Hadassah Australia Milestones
2023
Saving Lives Emergency Appeal: In a dire time of need, our community comes together to support Hadassah Hospital’s remarkable efforts to save lives and heal some of Israel’s most severely injured victims.
Gandel Rehabilitation Centre in Jerusalem: The construction of the Gandel Rehabilitation Centre in the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem being fast-tracked to bring hope and healing through rehabilitation for soldiers and civilians. We sincerely thank the Gandel family for their gift to the people of Israel.
Achotenu Nursing Scholarships: More and more young Ethiopian Israelis gain a university education leading to a career in healthcare. The students of Cohort 3 have successfully passed the government licensing exam in nursing. Cohort 4 has recently begun their hospital rotations.
Rosh Hashana Appeal: Supporting the Medical Clowns program at Hadassah Hospital.
Pesach Appeal: to support the Bat-Ami Centre at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, the only designated acute care facility for victims of sexual assault in all greater Jerusalem.
Hadassah's Smiling Room at Gandel Rehabilitation Centre: A special ‘Smiling Room’ was dedicated in the new Gandel Rehabilitation Centre at Mt Scopus, Jerusalem, in memory of Natalie and Eli who were tragically killed by terrorists in January 2023.
2022
Rosh Hashana Appeal – to support the Bat Ami Centre at Hadassah Hospital.
2nd International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health in partnership with AUSiMED, Phoenix Australia and HMO, September 2022 in Jerusalem.
Visit to Australia Achotenu Graduate Inbal Hananyia and La'Ofek-Achotenu Program Director Judy Lowy.
Hadassah’s Ukraine Emergency Mission – treating patients in the Refugee Centre at the Polish-Ukraine border; providing medication in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health; training local staff and saving lives.
Gandel Rehabilitation Center – thanks to signature donor, Gandel Foundation, the fundraising campaign is officially launched.
2021
Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog hosts a celebratory event at the President’s Residence for Achotenu graduates, current students and staff.
Graduation ceremony celebrated for the first graduates of the Achotenu program.
Hadassah Australia holds the Closing the Gap Webinar: Academics and Participating students Hadassah-Achotenu Ethiopian Scholarships in Health program.
2020
Hadassah Australia holds COVID-19 Webinars:
- Coping with COVID: Safeguarding Your Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19
- Emergency Medicine COVID-19: The Israel Experience
- COVID-19 – Can We Win the War
Hadassah Australia and Hadassah International join forces to raise funds for the construction of Jerusalem’s first dedicated Rehabilitation Center for patients with Acute and Chronic rehabilitation needs.
2019
Individual donors and syndicates established to fund the 5-year scholarship program for new Achotenu student cohorts.
Medical Clowns deliver Hadassah Australia Mishloach Manot to children on the Hadassah Hospital wards as part of a Purim campaign.
A new colposcope is purchased for Hadassah’s Bat Ami Center for Victims of Sexual Abuse, vastly improving the medical examination procedure required for survivors of rape and violence.
2018
in partnership with Starlight Children’s Foundation, Hadassah Australia delivers Mishloach Monaot and entertainment to children at hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne.
Medical clowns deliver Hadassah Australia Mishloach Manot (Purim parcels) to children on the Hadassah Hospital wards as part of a Purim campaign.
2017
In partnership with Phoenix Institute and HMO, the 1st International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health is held in Jerusalem.
2016
HWZOA launches the Achotenu Scholarships program providing pathways to undergraduate studies in nursing and occupational therapy at the Hebrew University for young Ethiopians. The program is adopted by Hadassah Australia in 2019.
Medical Clown “Dush” – Hadassah leading Medical Clown visits Australia.
2015
Hadassah Australia Oration – Rev Tim Costello AO.
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: Professor Hugh Taylor AC.
2014
Hadassah Australia, together with JNF, creates the Healing and Environment Garden at Hadassah Mt Scopus.
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: The Hon Steve Bracks AC.
Hadassah Australia Oration - Dr Qanta Ahmed Associate Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York (Stony Brook).
2013
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: Professor Frank Oberklaid AM.
Initiates support for the Hadassah Hospital Medical Clowns, an initiative that will later bring the Dream Doctor clowns to every Israeli hospital.
2012
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: Professor David De Kretser AC.
2011
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: Professor Fiona Stanley AC.
Launch of Goshen, an initiative to transfer world-leading Australian IP in early childhood development, to Israel.
2010
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: Her Excellency Professor Marie R Bashir AC CVO.
2009
Hadassah Australia Tikkun Olam Award Recipient: Professor Sharon Lewin AM.
2008
Establishes AUSiMED to promote medical research collaborations between Israeli and Australian clinical researchers.
Collaboration between Hadassah and Royal Melbourne Hospital in neuroscience, for translational research to support clinical care and medical exchanges.
