In 2025, the Collaborative delivered its fourth annual grant round, awarding $1.94 million to support 71 new projects in the Canberra region. Of these, the John James Foundation directly funded 25 local grants that aim to improve access to health services in community settings, deliver enhanced support in existing health settings, and provide healthcare infrastructure or equipment.

Introduction of Camp Quality’s Child Life Therapy Service at Canberra Hospital

This vital program provides children facing cancer with specialist therapeutic support to reduce fear, anxiety, and distress during medical treatment. Through play, age-appropriate education, and distraction techniques, Child Life Therapists help young patients feel safe and empowered, while also supporting their families.

We are proud to help bring this service to Canberra, ensuring that children undergoing cancer treatment, and their families, can now access the same compassionate, expert care locally that is already making a difference in other hospitals across Australia.

Through a multi-year establishment grant, we are supporting the introduction of Street Side Medics’ proven model of compassionate, trauma-informed care to the Canberra region. Operating from fully equipped vans and staffed by volunteer GPs, nurses, and allied health professionals, the service removes the barriers that often prevent people experiencing homelessness from accessing essential healthcare.

Recruitment will begin in early 2026 for a team of 30 medical volunteers from the Canberra community, laying the groundwork for a mobile clinic to commence operations in mid-2026. Importantly, the initiative will collaborate with existing charitable health services to ensure continuity of care, community trust, and better outcomes for vulnerable Canberrans.

The Foundation is proud to help bring this powerful model to the ACT, where collaboration and strong community partnerships are essential to delivering effective care.

In September 2025, the Foundation signed a funding agreement to support a much-needed healthcare infrastructure project in Indonesia, the Muder Ignacia Hospital, a milestone in bringing a long-held vision to fruition.

This project has been the Foundation’s charity of choice since 2022, driven by the passion, generosity and leadership of Member Dr David O’Rourke, whose tireless advocacy has engaged patients, colleagues, and the broader community in fundraising and support. With over $1.5 million raised construction is set to begin, underpinned by milestone-based oversight and compliance with ACNC standards.

Scheduled for completion within 9–12 months, the project will deliver sustainable, high-quality healthcare facilities to some of the poorest communities in the world, reflecting the impact that committed Members can achieve in partnership with the Foundation.

Tony Ayers Award

The 2024 Tony Ayers Award was awarded to Associate Professor Aparna Lal, researcher at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. Lal’s innovative research identifies the unequal impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on populations, and how community health and wellbeing can be improved by policies that promote environmental restoration and mitigate climate change.

We are proud to sponsor the award in memory of Tony Ayers and his significant contribution to the legacy of the Foundation.

End-of-Year Community Gathering and Launch of Impact Measurement Toolkit

On 2 December 2024, the Foundation hosted an end-of-year celebration at Howling Moon, bringing together over 70 representatives from across the community sector to reflect on the year’s achievements and connect with peers. The event marked the launch of the Theory of Change and the Outcomes Measurement Toolkit, a sector-leading resource developed by the Canberra Foundations Collaborative (CFC) to support meaningful impact measurement. The Toolkit, created with guidance from Clear Horizon, demonstrates the power of three major funders working together to go beyond financial support, helping grant recipients build organisational capacity, measure outcomes consistently, and tell their stories in a way that drives learning and continuous improvement. Recipients of the 2025 grant round will use the Toolkit to collect and report one story of change through the Most Significant Change approach, ensuring their work’s impact is captured and celebrated. The gathering provided an opportunity to recognise the strength of collaboration, celebrate sector achievements, and introduce this innovative resource that sets a new benchmark for supporting and empowering community organisations.

Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards

In 2025, the Foundation proudly supported the Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards for the third consecutive year. The Awards celebrate the achievements of people with disability who are leaders in their communities, as well as the businesses, organisations, and individuals demonstrating outstanding commitment to creating inclusive workplaces, services, and communities. Through this multi-year partnership, the Foundation has been proud to champion inclusion, recognise excellence, and highlight the transformative impact of accessibility and participation for people with disability across Canberra.