Celebrating International Women's Day

12 March 2020

Over 400 guests came together for the Western Health Foundation International Women's Day Breakfast on Thursday 12 March at Club Italia North Sunshine.

Now in its second year, the Breakfast provides an opportunity for staff and our industry partners to come together and celebrate the significant role women play in our community and to highlight the progresses, and challenges still, in achieving gender equality.

This year's breakfast raised $38,000 in support of the new Mental Health Crisis Hub at Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department.

Funds raised will provide for additional equipment and special enhancements that will provide care and comfort for patients experiencing mental health, alcohol and other drug issues.

Opening in 2021, the new Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department will have the capacity to treat an extra 59,000 emergency patients each year. The inclusion of a new Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Crisis Hub will ease pressure on the Department, allowing more people to receive treatment quicker and in areas that are designed for their needs.

Our thanks go to our inspiring panel of female speakers for making available their time - Sue Sofarnos OAM (Lacrosse champion and current Victorian State Coach), Dr Ainslie Senz (Director Emergency Medicine at Footscray Hospital) and Vivienne Nguyen (Chair – Victorian Multicultural Commission) – along with our MC Karen Bolinger (Chair of Western Health Foundation), Guest Speaker Natasha Toohey (Executive Director Operations, Western Health) and our Panel Moderator Anna Gillet (Principal Consultant, Bastion RM).

We would also like to thank our event sponsors Club Italia Sporting Club and Melbourne Mail Management, and our prize donors Intimo Lingerie, Iridis Cosmetics, Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, Mimco, Scotchmans Hill, Senteurs D'Orient and Quest Apartments.