New partners consolidate relationships
The last few months have seen four new foundation partners join the fold.
Tour of hospital with Deputy PM
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and MJF patron Richard Marles was in Vanuatu last week and stopped off at Vila Central Hospital for a short tour, accompanied by our Health Projects Manager Dr. Ashlee Jewson.
EOFY campaign’s sustainable success
More donors than ever took us almost 20% over our EOFY24 target, giving us the means to donate life saving equipment to Vanuatu. Tank yu tumas!
EOFY24: Saving Lives Sustainably!
With your help, the next time VCH staff reach for a defibrillator in an emergency we can make sure the battery is charged and it all works as it should!
Numeracy kits distributed far and wide
26 brand-new numeracy kits donated by MJF recently found homes in schools throughout Vanuatu, as part of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Education & Training’s gradual replacement of cyclone destroyed resources.
Getting dirty for a good cause
Senior students from St John’s Lutheran School, Portland once again donated $2,000 after collecting, bagging and selling sheep manure from under a shearing shed near Portland.
From one nation’s capital to another’s
Refurbished syringe drivers recently serviced and donated by Canberra Hospital are on their way to Port Vila, thanks to a generous spirit, a bit of foresight and a bottle of fruit juice!
Professional development for Vanuatu health workers
In an exciting and new kind of project for the foundation, last year we supported the professional development of two Ni-Vanuatu health workers by sponsoring their attendance at a two week long course in Melbourne.
Hearts and gardens full to bursting
Our major fundraiser Open Gardens Open Hearts welcomed over 400 guests to four beautiful gardens in Bannockburn, raising a whopping $12,536.
Open Gardens Open Hearts 2023
The Melanie Jewson Foundation is proud to present Open Gardens Open Hearts on Saturday 4th November 2023.
Strong working relationships at VCH
We have formed an excellent working partnership with the Medical and Paediatric departments over the years, enabling us to reliably provide equipment otherwise impossible to access.
“TANK YU TUMAS!”
June saw the long-awaited delivery of our 50 emergency nursing packs, or ‘Rapid Assessment Kits’ as they were dubbed by staff at the Vila Central Hospital.
“We are already using everything”
According to VCH’s Head of Medical Department Dr. Sereana Natuman, every item in the MJF’s recent crate delivery has already been used at least once, from the nasal cannulas to the defibrillator.
ED Nursing Packs on their way
50 emergency nurses will now have access to these affordable emergency essentials packs, streamlining the care of deteriorating patients and allowing for timely life-saving treatment.
Emergency Essentials: exceptional response
Raising a staggering $15,165, our end-of-financial-year campaign exceeded its target by 68%.
Emergency essentials for nurses
Equipping local emergency nurses with a critical nursing pack is at the core of this year’s end-of-financial year campaign.
“You are saving lives in Vanuatu”
The equipment we sent in our last crate shipment is “already unpacked and ready for use in our ward,” according to Dr. Sereana Natuman, Head of Medical Department at VCH.
Infusion Pumps Essential to Effective Care
We have been really busy recently organising our next crate of medical supplies. At Vila Central Hospital, these supplies are desperately needed.
Vanuatu Doctor Strides Forward Despite Challenges
Dr. Sereana Natuman shares some of the daily challenges she faces working as a doctor at Vila Central Hospital.
Startling Statistics Fuel Our Passion
A child born in Vanuatu is more than seven times more likely to die before they reach school than one born in Australia.
Establishing Quality Reading Programs
Vila East School staff are busy sorting through the reading resources donated by the MJF and placing them into the school for student use.
Gary Visits Vila East Primary School
Delivery of early reading books and development of a new MOU.
Books for Vila East Primary School
Culturally appropriate readers for children in the early years of schooling delivered to Vila East School.
EOFY23: Learning for Life!
Your support of this year’s EOFY campaign will enable students in cyclone-damaged communities to continue their education with high-quality learning resources.
Celebrating 10 Years of Impact: an afternoon to remember
In October the foundation celebrated 10 years of impact with with over 180 of you able to come out and enjoy the afternoon with us.
Sparkling new website leads design recharge
mjf.org.au launched in September 2022 with tickets going on sale that day for our 10 Years of Impact celebration and fundraising event. We also now have new full colour trifold brochures, serving as an introductory resource to the MJF.
DGR status achieved
We are pleased to announce that the Melanie Jewson Foundation is now registered as a recognised charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission as a Public Benevolent Institution and has been granted DGR status.
A Difficult Year Brings Great Progress
This year our foundation turns 10. You — our amazing supporters — are the beating heart of this organisation and we’re so appreciative of everything you’ve made possible over the last decade.
Continual Challenges of COVID
The pandemic has prevented us from operating as we normally might and it’s only been relatively recently that we’ve actually been able to get last year’s donated items to Port Vila.
EOFY21: Let Me Learn!
As the end of financial year approaches, you can reduce your taxable income, and at the same time make a lasting difference to those in need.
COVAX soon to be rolled out
WHO’s COVAX scheme, designed to aid global equitable access to the coronavirus vaccines, is helping end the acute phase of the pandemic. Vanuatu has plans to vaccinate 20% of its population through COVAX in the coming months as part of the first phase of its rollout.
Primary students’ fundraising effort
We are so impressed with and deeply grateful to the students of St John’s for their participation in this event to help raise money for Vila Central Hospital.
Vanuatu stays on top of COVID
Vanuatu’s strict quarantine measures have done their job, and we continue to work hard behind the scenes readying the foundation for some big upcoming announcements.