DIGGING DEEP FOR THE KIDS THIS GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL

The Victorian Government is donating $1 million to this year’s Good Friday Appeal on behalf of all Victorians.

It kicks off a massive day of fundraising for the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) – supporting young Victorians to get the lifesaving care they need.

Premier Allan and Minister Thomas today met with patients, families and the hard-working doctors and nurses at the hospital.

The Appeal is now in its 95th year and has become an annual Easter tradition – raising more than $491 million.

The fun filled day also includes the Kids Day Out event at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Appeal supports the latest equipment and technology, patient and family-centred care programs, and attracting and retaining the brightest minds.

It also supports groundbreaking research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics.

For the third consecutive year, funds raised by the Appeal will also be shared across Victoria’s five regions.

$3 million will be shared across more than 30 regional health services building on the more than $8.5 million allocated in the last two Appeals.

Some of the regional programs supported by last year’s generous donation includes:

• Equipping every region with new, paediatric-specific equipment and technology
• Enhancing neonatal services through training and equipment in Barwon South West
• Upgrading video conferencing tools and paediatric therapy spaces in Gippsland
• Improving paediatric life support and critical care for regional ICU patients in Albury-Wodonga.

Providing care to the community for over 150 years, the RCH is Victoria’s major specialist paediatric hospital.

It extends its care to children from Tasmania, southern New South Wales and other states, as well as overseas.

This year’s donation is on top of the Labor record $9.3 billion boost for hospitals in the Victorian Budget 2025/26.

For more information on the Good Friday Appeal and to donate, visit goodfridayappeal.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Premier Jacinta Allan

“I will never forget what RCH did for my family – their care and dedication still means so much all these years later.”  

“The generous spirit of Victorians always shines at the Good Friday Appeal.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas

“So many Victorians have a connection to RCH – they help our sickest kids and their families get through the toughest of times.”