Donors fund $1.7m "innovation grants" at Epworth

I have been connected with Epworth HealthCare, a private, not-for-profit hospital group, for many years. Over that time, I continue to be amazed by the talent of the staff and doctors within all Epworth hospitals.

The desire of the staff to develop, learn and grow is exceptional, and as a Director of the Epworth Medical Foundation, I am proud that we can provide many hundreds of opportunities for dedicated and outstanding staff at Epworth to excel in their chosen fields.

Earlier this week, the Epworth Medical Foundation hosted a dinner for more than 550 members of the Epworth Community. Named in honour of two generous donors to Epworth, the late Roy and Joan Mackenzie, the dinner also marked the presentation of 75 individual grants - valued at more than $1.7 million - to support research, innovation and medical education at Epworth.

These grants are funded in their entirety by donations, which is a powerful testament to the foresight and generosity of the people of Melbourne, to invest in the future of medical excellence.

I was privileged to speak at this event, and it was made even more special because so many of the donors and supporters within our community were with us on the night to see their awards being presented, and to meet the worthy recipients who will use them to make a powerful difference to their patients.

The generosity and commitment of these donors to Epworth staff means those recipients will undertake experiences and opportunities that simply would not have been possible without these grants.

Epworth is special place and is made up of an incredibly diverse range of roles and employees. To see such a diverse pool of recipients, roles and projects receiving these grants demonstrates all of the incredible people that care for our patients every single day.

I know that each recipient of these grants will embrace the experiences ahead of them. Their individual vocations play an incredibly important role to ensure that Epworth patients consistently receive a quality level of care and compassion.

A pathway to positive change

Following is an excerpt from a story recently published in the RMIT news.

A $100,000 gift to RMIT from soft facility services company GJK Facility Services will help disadvantaged students overcome the barriers they face to higher education.

The generous gift will fund the GJK Facility Services Scholarship, worth up to $10,000 a year for three years. 

The scholarship is aimed at students who face challenges in accessing higher education, particularly those identifying as women, from rural or financially disadvantaged backgrounds, or pursuing science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines. “The hope is that the funding will help recipients achieve their educational and career aspirations and, ultimately, bring about positive change in the community. 

Continue reading on the RMIT website >>

Defeating cancer in real time

My humble thanks to Epworth Medical Foundation for sharing the following words.

George Stamas AM and Jaqui Maree Stamas continue to demonstrate extraordinary support of patients at Epworth.

As major sponsors of the Epworth Race Day, via GJK Facility Services, George and Jaqui Maree were instrumental in the funding of a Trident Imaging System, a portable x‐ray machine that is used during breast cancer surgery to help determine whether all the tumour cells have been removed.

As Dr Chantel Thornton reflected:

“During surgery, I want to make sure I’ve got all the cancer. But to do that, I need to take an image of the sample because you can’t necessarily feel or see the cancer cell. They can be absolutely microscopic, and something only the very best imaging can capture.

“With the Trident, I’d have an image of the specimen right there on the screen in front of me, in real time. If I’ve removed all the cancer, I could complete the surgery straight away, and if there was a rogue cell at the margin that indicated I’d need to take a further sample, I could see it immediately.”

As a centre of excellence in breast cancer care, Epworth attracts patients from across Australia to seek treatment from our world-class breast cancer surgeons. As a result, this is the second Trident Imaging System that George and Jaqui Maree have funded, enabling the very best care of patients.

Samantha's story

This year our family was proud to see the Stamas Family Scholarship awarded to Samantha Doherty, an ICU nurse at Epworth Richmond.  We recently heard Samantha’s story, and it really emphasised why as a family we are so thrilled to support the Brookes Academy at Epworth.

By funding scholarships like this one, we are able to enable Samantha and her colleagues to build upon their expertise and knowledge within the critical-care space.

Our family is deeply passionate about education, and we have felt firsthand the genuine kindness and support of nurses at Epworth. These scholarships provide really meaningful opportunities, and we’re proud to play our part.

Samantha shared the story of her journey to nursing in a recent edition of the Epworth Medical Foundation Philanthropy Report - the article is here. In the meantime, I am thrilled to share Samantha’s story below.

My story is quite a personal one.

I didn’t initially start out doing nursing. My mum became very ill with cancer when I was in my early 20s. She had a long journey, but what really stood out to us during this incredibly difficult time for our family was the nursing care she received. It brought a smile to her face every day.

