Partnering to support nurses and research in Melbourne’s west

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Plenary Health has partnered with Western Health Foundation to increase opportunities for clinical staff through ICU nursing scholarships and important health research programs.

The partnership is worth more than $300,000 over five years and aligns with Plenary Heath’s delivery of the New Footscray Hospital Project.

It includes more than $100,000 towards post graduate nursing scholarships in key clinical services, research awards for Western Health staff and additional support for events and other in-kind activities.

This year will see three post-graduate ICU scholarship recipients announced and a named ‘Plenary Health’ award to be given to a researcher at the annual Western Health Research and Best Care Week in October.

The partnership will support Western Health Foundation’s major annual fundraising events including the Charity Golf Day, which this year raised more than $90,000 for cancer services, the WalkWest fundraising event and help provide support for Western Health’s staff engagement events.

Western Health Chief Executive Adj. Prof Russell Harrison said the foundation was thrilled to be announcing this partnership with Plenary Health.

“Western Health has already developed a fantastic relationship with Plenary Health as we work together towards the opening of the new Footscray Hospital in 2025, which will be an incredible new facility for Melbourne’s west,” Mr Harrison said.

“This new partnership demonstrates the strength of Plenary Health’s commitment to the communities Western Health serve – as well as the dedicated Western Health staff that make it all possible.”

Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital Project Chair Kelvyn Lavelle said Plenary Health was honoured to partner with Western Health Foundation and support its important work.

“It is a pleasure to be able to support Western Health Foundation and its significant efforts in raising vital funds for patients and the community,” Mr Lavelle said.

“Our involvement in delivering the New Footscray Hospital Project includes our commitment to supporting the western suburbs community more broadly and the work of organisations like Western Health.

“With ICU being a huge growth area, this partnership will support nurses by providing them with more opportunities through funded scholarships, assist with important health research, and events fundraising support to deliver better health outcomes for the west.”

Western Health Foundation is the fundraising entity of Western Health, which provides healthcare services to more than one million people across Melbourne’s west.

Western Health Foundation raises funds for the purchase of equipment and certain facilities, funds medical research, provides scholarships for staff and helps deliver patient support for those in need.

Work on the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital Project is currently underway.

Set to open in 2025, it is being delivered by the Plenary Health consortium in partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health.