This year, the Foundation awarded more than $2.2 million in grants and scholarships, supporting programs that touch lives across Canberra, the broader region, and internationally. Through our participation in the Canberra Foundations Collaborative, we contributed to 25 local projects improving health access and outcomes. Major grants extended our support for AEIOU Canberra, John James Village, and Street Side Medics—initiatives that transform care for children with autism, families facing cancer, and people experiencing homelessness. Our scholarship and research partnerships, including Indigenous and humanitarian medical scholarships and the Tony Ayers Award, continue to foster the next generation of medical professionals and thought leaders.

Equally important has been the role of our Members. In 2025, Members volunteered their skills in communities as diverse as the Solomon Islands, Malawi, and Honiara, providing surgeries, training, and mentoring. Their generosity exemplifies the Foundation’s spirit—turning professional expertise into lasting improvements in health outcomes where they are most needed. Locally, our Members also gathered for retreats, dinners, and events that reinforce our collegiality and shared sense of purpose.

Our infrastructure commitments also advanced meaningfully. John James Village remained a lifeline for families navigating blood cancer, with occupancy well above national averages. At AEIOU Canberra, more than 45 children accessed life-changing early intervention services, while Palliative Care ACT edged closer to realising a purpose-built respite facility at Garran. Internationally, we were proud to help bring the long-envisioned Muder Ignacia Hospital project in West Timor closer to reality—a testament to the passion and leadership of our Members.

As we look forward, the Foundation’s strong financial base, debt-free position, and committed membership give us the confidence to expand our reach and deepen our impact. We remain steadfast in our mission to strengthen community health, support innovation, and create opportunities for our Members to contribute meaningfully.

On behalf of the Board, I extend sincere thanks to our Members, Board, staff, and supporters whose commitment and passion makes this work possible. Together, we are ensuring that the Foundation not only endures but continues to thrive as a cornerstone of health and community service in Canberra and beyond.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Tim Makeham

In 2025, we provided $2.2 million in giving across 71 projects and initiatives. This included $651,250 through the Canberra Foundations Collaborative, supporting grassroots organisations improving community health; $1.44 million in major grants, including vital support for AEIOU Canberra, John James Village, and Street Side Medics; and $112,061 in scholarships and research, advancing Indigenous and humanitarian medical training and supporting the Tony Ayers Award for excellence in public health research. Importantly, our investments in property and tradeable instruments performed above expectations, and with all debt repaid, we are now debt-free and strengthening our ability to plan the future with confidence.

Our Members made an extraordinary contribution this year. With the financial support of our volunteering grants they delivered over 80 complex surgeries in the Solomon Islands, supported oncology and gynaecology capacity building in Honiara, and trained biomedical engineers in Malawi, displaying our Members vocational commitment to improving health outcomes.

These achievements are only possible through the dedication of many. I wish to acknowledge our Board for their leadership, support, and strategic direction; our Members for their professional expertise and generosity of spirit; and our staff for their tireless commitment to ensuring the Foundation’s work is delivered with integrity, efficiency, and impact. Each has played a crucial role in ensuring we remain one of Canberra’s most significant philanthropic organisations.

Looking ahead, we will continue to invest wisely, give strategically, and measure our impact with rigour. By doing so, we will ensure that every dollar entrusted to the Foundation delivers tangible improvements in the lives of those we serve. I am honoured to lead the Foundation on behalf of the Board, and with so many exciting initiatives before us, I look forward to sharing the journey ahead with you all.

Mr Joe Roff