Every day you saw her light up because of the care the nurses provided and how genuinely kind they were to her. I thought – I want to be that person who brightens up someone’s day when they’re having a really, really difficult time.

I started my career at Epworth within interventional cardiology. Most commonly we would support

patients who had a heart attack. They would need a stent in the cath labs and all being well they

would be home in a few days to rest and recover.

Today, I work in the ICU. It’s completely different work. We often have patients with us for weeks,

even months – it’s challenging but incredibly rewarding. We do care for the sickest of the sick, and we get to make a difference every single day.

One patient who sticks in my mind is an Irish man who was with us for about four weeks. He came in very unwell, and we got the opportunity to not only get to know him throughout his time with us, but his family as well.

And that’s the beauty of Epworth and the role that we play as nurses. We get to really make this connection with our patients and their families. We found out that he had migrated over from Ireland when he was in his twenties, we learnt about his career in Australia and we got to meet his children and grandchildren.

It’s an amazing opportunity that you would never get in any other job or any other career. Unfortunately, he did pass with us, but it was so special that we got to be there with him and his family during such a vulnerable time. It really reminded me that we are part of that experience with them. That’s something that will stick with me forever.

The race to recovery

What a pleasure it was to take part in the annual Epworth Medical Foundation Race Day this month.

GJK Facility Services was the major event sponsor once again and this year, the assembled guests raised important funds to purchase a Trident Imaging System to be used by surgeons at Epworth HealthCare to treat patients with breast cancer.

The Trident allows surgeons to take images of tumours while still in the operating theatre, in real time. This in turn enables them to determine whether a the cancerous tumours have been fully removed from the healthy tissue. By reducing the patients’ time in the operating theatre and under anaesthesia, this technology improves outcomes, wellbeing and recovery times for patients.

A representative from Epworth Medical Foundation, Chloe Rowarth, shared a little more about the Trident Imaging System with me after the event.

“This high-tech equipment will be used every day by our breast cancer surgeons in our operating theatres,” she said. “By taking an outer specimen of the tumour and testing it in the Trident Imaging System in theatre, our surgeons can immediately and accurately determine if enough margin has been taken. This means the best result can be achieved for our breast cancer patients within the shortest period of time.”

I was thrilled to be part of this event, and of the outstanding efforts that my wife Jaqui Maree and her colleagues on the Epworth Special Events Committee put into making it such a success.

To quote Chloe one again, “This is going to make the world of difference for our breast cancer patients and the surgeons who care for them, as specimens are tested there and then in the theatre, hastening the length of time in surgery and enabling a faster recovery.”

Helping vulnerable Aussies

Earlier this month I was honoured to accept an appointment as the chair of the Vulnerable Members Advisory Council at AustralianSuper.

I am proud to be part of this initiative of AustralianSuper, which identifies AustralianSuper members who are vulnerable, and offers them additional assistance.

The nature of the assistance these members require depends on the types of vulnerability they experience. For example, vulnerability may come from physical ill-health, lack of literacy, age, domestic violence, or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status. Our committee oversees the care we are able to provide to these members, whether that may be interpreting services, more flexibility around documentation, identity verification, or cultural training for staff-members when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.

Assessors and claims managers receive cultural awareness and emotional intelligence training to help identify and support people at risk.

Throughout my career - from my earliest days working as a part-time cleaner, to now standing at the helm of a 4000-person strong company, community care and compassion for those who are vulnerable has always been a priority. I am thrilled to accept this position on the Vulnerable Members Advisory Council to play my part in creating a positive impact on society.

A gift for pregnant women

Today, on International Women's Day, the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) hosted a special event to honor the remarkable women contributing to eye research. This event served as a platform to celebrate the advancements and contributions of talented researchers and doctors in the field of ophthalmology.

CERA, a not-for-profit Medical Research Institute located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and closely affiliated with the University of Melbourne, stands as a beacon of excellence in eye health research. Renowned for its innovative approach, CERA is ranked #4 in the World University Rankings for Ophthalmology and serves as Australia's only WHO Collaborating Centre for the prevention of blindness.

