Adroit Charity Golf Day raises $60,000 for local families and newborn care

The annual Adroit Insurance & Risk Charity Golf Day has once again delivered an outstanding result for local healthcare, raising over $29,500 which was generously matched by the Ballarat Health Services Foundation, bringing the total contribution to almost $60,000.

Held at the Ballarat Golf Club, the event brought together more than 80 players in local businesses for a day of golf and fundraising, all in support of babies, children and families receiving care through Grampians Health Ballarat. This year's fundraising will support two important projects: the purchase of a specialised transport cot for the Special Care Nursery and a vehicle for the Grampians Health Early Parenting Centre.

The Special Care Nursery cares for some of the region's most vulnerable newborns. Last year, 1,531 babies were born at Ballarat Base Hospital, with 523 requiring admission to the Special Care Nursery for additional monitoring or specialised care.

The new transport cot will play a critical role in safely moving fragile newborns throughout the hospital and supporting transfers between services. As the last major regional hospital before Melbourne and the first major service after Melbourne for many families, Grampians Health regularly receives and transfers babies requiring specialist care. Last year alone, the service facilitated 74 transfers involving smaller regional hospitals and specialist Melbourne hospitals.

Jo Pegg, Nurse Unit Manager of the Special Care Nursery at Grampians Health Ballarat, said the impact of last year's fundraising could already be seen by families and staff.

"Thanks to last year's golf day, families in our Special Care Nursery now have access to adjustable neocots and additional recliner chairs that have transformed how parents can spend time with their babies.

"For mothers recovering from a caesarean section or complicated birth, the adjustable cots mean they can more easily reach to care for their newborn without needing assistance. The recliner chairs have also created more opportunities for parents to spend extended periods holding their baby skin-to-skin, supporting bonding and development during a critical stage of care.

"The support from this year's event will build on that impact. The transport cot will help us safely move some of our most vulnerable newborns throughout the hospital and during transfers, ensuring they continue to receive the highest level of care when every moment matters."

Funds raised will also help purchase a vehicle for the Grampians Health Early Parenting Centre in Lucas, enabling staff to deliver support directly to families across the Grampians region.

Since opening in April 2024, the Early Parenting Centre has supported more than 1,000 referrals from across western Victoria, including 463 residential admissions, 584 day program participants and more than 1,200 support calls.

Vikki Doddamani, Nurse Unit Manager of the Early Parenting Centre, said the vehicle would help remove barriers that prevent some families from accessing support.

"Many of the families we work with are navigating some of the most challenging stages of early parenthood while also facing the realities of distance and isolation.

"This vehicle isn't simply transport; it's access to care. It will allow our team to take support beyond our walls and into homes and communities across the Grampians region, helping families receive the practical support they need closer to where they live.

"For some families, that extra support can make all the difference. This project will help ensure more parents can access our services, regardless of where they live."

The event was made possible through the generous support of major sponsors ATTVEST, Insurance Advisernet and BUILT, along with numerous local businesses and donors who contributed prizes, sponsorship and auction items.

Ballarat Mazda also added excitement to the day by offering a brand-new Mazda BT-50, valued at $60,000, for any golfer fortunate enough to score a hole-in-one on the sixth hole.

Carly Hibbins, Managing Principal of Adroit Insurance & Risk Ballarat, said the event demonstrated what local businesses and community members can achieve whilst working together to support local healthcare.

"At Adroit, we're passionate about giving back to the communities where we live and work, and that's why this event continues to be so important to us.

"The projects funded this year will have a lasting impact for local families. Whether it's helping a vulnerable newborn receive specialised care or enabling parents to access support closer to home, it's rewarding to know the funds raised are making a tangible difference in our community.

"Ballarat has always been a community that looks after its own and the success of this event is a wonderful example of that generosity in action."