2006
In partnership with the Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Hadassah Medical Organization, launched the Jerusalem Crisis Intervention Center to address the needs of the many children in Jerusalem manifesting early symptoms of PTSD.
2004
Victorian Premier, The Hon Steve Bracks AC, visits Hadassah Medical Center to study mass casualty trauma management.
Victorian government signs formal agreement between The Alfred Hospital and Hadassah for bilateral collaboration, medical and research knowledge and expertise to benefit both communities.
Genesis of AUSiMed, to launch joint medical projects between Australia and Israel.
2003
Hadassah Australia is established, committed to creating a thriving, diverse, equal and inclusive Israel through a range of collaborative health programs and activities.
Recipients of the Tikkun Olam Award
Professor Emeritus Les White AM (2017)
Professor Les White has had a distinguished career in clinical, academic, advocacy and health executive settings, starting with service in paediatric oncology through both laboratory and clinical research into childhood cancer. Prof White went on to hold inaugural appointments as Executive Director of Sydney Children’s Hospital (1995-2010) and as NSW Chief Paediatrician (2010-2016). He was President of Children’s Hospitals and Paediatric Units Australasia (1999-2004), Convener of a NSW Child Health Network (2001–2010) and the John Beveridge Professor of Paediatrics (2005-2010). He has championed the healthcare rights of children and young people in Australia throughout his career. Prof White has served on 18 not-for-profit boards related to child health and/or medical science. In 1991 he was awarded a Doctor of Science for his contributions to the academic literature and in 2007 he received an Order of Australia award for service to medicine, medical administration and the community in the field of paediatrics.
Prof. Hugh Taylor AC (2016)
Professor Hugh Taylor AC is the current President of the International Council of Ophthalmology. He is recognised worldwide for his leadership in trachoma, advocacy for improved Indigenous eye health and other initiatives to eliminate avoidable vision loss. Within Australia he was Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne for 20 years and established the Centre for Eye Research Australia. He is also Deputy Chair of the board of Vision 2020 Australia. He has also been a champion of improved health outcomes for Australian indigenous communities.
Prof. Sharon Lewin (2014)
Professor Sharon Lewin is the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute. She leads a large multi-disciplinary research team that focuses on understanding why HIV persists on treatment, and developing clinical trials aimed at ultimately finding a cure for HIV infection. Plus understanding how HIV interacts with other common co-infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV).
She is a consultant infectious diseases physician at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Practitioner Fellow.
Prof. the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AC DVO (2013)
The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir is the former Governor of New South Wales (2001-2014) and former Chancellor of the University of Sydney (2007-2012).
Her high distinctions for her service to medicine were generally in the field of adolescent mental health, but she has also demonstrated a passion for helping the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in our society.
Prof. Fiona Stanley AC (2012)
Professor Stanley is a distinguished child health researcher, scientist and academic. Professor Stanley established the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, as well as the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, a unique multidisciplinary independent research institute focussing on the causes and prevention of major problems affecting children and youth.
She has over 300 publications, books and book chapters and sits on the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, is a board member of the ABC, and has served on major international, national and local committees. She was named Australian of the Year in 2003 for her research on behalf of children and Aboriginal social justice, and in 2006 was made a UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.
Prof. Frank Oberklaid OAM (2011)
An internationally recognised researcher, author, lecturer and consultant, Professor Frank Oberklaid has received a number of awards in the past, including a Medal in the Order of Australia and the Howard Williams Medal from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He has edited two books, numerous book chapters, and over 150 scientific papers on various aspects of paediatrics and is on the editorial boards of several international journals.
Under Professor Oberklaid’s leadership, the Centre for Community Child Health at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital has become recognised worldwide for its research into early childhood health, development and behaviour and for its cutting-edge work in translating and disseminating research findings to inform public policy.
Prof. David de Kretser AC – former State Governor of Victoria (2010)
David de Kretser was born in 1939 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and migrated to Australia in 1949. He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School, then received his medical degrees from the University of Melbourne and his Doctorate of Medicine from Monash University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
Professor de Kretser was the founding Director of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development and a Professor of Anatomy at Monash University He is internationally recognised for this work in endocrinology and male infertility. Professor de Kretser served as the 28th Governor of Victoria from 2006 until 2010.
Steve Bracks AC – former Premier of Victoria (2009)
Born in Ballarat in 1954, and educated at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat and Ballarat University, Steve Bracks entered Parliament in 1994, and after serving as a Shadow Minister became Leader of the State Opposition early in 1999. Later that year Mr. Bracks become Victoria’s 44th Premier. Since retiring from Parliament in 2007 he has held a number of major honorary positions and chaired several National authorities, including the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association. He also serves on the boards of a number of prominent companies and organisations. He is a leading advocate for both multiculturalism and Aboriginal reconciliation. Mr. Bracks received a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to the Parliament and community of Victoria.