Among the fantastic researchers and doctors at CERA are Dr. Jennifer Fan Gaskin, Principal Investigator in Ocular Fibrosis, and Professor Robyn Guymer AM, CERA's Deputy Director and Head of Macular Research. Their dedication and expertise have significantly contributed to the advancements in eye health research.

My wife Jacqui Maree and I were proud to make a donation to CERA, in the knowledge that it will be used to support new research aimed at helping women with diabetes safeguard their vision during pregnancy. Our donation enabled the purchase of a state-of-the-art AI-assisted portable camera, unveiled at CERA's International Women's Day celebrations.

Led by Professor Lyndell Lim and Associate Professor Andrew Symons, the research aims to provide innovative ways for women with diabetes to monitor their eye health during pregnancy, reducing the risks associated with sight-threatening eye diseases. The study will introduce a streamlined approach to provide eye screenings to pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes, ensuring timely assessments and necessary referrals.

This groundbreaking research will have a profound impact on improving the eye health outcomes for women with diabetes. As we commemorate International Women's Day 2024, let us recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in eye research, driving innovative advancements in preserving vision and enhancing eye health for all.

A safer adulthood

It is a sad fact that half of all young people who enter our corrections system come straight from the state care system. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is difficult for all of us, but imagine doing so without the support of any parents or close family-members. The care and support that vulnerable young people - such as those in the foster and out-of-home-care systems - are able to access stops on the day they turn 18, as they enter adulthood.

For many, this milestone birthday means an abrupt end to all of their support and networks. They must leave their “home” without any means of supporting themselves: no networks, no financial support, nothing. Most cannot even open a bank account because they don’t have the identification required, which in turn prevents them from accessing vital welfare support, including Medicare, Centrelink and the ATO.

Sadly, this significantly increases the risk of the young people experiencing homelessness, mental health struggles, criminal offences, early parenthood, and drug- and alcohol-problems, an outcome that is borne out in fact that they make up half of all young people in the corrections system. And of these vulnerable young people, young women are most at risk.

Our team at GJK Facility Services was deeply moved to learn about these issues from the Bridge of Hope Foundation, and we were determined to do something positive to help them. Bridge of Hope is a not-for-profit organisation that collaborates with vulnerable young women - and their care teams - to develop personalised support plans that help them transition safely from out-of-home care to independent living. The support these women receive includes both the practical, social and financial skills and resources needed for independent living, and the emotional skills that help them build resilience as they navigate adult life.

For example, the program ensures every young woman leaving care has a copy of their birth certificate, a bank account and debit card, and introduction to Centrelink, a MyKi cards and MyGov accounts. They are given driving lessons and help earning a driver’s license, and help developing a professional resume and developing interview skills, as well as free legal advice and representation if they need it.

In addition, the young women receive access to specialised mental and general health programs, and the program is currently negotiating with one of Victoria’s major hospitals to provide health assessment and advice, and to facilitate necessary surgical procedures.

I am proud to serve on the Board of Bridge of Hope, and prouder-still of the GJK team, who recently donated $20,000 to the foundation’s “Bridging the Gap” initiative as the next step in its goal to foster social change and offer help to those in need.

Disco fever

The Epworth Gala Ball is one of the major events in Melbourne’s social calendar, with more than 1300 guests gathering to dine, dance, and raise-much needed funds for outstanding medical care at Epworth Hospital.

The theme for 2023 was “disco,” and party-goers did not disappoint, filling the room with more sequins and glitter than Melbourne has seen in many a decade.

Our family was proud to make a large donation to this cause during the gala in August this year, with my son Elias Stamas, CEO of GJK Facility Services (pictured below), and GJK’s Director of Strategic Relationships, Kristiana Greenwood GAICD, announcing the gift.

More than $3.5 million was made on the night, which will be used to purchase new equipment and support for the Brookes Academy for Midwifery and Nursing at Epworth.

Supporting our nurses

If COVID taught our nation anything about the healthcare environment in Australia, it was to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary and tireless work performed by armies of nurses across our nation.

Finding, supporting and retaining qualified nurses has proven to be a major challenge for many hospitals and healthcare organisations Australia-wide, especially since so many of our talented and dedicated nurses reached the point of burnout during the first two years of the pandemic.

In response to this crisis, Epworth HealthCare has come up with an outstanding initiative to support our nurses, and foster true excellence through advanced training. The Brookes Academy of Nursing and Midwifery at Epworth HealthCare recently launched to forge innovative learning pathways for nurses and midwives at all levels in clinical, leadership, education and research fields.

