Victoria Unites For Kids This Good Friday
The Allan Labor Government is donating $1 million on behalf of all Victorians to kick off this year’s Good Friday Appeal – supporting young Victorians to get the lifesaving care they need at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH).
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today met with families and the hardworking doctors and nurses at the hospital, before attending the Kids Day Out at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – a family day filled with amusement, activities and entertainment for a good cause.
In what has become an annual Easter tradition in Victoria, the Good Friday Appeal is now in its 94th year, raising more than $468 million to deliver the best possible care to patients and families.
Each year, the generous donations from Victorians contribute towards the latest equipment and technology, patient and family-centred care programs, and fostering staff excellence through education programs, scholarships and fellowships to attract and retain the brightest minds.
It also helps RCH attract the best local and international clinicians and supports groundbreaking research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics.
Providing care to the community for over 150 years, the RCH is Victoria’s major specialist paediatric hospital and extends its care to children from Tasmania, southern New South Wales and other states around Australia, as well as children overseas. It is also home to the Nationally Funded Centres for cardiac and liver transplantation.
For the second consecutive year, funds raised by the Appeal will also be shared across Victoria’s five regions – with $3 million to be split between six major regional hospitals, as well as smaller rural hospitals.
It builds on the $2.5 million allocated in 2024 to support paediatric care at Barwon Health, Bendigo Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Grampians Health, Latrobe Regional Health, and Albury Wodonga Health.
In 2024, the Appeal once again broke records, raising more than $23 million – a powerful demonstration of the community coming together to support a hospital that means so much to Victorians.
This year’s donation is on top of the Labor Government’s record investment of more than $21 billion in 2024/25 so Victorian hospitals can meet increasing demand, support the workforce, and continue delivering world-class care.
For more information on the Good Friday Appeal and to donate, visit goodfridayappeal.com.au.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
“My family, like so many others across Victoria, has a special connection to RCH – we will never forget the care and dedication of the doctors, nurses and the many other wonderful people at the hospital who changed our lives.”
“Whether it’s kids donating their pocket money or companies handing over cheques, the Good Friday Appeal has become an Easter tradition where Victorians dig deep for our beloved hospital – and every dollar counts.”
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
“The RCH has a place in the hearts of so many Victorians – and that is thanks to the unwavering commitment of the doctors, nurses, allied health workers, and support staff who make it so special.”
“For the second year running, the Appeal is supporting kids in every corner of the state, with the generous donations of Victorians to be shared with six regional hospitals – ensuring they can get the care they need, closer to home.”
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/250418_Victoria-Unites-For-The-Kids-This-Good-Friday.pdf