Opened in 2016 in partnership with the Leukaemia Foundation Australia (LFA), John James Village has become one of Canberra’s most valued respite accommodation facilities, supporting patients, families and carers from across the ACT and surrounding regions who must travel to Canberra for specialist cancer treatment.

Over the past decade, the Village has provided more than 27,692 bed nights of accommodation, supporting over 400 patients undergoing treatment at nearby Canberra Hospital. With an average stay of 65 days, the Village offers far more than a place to sleep. Its thoughtfully designed accommodation, sensory gardens, recreation facilities and gym provide a welcoming home away from home, offering families comfort, connection and a sense of normality during an otherwise challenging time.

The Village also plays an important role in strengthening Canberra’s broader community health sector. Its centrally located Recreation Building continues to serve as a valuable shared community asset, with more than 25 not-for-profit organisations utilising the facility over the past year for meetings, programs and community engagement.

A highlight of the anniversary celebrations was a special event hosted in March 2026 by the Leukaemia Foundation in partnership with Tour de Cure. The event incorporated a dedicated Team Leukaemia Foundation ride as part of the Tour de Cure Signature Tour, bringing together patients, families, supporters and sponsors. The celebrations attracted national attention through a live broadcast from John James Village on Channel 7’s Sunrise, featuring Mark Beretta OAM, and concluded with an afternoon tea recognising the people and partnerships behind the Village’s success.

The enduring partnership between the John James Foundation and the Leukaemia Foundation demonstrates the lasting value of investing in community health infrastructure and enabling specialist organisations to deliver compassionate care.

Ten years on, the true legacy of John James Village is measured not simply in nights of accommodation, but in the reassurance, dignity and hope it has provided to hundreds of families when they have needed it most. It remains a powerful example of how purposeful philanthropy and enduring partnerships can transform lives and strengthen our community for generations to come.

In March, the sudden voluntary administration of the AEIOU Foundation resulted in the immediate closure of the Centre, leaving more than 25 Canberra families and young children with severe autism
without access to essential specialist education, early intervention and developmental support.

Recognising the profound impact on these vulnerable children and their families, the Foundation’s Board resolved to find a pathway to reopen the Centre and restore these vital services to the Canberra community. Following a comprehensive assessment of potential community partners, the Foundation identified Communities at Work (C@W) as an organisation with the values, capability and commitment to deliver specialist services and work towards a sustainable long-term operating model.

Through this partnership, the Garran Early Learning Intervention Centre (ELIC) proudly reopened its doors in September 2026.

With the Foundation’s catalytic financial support, C@W is delivering a pilot program designed to establish an effective and sustainable model of care, while navigating the evolving policy landscape and anticipated transition of eligible children from the NDIS to the ACT Government’s Thriving Kids program in 2027.

While significant challenges remain, the reopening represents far more than the restoration of a service. It demonstrates the power of collaboration, decisive leadership and a shared commitment to ensuring children with autism and their families have access to the specialist support they deserve.

We are reminded that we should never waste a crisis. What began as a devastating setback has become an opportunity to reimagine, rebuild and strengthen specialist autism services in Canberra, creating the foundations for a more sustainable and inclusive future for the children and families who need them most.

The final piece in the John James Village Healthcare Precinct is set to become one of the Foundation’s most significant infrastructure legacies: a purpose-built respite accommodation facility in Garran, developed in partnership with Palliative Care ACT (PCACT).

The journey to securing planning approval has been lengthy and complex, yet the Foundation’s Board and management have remained steadfast in their commitment to realising the vision for the Precinct. This final development will complete a remarkable community health precinct, providing enduring infrastructure that enables our not-for-profit partners to deliver essential health and wellbeing services to the Canberra community.

In partnership with PCACT, the Foundation will design and construct a bespoke $5 million respite facility, enabling PCACT to significantly expand its support for people living with life-limiting illnesses and the families and carers who support them.

The six-bedroom facility, each with a private ensuite, will provide a welcoming, non-clinical environment supported by 24-hour onsite carers. Rather than providing acute or end-of-life clinical care, the facility will offer a compassionate home away from home, providing much-needed respite, comfort and support for patients and their carers.

The ACT Government has committed to supporting the facility’s ongoing operational costs, following an extensive model-of-care assessment undertaken by the University of New South Wales. This model considers the broader Commonwealth funding framework for community-based palliative care, while seeking to alleviate pressure on the public hospital system by providing an appropriate alternative to non-acute hospital accommodation.

Construction is expected to commence in early 2027, with the 12-month building program scheduled for completion in February 2028.

For the Foundation, this project represents more than the completion of a building. It is the culmination of a long-held vision to create a lasting community asset, where thoughtful philanthropy, strong partnerships and compassionate care come together to improve lives for generations to come.

Recognising a critical gap in access to primary healthcare for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage, the Foundation committed $600,000 over three years to support the establishment and growth of Street Side Medics in the ACT. This strategic investment reflects the Foundation’s evolving philanthropic approach: moving beyond traditional grant giving to catalytic investment that enables proven, innovative models of care to enter new communities, build local partnerships and establish sustainable services.

Street Side Medics delivers free, GP-led healthcare through a fully equipped mobile medical clinic, supported by volunteer medical professionals. By bringing healthcare directly to people who face significant barriers to accessing traditional medical services, the initiative provides essential treatment, early intervention and pathways to ongoing care.

Officially launched on 11 August 2026, with its first clinic operating in Civic, Street Side Medics has established a presence in Canberra through collaboration with local health and community organisations. These partnerships are central to the model, connecting vulnerable patients with existing services, strengthening continuity of care and building a more coordinated community health response.

The Foundation’s investment is deliberately focused on enabling long-term impact rather than simply funding immediate service delivery. By providing establishment capital, supporting organisational capability and encouraging local collaboration, the Foundation is helping create the conditions for Street Side Medics to become an enduring part of Canberra’s community health landscape.

This partnership exemplifies the Foundation’s commitment to catalytic investing: using our resources to unlock opportunity, bring proven solutions to our community and create lasting change well beyond the initial investment.