2026 Funding Update

For 2026, the following will be funded in the Barwon South West region:

Essential Equipment for Newborn and Infant Care – new neonatal equipment, including a modern ventilator, will strengthen the ability of Barwon South West health services to care for the sickest babies. This equipment will support stabilisation and treatment locally, reduce the need for transfers where possible, and improve outcomes for newborns. 

Strengthening Care at Barwon Women’s and Children’s – new specialist equipment will ensure babies and children can receive high-quality care, including roof-mounted pendants in high-acuity areas to improve safety and efficiency, as well as equipment to support paediatric sleep studies.

Building Skills and Capacity Across Barwon South West – investment in education, training and workforce development will help health services across the region respond to the changing needs of children and young people. This includes nursing scholarships, neonatal resuscitation education, and trauma-informed care training. 

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Building on the funding from 2025

Barwon Health is the largest service in the Barwon Southwest region, providing tertiary medical care and a comprehensive range of offerings to the community. In 2025 hospital was been able to fund training programs and life-saving equipment, helping advance paediatric healthcare in the area.

• Education, training, upskilling and capacity building – Funding from the Good Friday Appeal supports education programs, scholarships and specialist training so healthcare staff across the Barwon South West region can continue building their paediatric skills. This investment helps ensure children and young people receive high-quality, person-centred care closer to home.
• Equipment to enhance service provision closer to home – New paediatric equipment will help hospitals and urgent care centres across the region provide safer, faster and more specialised care locally. This reduces the need for families to travel long distances and allows more children to be treated within their own community.
• Improving care and service provision – A dedicated service improvement role will support health services to work more closely together and strengthen care pathways for children and families. This helps deliver more coordinated, evidence-based care and improves access to services across the entire region.

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Building on the funding from 2024

Barwon Health is the largest service in the Barwon Southwest region, providing tertiary medical care and a comprehensive range of offerings to the community. Thanks to the Good Friday Appeal, the hospital has been able to fund training programs and life-saving equipment, helping advance paediatric healthcare in the area.  

• Support for eating disorders – Responding to a surge in eating disorders and mental health admissions, which has continued since COVID-19, training will further develop the skills of paediatric nursing staff. It has also supported refurbishments in the hospital’s Children’s Ward to enable group activities for eating disorder patients and nurses have been able to enroll in postgraduate study, short courses, and attend conferences.
• Neonatal resuscitation – Purchase of mannequins and training licenses in relation to neonatal resuscitation, which has expanded their capacity to deliver essential training programs and provide excellent care. Not only has this made a difference for staff in Geelong, but it has also helped to upskill teams across the region, including in Warrnambool and Colac.
• Scholarships and training: Provided the hospital’s clinical staff access to scholarships and short courses, supporting point of care ultrasound training, empowering staff to help improve patient experience and reduce their exposure to radiation.

“Thanks to our partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Barwon Health has enhanced the care we provide to children and their families, ensuring our Barwon South West community has access to local treatment and care,”

Francer Diver, Barwon Health Chief Executive.