Good Friday Appeal funds flow home

TORQUAY’s fundraising efforts have been recognised as part of the Good Friday Appeal’s regional thank-you tour, with the town’s support helping deliver new equipment and training across the Barwon South West.

The Good Friday Appeal team visited The Sands Torquay last week to outline how local fundraising is being invested in world-class paediatric care closer to home.

The 2026 Good Friday Appeal raised a record $25.3 million, marking the appeal’s 95th year of supporting The Royal Children’s Hospital.

The Barwon South West received $600,000 from this year’s regional funding program, which will help fund essential equipment for newborn and infant care, including a modern ventilator to support local stabilisation and reduce hospital transfers at Barwon Health.

The investment will also fund roof-mounted pendants in high-acuity areas at Barwon Women’s and Children’s, specialised equipment for paediatric sleep studies and nursing scholarships, neonatal resuscitation education and trauma-informed care training.

Good Friday Appeal executive director Rebecca Cowan said the visit highlighted the direct impact regional fundraising had on local healthcare.

“We are incredibly proud that $3 million is supporting over 30 health services across regional Victoria, including $600,000 dedicated to the Barwon South West region,” Cowan said.

“Thanks to Torquay’s fantastic contribution of $85,946, local families can continue to access world-class healthcare closer to home.”