Friends of the CBC Auxiliary

Main funding purpose: the Children’s Bioethics Centre (CBC)

The story so far

The Friends of the CBC Auxiliary was formed in 2018 to support the CBC’s education programs, including the Annual International Paediatric Bioethics Conference held at the RCH. The Auxiliary is built upon the success of the Bioethics Development Board, which supported the CBC for many years under the leadership of Barry Novy OAM.

The Auxiliary sponsors ongoing CBC podcasts titled ‘Essential Ethics’, online e-Learning modules, employment of an Education Project Officer within the CBC and the National Paediatric Bioethics Conference which is held each year at the RCH.

Fundraising activities include a giving circle membership model, several hypothetical events and a sponsored annual charity golf day at the Albert Park Golf Course.

You can learn more about the CBC by visiting the CBC’s website here

2022/2023 Auxiliary Report

2022/2023 has been a positive year for the Friends of the CBC Auxiliary with growth in membership, funds continuing to grow, and an increasing range of fun and engaging activities. This has helped the CBC to continue to increase its activities, coverage and Bioethics services throughout the RCH and beyond.

In the past year, we have been able to spend over $58,000 on a CBC Ethics Education Officer, $4,800 on new episodes of the ‘Essential Ethics’ podcast, and $1,200 on e-learning modules. Our Friends of the CBC increased in number by approximately 40 to 301. This includes 74 general donors, over 70 sponsors and donors to our Charity Golf Days in 2022 and 2023, 79 medical students from Monash (38) and Melbourne (39) and other Universities (2), as well as 60 new contacts from the Clinical Ethics Reference Group within the RCH.

This year’s Charity Golf Day was held in May and was a particular highlight, raising approximately $23,000. A sincere thanks to Officers at the Albert Park Golf Course, Sam Adams and Lisa Wen, as well as our sponsors, in particular Beck Property Group. Lastly, but very importantly, thank you to the players. Once again, the cornerstone of the CBC year was the three day National Paediatric Bioethics Conference held in September 2022. Many local and international delegates attended via video, with an array of international, interstate and local speakers.

Special thanks to our major sponsor for the conference, Talya Masel of the Humanity Foundation. We also ran hypotheticals during the year, including as part of the conference. Led by Professor Lyn Gillam, the Academic Director of the CBC and Professor John Massie, Clinical Director of the CBC, attendees are taken on a visceral journey through a hypothetical bioethics case. The moderators invite attendees to participate in the difficult considerations, discussions, and decisions that may be faced by patients, families, medical and allied health teams, amongst others, during these critical moments.

Support us

The CBC Conference and Education programs require funding and we feel the ‘Friends’ is the best means to secure these vital functions. Your support is very much needed. Should you wish to make a payment of the annual suggested gift of $200 via EFT please see the RCH Foundation banking information below.

Account Name: Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation – Operating Account: (Trust 1)
Bank: Bendigo Bank
BSB: 633 000
Account no: 150063493
ABN: 15 007 143 142
ACN: 007 143 142

Please use “CBC Auxiliary” in the banking description for easy tracking.

Once your payment has been made please notify Lucia Di Maio, Auxiliaries Coordinator, the RCH Foundation, via email [email protected] with your payment remittance and address details so that you can be mailed a printed receipt.

For credit card payments over the phone or any further queries with regards to payment please contact Lucia via 03 9345 5188.

Benefits of being a Friend of the CBC include:

  • An invitation to the three-day National Bioethics Conference.
  • Acknowledgment as a ‘Friend’ in the Conference Program (with your permission).
  • Access to research articles produced by the CBC.
  • Receipt of an Annual Report summarising the activities of the CBC.
  • An invitation to a ‘Hypothetical’ or other similar events to be held at the RCH on future dates.
  • The RCH Foundation e-newsletter.
  • The Auxiliary Digest newsletter.
  • Not least, a heartfelt glow of satisfaction.

Office bearers

President: Robbie Friedman
Treasurer: Ric Comber

Contact

Robbie Friedman
Phone
0419 007 369

Ric Comber
Phone
0412 243 624