The Alfred Foundation

The Alfred public hospital was founded 150 years ago to serve the people of Victoria. It has one of Australia’s busiest emergency and trauma centres, the state’s largest Intensive Care Unit and is home to multiple state-wide services, such as Victoria’s only heart and lung transplant service, the Victorian Adult Burns Service and the Victorian Melanoma Service. Patients come to The Alfred for speciality services like comprehensive cancer care, respiratory medicine, cardiology and cardiovascular services and in patient and community psychiatry care.

The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) program has been running at The Alfred since 2009.

PARTY ON is a dynamic and interactive injury awareness and health promotion program aimed at young people which uses clinical reality to show participants the consequences that can occur when engaging in risk-taking behaviour. PARTY ON aims to provide participants with information that will enable them to recognise potential injury-producing situations, make prevention-oriented choices, and adopt behaviours that minimise unnecessary risk.  Participants engage with emergency service professionals; paramedics, doctors, nurses and allied health practitioners, as well as people who have experienced trauma and survived – often with significant disabilities. The Highland Foundation’s partnership enables delivery of the program to the youth of Victoria.

Cabrini Foundation

The Cabrini Foundation actively pursues philanthropic gifts for new programs, lifesaving equipment and technology and capital funding for major building and redevelopment projects. It also seeks funding for clinical and transnational research initiatives and clinical education including scholarships for the development of the next generation of healthcare workers. The Highland Foundation support is directed to the Let’s Beat Bowel Cancer initiative dedicated to saving lives through improved bowel cancer research, education and prevention.    

Camp Quality

Camp Quality brings positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer. Our programs and services, delivered free and nationwide, help families build optimism and resilience through community, education and fun. We are there for kids (0-15) dealing with their own cancer diagnosis, or the diagnosis of a sibling, parent, or carer, every step of the way. We’re proud to have improved the quality of life for kids impacted by cancer, and their families, for almost 40 years. The Highland Foundation supports one of Camp Quality’s most critical programs – Child Life Therapy. Child Life Therapists help children with cancer to cope during intensive hospital-based treatments. Utilising play and relaxation techniques, they help children to understand what is happening to them and why. As a result, doctors and nurses can more easily administer the treatment that may save the child’s life. Camp Quality’s vision is to fund Child Life Therapy roles at every specialist children’s cancer hospital in Australia.

Children’s Cancer Foundation

The Children’s Cancer Foundation is a dedicated team working with like-minded individuals and organisations to fund world-class clinical research and clinical care, and quality family support programs.  The Foundation was founded in 1992 by parents who envisioned more welcoming and spirited treatment environments for children, and practical support for families in this disease that ultimately affects them for life.

Supporting their mission “to see the day when children’s cancer is gone”, The Highland Foundation proudly supports the Foundation’s premier annual fundraising event, The Million Dollar Lunch. The ongoing work of the Foundation is dependent on the success of this unique and highly successful event, which has raised more than $22.5 million since 2005.

Entertainment Assist

Entertainment Assist is a national health promotion charity that supports the mental health and wellbeing of the Australian entertainment industry through research, awareness and education. Entertainment Assist works hard to help the artists and crew behind the scenes to better manage their mental health, through the INTERMISSION wellbeing program. The program aims to improve mental health literacy in the industry by encouraging open conversations about mental ill-health in the workplace and identifying proactive support pathways and resources. Entertainment Assist is committed to reducing the shockingly high rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, isolation and other matters associated with working in the Australian entertainment industry.

Entertainment Assist is for everyone working in the Australian performing arts and entertainment industry including performers, support workers, crew and technicians. By encouraging open conversations in workplaces from concert halls to rehearsal studios and construction workshops, Entertainment Assist supports a resilient industry culture through peer-to-peer, support, education and research.

Entertainment Assist champions change, drawing on research, education and training initiatives, identification of appropriate resources and promotion of appropriate mental health practices in performing arts and entertainment industry workplaces.  We aim to communicate these resources as widely as possible by working collaboratively with entertainment industry colleagues including our peers, industry associations, membership organisations, individual employers and expert bodies.