The result is a new cohort of nurses who are supported and developed in their careers at every stage, and an even higher standard of patient care at Epworth, as they benefit from the skills and education of the Academy graduates.

What is even more extraordinary about this Academy is that is is funded entirely by donations. What a legacy of generosity and foresight made by individuals and businesses in Melbourne! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to support this initiative earlier this year, by donating $250,000 towards the development of the Brookes Academy of Nursing and Midwifery. I truly believe this Academy will fundamentally change the face and lift the standards of nursing training across Victoria and indeed Australia.

Race Day record fundraiser

My wife and I are proud to be long-term supporters of Epworth Medical Foundation, an important charity in Melbourne that contributes to groundbreaking medical research, heartfelt medical care, advanced medical equipment, and compassionate services that help families access the outstanding care at Epworth Hospital when distance or finances might otherwise make it impossible.

I have personally served on the Board of Epworth Medical Foundation since 2018, and GJK Facility Services is a long-term partner of the Foundation. This month, GJK Facility Services was an event sponsor at the annual “Friends of Epworth” Race Day, a traditional day at Flemington that is equal-parts a fun social event and an important fundraiser, and I was honoured to address guests at the event to encourage their support of Epworth.

I’m thrilled to share that on the day, my fellow racegoers gave generously to this excellent cause, and helped to raise a record amount of more than $150,000, which will be used to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment for patients at Epworth Hospital.

A safe refuge

The Lighthouse Foundation is the first safe refuge in Australia that is designed to meet the recovery needs of young women and girls who have left or are at risk of entering into an early or forced marriage.

This Foundation provides live-in care and therapeutic support, in a safe place, to help these young women - many of whom are the victims of immense trauma - begin to heal.

At the TEN Women charity lunch in May, my wife Jaqui Maree and I were proud to make a donation of $100,000 to the Lighthouse Foundation’s Young Women’s Freedom Program. The donation will be used to help build a shelter for the women and girls the Foundation helps.

More than 550 property professionals attended this event, and we were thrilled to see the total fundraising contribution from the day exceed $600,000, for such a worthy cause.

Honouring nurses

On Thursday 5 May I was privileged to speak to close to 500 guests at the MCG, for the annual Epworth HealthCare Men’s Health Lunch.

It was my duty and honour to thank the sponsors and all those who attended to support the day, during which we together raised $230,000 - a record amount for this event. The funds will be used to further the education, development and leadership-training of Epworth nurses and midwives.

The importance of fostering leadership and expertise among a hospital’s nursing staff cannot be underestimated: they are the backbone of every hospital, and Epworth is no different.

Indeed, Epworth has a history of great nurses and midwives. The hospital opened in 1920 with five nurses who were praised in Melbourne for the excellent care they provided. Today Epworth benefits from almost 4000 highly-trained nurses and midwives, who care for more than 190,000 patients a year.

During the lunch we also heard from two of Epworth’s leading clinicians, Associate-Professor Yi Yang, who gave an inspirational presentation on spinal health, and Dr Peter Larkins, who presented on cardiac health and reminded us of the importance of being proactive with our health.

It was a great pleasure to be back at the Epworth Men’s Health Lunch, a regular event in the Melbourne calendar that has been sorely missed during the years of the pandemic.

Cancer research

At GJK we recognise the importance of giving back. Last week at the Facility Management Association of Australia (FMA), GJK was proud to donate $5000 to The Kids'​ Cancer Project, which was recognised by former Australian rugby union player and CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project Australia, Owen Finegan on the night.

The Kids’ Cancer Project is an independent national charity, supporting childhood cancer research for children with all types of cancer. Click the button below if you would like to donate to this great cause.

$2m for healthcare

GJK Facility Services is proud to be one of the many companies that helps raise funds to support Epworth HealthCare. Each year these companies help to raise more than $2 million, and the funds are used to support a range of activities including medical research, staff scholarships and patient care programs.

Epworth HealthCare hosts all supporting companies once a year at Epworth Richmond to thank them for their support. It was my pleasure to represent the EMF Board of trustees at the event this year, with EMF Executive Director Scott Bulger, and Dr Lachlan Henderson Group Chief Executive of Epworth HealthCare.