Supporting health innovation in Melbourne’s west

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Plenary is throwing its support behind innovative ideas that improve health outcomes across western Melbourne.

The $10,000 Plenary Health Innovation Grant is part of Plenary Health’s five-year partnership with Western Health Foundation aligning with the delivery of the New Footscray Hospital Project.

The inaugural grant was awarded to Clinical Nurse Consultant Jessica Hughes, with her initiative to increase access to gold-standard infant feeding support during their breastfeeding journey.

The grant will enable professional development opportunities including supporting seven staff to gain their International Board Certified Lactation Consultant qualification.

Western Health Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Adjunct Professor Shane Crowe said the grant would make a significant difference to women and their babies having additional midwives formally educated as lactation consultants.

“Evidence shows that supporting women to optimise breast feeding has both short and long-term health benefits for their babies,” Mr Crowe said.

“This generous grant from Plenary will support a healthier future for the west.”

New Footscray Hospital Project Chair Kelvyn Lavelle said Plenary Health was thrilled to be able to support innovation among Western Health staff.

“We’re proud to support this grant and want to congratulate Jessica on her continued work in this space which will provide much needed support for families in the west, increasing access to gold standard infant feeding care,” Mr Lavelle said.

Plenary Health’s overall partnership with Western Health via the Western Health Foundation is worth more than $300,000 over five years and is supporting post graduate nursing scholarships in key clinical services, staff research grants, events and other in-kind support.

The new Footscray Hospital, currently under construction on the corner of Ballarat and Geelong roads, is 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.