Vital Conversations

2020 has presented many challenges for our community; first the devastating bushfires and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Foodbank Victoria has been among the many charities responding to ensure that our most vulnerable continue to be supported and have access to healthy food. In this episode we talk with CEO Dave McNamara about how Foodbank has built an agile culture which has enabled it to adapt to these changing times. Now more than ever organisations like Foodbank need assistance and Dave suggests that listeners visit Ask Izzy, an online platform where you can contact your local foodbank or charity, to see what assistance may be needed.

Guest speakers from our 2019 Inspiring Philanthropy Celebration discuss the topic of 'Transformational Philanthropy' with panel facilitator, Wendy Williams (Editor - ProBono News Australia), with Board Chair, Craig Bell, providing closing remarks. This is the fourth and final episode from our 2019 Inspiring Philanthropy Celebration where we hear from Fiona Armstrong - Founder and Executive Director, Climate and Health Alliance, Matthew Hyde - Executive Principal, Parkville College, as well as Foundation CEO Dr Catherine Brown.

Prior to 2012, there was no school for Victorian school-age children in custody. In this episode, Matthew Hyde, Executive Principal - Parkville College, shares how he and his staff are increasing educational access for up to 2,500 children in the juvenile justice system each year. Together with recent research conducted by Victoria University and funded by the Foundation, Parkville College paving the way for other states and territories across Australia. This is the third of four episodes from our 2019 Inspiring Philanthropy Celebration where we hear from Fiona Armstrong - Founder and Executive Director, Climate and Health Alliance (Episode 4), as well as Foundation CEO Dr Catherine Brown (Episode 3) and Foundation Board Chair, Craig Bell (Episode 6) speak on the topic of 'Transformational Philanthropy'. The Improving Educational Connection for Young People in Custody report is available online.

Climate change has been identified as the greatest challenge to human health globally by the World Health Organisation. In this episode, Fiona Armstrong, Founder and Executive Director - Climate and Health Alliance, discusses the need to communicate climate change as a health issue to engage the broader health profession and the community. This is the second of four episodes from our 2019 Inspiring Philanthropy Celebration where we hear from Matthew Hyde - Executive Principal, Parkville College, as well as Foundation CEO Dr Catherine Brown and Foundation Board Chair, Craig Bell speak on the topic of 'Transformational Philanthropy'.

Transformational philanthropy was the theme of our 2019 Inspiring Philanthropy Celebration. In this episode, Foundation CEO Dr Catherine Brown opens the event and discusses philanthropy's role no longer simply as charitable grantmakers, but as enablers of not-for-profit and other sector leaders to work together towards systems change. This is the first of four episodes from this event where we hear from Fiona Armstrong - Founder and Executive Director, Climate and Health Alliance and Matthew Hyde - Executive Principal, Parkville College, as well as Foundation Board Chair, Craig Bell.

Melbourne City Mission opened the doors on its newly redeveloped Frontyard Youth Services in May 2019. We talk with CEO Vicki Sutton about how the organisation's culture of innovation and the adoption of an outcomes-focused approach resulted in a new facility and comprehensive service offering to meet the complex and dynamic needs of young people at risk or experiencing homelessness in Melbourne.

What is important to women as they age? We talk with Associate Professor Dr Susan Feldman about new research which uncovers the perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse women from 22 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Greater Melbourne.