Larger Than Life

Late in 2022, we lost our generous, kind and loving Dad to Sarcoma. Dave’s life cannot be measured in years but instead by his impact, through the memories, stories and experiences he shared with so many. He was ‘Larger Than Life’ in every way and in his memory, the Hynes family and friends have setup the Larger Than Life Fund to support research and medical projects related to Sarcoma treatment.
Our first project will be partnering with the St Vincent’s Hospital to subsidise custom-fit implants to replace diseased bone for patients affected by Sarcoma. The 3D printing technology is being used to save limbs and joints, leading to significantly greater quality of life outcomes for patients impacted. Unfortunately, this technology does not come cheap, so it’s our mission to increase the accessibility for those who may otherwise be unable to receive this life changing surgery.

Les Twentyman Foundation

The Les Twentyman Foundation is dedicated to helping and supporting ‘at-risk’ youth to create a brighter future. The programs work with young people of all ages, helping them to get back on their feet and re-connect with their families, their education and the community. Working across Greater Melbourne, the dedicated team supports hundreds of kids aged between five and 25, who face stresses that include poverty, mental health issues, unemployment, racism, addiction, domestic violence and crime. The work focuses on keeping children and young people engaged with their education, their family and their community, building hope and ensuring they do not end up homeless, living on the streets or part of the youth justice system. Founded by youth worker Les Twentyman OAM the foundation has been working in this area for over thirty years. We know that keeping kids connected and engaged with their education, is key to helping young people create a brighter future. The CLUB20 network is a group of businesses committed to providing opportunities and support to at-risk young people.

National Jockeys’ Trust

As a passionate and longtime follower of horse racing Rick and now the extended family have been supporters of the National Jockeys’ Trust for some time. The NJT is a non-profit charitable organisation whose goal is to provide funds and other benefits to injured jockeys. llness or death can create serious financial hardship for jockeys and their families as they struggle to cope with trauma, medical bills and loss of income - especially when accident insurance has failed to provide support. The NJT aims to relieve them of their financial difficulties and help them experience stability during these times of crisis.

The One Box

Every Australian family should be able to access fresh and nutritious produce. The One Box aims to address a real need within communities, where many families struggle to afford to put enough good food on the table. The program provides a weekly box of fresh produce and staples to families experiencing hardship and adversity across Australia. It is regular, reliable and dignified access to fresh food, to those that need it most.

Pancare

Each year over 11,000 Australians are diagnosed with an upper GI cancer, and more than 8,000 Australians die. These 'silent' cancers have been in the too-hard basket for decades. Early detection is complex and difficult, so treatment options are limited. Upper GI cancers are extremely aggressive, sadly most people die – and the voices of future advocates are rare. Pancare Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation founded in 2011 by renowned Melbourne surgeon Dr. Mehrdad Nikfarjam. A leading voice for those affected by pancreatic and upper GI cancers, Pancare works to save and improve lives through education and awareness, research and specialised patient support. Since 2016, the foundation has proudly supported Pancare’s critical work. This support has been a significant contributor to the growth of our critical Research and Patient Support Programs and has enabled greater investment in world class research aimed at improving survival rates, and the expansion and digitisation of Pancare’s unique patient services program.

Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club

Members of the family were cornerstone donors to the Portsea Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse rebuild. Since it was established in 1949 no lives have been lost at Portsea Back Beach whilst a patrol has been on duty and over 5000 lives have been saved.
PSLSC is an environment in which young people can grow, mature, overcome their fears, undertake volunteer work and ultimately become leaders of the broader community. The 550 children who participate in the Nipper program and almost
200 members who gain their Surf Rescue Certificates and Bronze and Silver Medallions become these community leaders.

Reach Foundation

For over 26 years, the Reach Foundation has been supporting young Australians to build confidence, empathy and resilience through youth-led, transformative group workshops delivered in schools and communities across the country. Reach workshops are designed and delivered by young members of the Reach Crew to empower every young person, no matter their circumstances, to reach their potential and thrive. Since our partnership commenced in 2007, the foundation's support has positively impacted the lives of over 100,000 children aged between 10 and 12 years old through Reach’s primary school workshops and weekend camp experiences.

