate Professor Alka Kothari. She coined a new term ‘Forgotten Fathers’ to stress the lack of support traditionally offered to men who are exposed to trauma and other challenging events during difficult pregnancies. “Even after normal pregnancy, men can struggle to look after their partner and take over household duties,” said Dr Kothari. “But if the father has been exposed to a stressful event during pregnancy such as a complicated delivery or a baby who needs resuscitation, he might develop long standing, posttraumatic stress symptoms.” Dr Kothari fears stress symptoms, left untreated, could result in ongoing harm to men and their families. She says, “If we support men better in our community, they’ll be able to look after themselves better and look after their families better.” Fortunately for Ben and his family, he received extensive support during Candise’s operation and recovery from Dr Kothari. She also ensured Ben had
access to counselling afterwards. Ben says it helped the couple, as well as the extended family. “From a young age, men learn not to talk about feelings so handling trauma manifests in many different ways – use of alcohol, gambling or whatever that looks like,” said Ben. “A lot of men that I work with (as a Child Safety Officer) use alcohol to handle traumatic events instead of reaching out for better options, such as counselling.” Redcliffe Hospital actively identifies and supports these ‘Forgotten Fathers’ and empowers them to seek mental health assistance from their GPs and join a Peer support father’s group. The good news is that world-class research like this helps you and your loved ones close to home. Through Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital, in partnership with RBWH Foundation, you can support research projects like this and innovative patient care programs.
Photograph by Dominika Lis and Moreton Daily
To find out more about Raise it for Redcliffe email Sharyn at redcliffe@ rbwhfoundation.com.au
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Raise it for Redcliffe is a philanthropic partnership between Redcliffe Hospital and RBWH Foundation. All funds raised support Redcliffe Hospital. Donations are tax-deductible.