Our History

Gold Coast Hospital Foundation was established
30 years ago to support patients and their families impacted by serious illness, injury and disability.

1994

April: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation (then known as South Coast Region Health Foundation Fund) is established as a not-for-profit community organisation.

1995

March: A trust fund (separate but ancillary to the Foundation) is established by a Trust Deed, then known as South Coast Region Health Foundation Fund.

2001

Southern Cross Austereo’s Give Me 5 For Kids appeal hits 92.5 Gold FM’s airways for the first time, helping raise essential funds for children’s medical equipment.

2009

Gold Coast Hospital Foundation funds the establishment of a sensory garden at Carrara Health Centre and the refurbishment of the recreation area of the Psychiatric wards at Gold Coast Hospital.
The Foundation provides equipment to the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (then known as Gold Coast Health Service District) including a Foetal Heart Monitor, Vital Signs Monitor, Bronchoscope, Electrocardiograph, Medical Imaging Safe Wheelchair, and more.

2010

Gold Coast Hospital Foundation delivers important equipment to Paediatrics, Neurosurgical, Cardiology, Mental Health, and Endoscopy departments.

2012

Gold Coast Hospital Foundation funds a $48,000 Outdoor Mobility Training area at the Carrara Health Centre.

2013

June: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation unveils its new brand.
September: Gold Coast Health celebrates the grand opening of the new state-of-the-art Gold Coast University Hospital.
November: The Foundation moves into its new home located in the retail space of Gold Coast University Hospital.

2014

April: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation proudly celebrates 20 years of charitable service in the community.
September: Thanks to the generous financial support of Rotary Broadwater Southport, the Foundation purchases three additional bilirubinometers – a hand-held instrument designed to test and instantly diagnose jaundice in newborns at Gold Coast University Hospital.
December: An official Ambassador Program is launched to grow public awareness and support for the Foundation’s work in the local Gold Coast community.

2015

June: Local real estate identity, Pam Bayles, is appointed as official Ambassador to Gold Coast Hospital Foundation in recognition of her support during the last 15 years.
July: The Foundation proudly takes over the funding and administration of the Cancer Patient Transport Service. The incredibly important transport service was originally known as Monique’s Bus and was established in 2009 by former Gold Coast Mayor, the late Ron Clarke, in memory of his daughter.
August: A children’s Music Therapy Program is introduced at Gold Coast University Hospital, made possible thanks to two years of funding from the Foundation with the support of a Commonwealth Bank community grant.
September: The Foundation launches a new family assistance program, now known as the Emergency Accommodation Service, to provide accommodation close to the hospital for families struggling with unexpected medical and financial hardship.
September: A relaxing Youth Oncology Haven is created by the Foundation to improve cancer care for teenagers and young adults aged 15-25 years at Gold Coast University Hospital. The haven was made possible with a generous donation from Emma and Andrew Baxter of Australian Investment Education.
Foundation supporters help fund more than $3 million in medical equipment, health research and staff education.

2016

June: Thanks to a generous donation, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation purchases two cell saver machines, which significantly reduces the amount of donated blood a patient needs during surgery, or eliminates the need to receive any donated blood.
September: The Foundation helps improve a number of family rooms and the glassed-in patient courtyard in the ICU department to transform the spaces into a soothing and relaxing place for families and patients, thanks to very generous funding by the McLaren family.
The Foundation helps more than 180,000 people in the community impacted by accident or illness.

2017

Funding is successfully secured for all 166 items on the children’s equipment and facilities wish list including a GE Giraffe Omni Bed, Laparoscopic neonatal surgical equipment, and a C-MAC Video Laryngoscope.
165 items from the general equipment and facilities wish list is funded for Renal Services, Palliative Care and Mental Health.
More than 400 Gold Coast Health staff benefit from the Foundation’s education workshops and scholarship program.
September: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation’s inaugural Scrub Up September fundraising campaign launches to raise funds for sick kids in hospital.
December: The Foundation announces the official name of its mascot, Betty Get Better.

2018

Gold Coast Hospital Foundation helps more than 95,000 patients in the local community.
The Gold Coast Health and Gold Coast Hospital Foundation Collaborative Research Program launches and nine cutting-edge projects are approved for funding.
The Foundation secures funding for 108 items on the children’s medical equipment wish list including the purchase of 10 specialist Kanmed baby beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
March: The Foundation holds its first Care for Cancer lunch to support local patients affected by cancer.
September: A three-year grant from the Greater Charitable Foundation helps the Foundation fund the expansion of the Child Life Therapy program delivered at Gold Coast University Hospital.

2019

March: The second annual Care for Cancer lunch raises $60,000 to help keep the Cancer Patient Transport Service on the road and purchase state-of-the-art chemotherapy chairs.
April: 2019 marks 25 years of service in the community.
The Emergency Accommodation Service provides a record 610 nights of emergency accommodation assistance to patients’ families, increasing its impact by 30%.

2024

April: Gold Coast Hospital Foundation celebrates 30-years of supporting health services for the local community
May: Giving Day on May 15 achieves it’s biggest ever result, raising over $233,000