Second Bite

Founded in 2005, SecondBite has grown into a leading national food rescue organisation. SecondBite works with a range of suppliers to rescue surplus fresh food and redistribute it to over 1300 local charities and non-profits around Australia free of charge. These groups run food programs supporting people in need. SecondBite is the most efficient food rescue organisation in the country with every dollar donated providing the equivalent of 5 meals. Last financial year SecondBite rescued over 26 million kgs of food and provided food for over 52 million meals.

Their mission is to end food waste and food insecurity in Australia.

This partnership has enabled the provision of an additional 500,000 meals each year to people who need a helping hand. The partnership has also played an integral role in SecondBite continuing to increase our impact and reach by allowing us to explore and achieve greater efficiency within our supply network. This means more people are getting more food in more places.

The Torch

The Torch is a First Nations-led cultural arts organisation delivering the Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community program across Victoria. Designed with Elders and First Nations people in prisons,
it centres the role of culture and cultural identity in supporting First Nations people impacted by incarceration find new pathways beyond the criminal justice system.
The program has three key elements:

1. Ensuring First Nations people incarcerated across Victoria can continue to connect to culture and strengthen their cultural identity.

2. Supporting participants to develop their arts practices and tell their stories, in their own voices, in their own styles.

3. Securing life-changing financial self-determination through sales, exhibitions and licensing of participants’ artworks. 100% of the artwork price goes directly to the artist, Torch does not take commissions.

First Nations people can sign up to the program in any of the 15 Victorian prisons, whether on remand or sentenced, and remain engaged post release, a unique and vital feature of the program. The program was designed to be flexible and responsive to individual needs, once signed up in prison, participants can engage and reengage as they wish.
Participants confirm that being part of The Torch has helped them stay out of the justice system.
A 2019 evaluation found that participants who stayed connected with the Torch for a year after release only 11% returned to prison compared to the average Indigenous recidivism rate of 53%.
The Torch’s approach shows how First Nations-led and delivered solutions to ongoing issues caused by systemic over-incarceration are successful.

University of Dundee

The Joan Markie & Richard Smith Scholarships Fund was established in 2015.  Its purpose is to fund two scholarships annually at the University of Dundee designed to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully complete undergraduate courses. One of the scholarships is specifically for a current or former pupil of Harris Academy in Dundee where Rick attended for a short while but was obliged to leave due to financial constraints on his family. A second scholarship is available to a current or former pupil from one of the secondary schools in the City of Dundee applying to the University of Dundee. The family places great value on lifelong learning through education, experiences and provision of opportunity.

Very Special Kids

Very Special Kids cares for children with life-limiting conditions by providing pediatric palliative care at Victoria’s only children’s hospice, including professional family support services for the whole family.

Approximately 850 families across Victoria who have a child with a life-limiting condition receive ongoing support from diagnosis through to recovery or bereavement. Sadly, many of the children we care for will not reach adulthood.

The family support services include counselling, advocacy, sibling support, bereavement support, networking and peer activities, trained family volunteers and specialist care at the Very Special Kids Hospice.

Established in 1985 by Sister Margaret Noone, Very Special Kids Hospice is the only children’s hospice in Victoria offering families access to planned and emergency respite, as well as end-of-life care. 

Youth Activating Youth

Founded by community leaders Ali Ahmed and Ahmed Hassan, Youth Activating Youth (YAY) is changing the narrative for disadvantaged multicultural youth in Victoria.

YAY bridges the gap by providing tailored programs that are youth-focused and culturally appropriate. YAY services include education, employment, health & well-being, leadership and youth rehabilitation.

Corporate partnerships are vital. Since 2015,  over 10,000 young people have come through YAY programs, building up each young person to have the confidence, resilience and opportunities to thrive. Over 300 young people have been placed directly into employment by YAY.

Highland Foundation’s partnership means YAY can accelerate the pressing need of a ‘one-stop-shop’ of intensive, culturally appropriate, personalised support at and between the places disadvantaged young people find themselves. With the wonderful support of the Highland Foundation, many more young people will receive place-based support and are more likely to gain secure and meaningful employment.