St Vincent's Curran Foundation

20/02/2026

We were delighted to welcome Prof Sean Mackey and Prof Beth Darnall to Australia through the American Australian Association St Vincent’s Valerie McKenzie Bequest Exchange in Pain Management.

Their visit to St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney strengthened collaboration in pain medicine, research and digital innovation, deepening ties between St Vincent's Health Australia and Stanford University.

Through presentations, leadership discussions and hands-on collaboration, they advanced key areas like measurement science, behavioural pain management, and scalable care models, creating immediate impact and laying the groundwork for long-term partnership.

We thank Prof Mackey and Prof Darnall, the American Australian Association, the Valerie McKenzie Bequest, and our St Vincent’s teams for making this exchange possible.

06/02/2026

Thanks to our generous supporters, we warmly welcome the new Graduate Certificate in Nursing cohort, who have just commenced their studies at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.

Scholarships funded by the Foundation ease study costs, letting students focus on learning, gain hands-on experience in areas like ICU, Perioperative and Cardiothoracic and build skills to become future nursing leaders.

We are so proud to support the next generation of nurses and look forward to celebrating their growth and contributions to St Vincent's.

04/02/2026

This World Cancer Day, we pause to honour the lives touched by cancer and the dedication of St Vincent's staff who care for patients and families every day.

Over 50 years ago, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney performed Australia’s first adult bone marrow transplant. Led by A/Prof James Biggs, this pioneering procedure grew into a world-leading program, now performing over 80 lifesaving transplants each year.

Thanks to our incredible nurses, doctors, researchers and generous supporters, patients continue to receive innovative treatment and access to cutting-edge research when they need it most.

Through the years, philanthropic support from St Vincent's Curran Foundation donors has enabled major investments in technology and infrastructure to advance this mission. We are so grateful for your generosity and visionary support.

21/01/2026

St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney has become the first medical institution in NSW to install and adopt the da Vinci SP - Intuitive’s robotic single-port surgery technology. The team successfully completed the first procedure earlier this month: a prostatectomy.

The support of donors to St Vincent's Curran Foundation's Precision Medicine and Robotics Fund has assisted greatly to ensure St Vincent's Private Hospital remains at the forefront of robotic surgery.

As shown in the 7NEWS report, St Vincent's looks forward to expanding its use to ENT and thoracic cases in the coming weeks.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney has become the first medical institution in NSW to install and adopt the da Vinci SP, Intuitive’s robotic single-port surgery technology, to improve patient outcomes and support surgical professionals. The first procedure using the advanced technology was a p...

21/01/2026

Vale Her Excellency Prof Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO.

Her Excellency made an extraordinary contribution to St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney and to the wider community.

She trained at St Vincent’s in 1956 and had a special lifelong connection with the Sisters of Charity and the Hospital, sharing their values of compassion, dignity and service.

In 2002, Dame Bashir was made an Honorary Life Member of St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, and her advocacy and commitment helped strengthen patient care, research and community health initiatives. As Governor of New South Wales, Dame Bashir inspired generations through her leadership and dedication.

Premier Chris Minns described her as “an extraordinary Australian who lived a remarkable life.”

She will be fondly remembered with respect and admiration. (Pictured: Sr Anthea Groves RSC OAM with Dame Marie Bashir)

19/01/2026

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney Tierney House has reached a proud milestone, supporting people for over 50,000 nights since opening in 2012.

The 12-bed service provides a calm, home-like space for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to recover, stabilise their health and reconnect with a support team.

Having welcomed 2,744 residents, this major achievement reflects the compassion and dedication of the St Vincent’s team in delivering care to the community when it is needed most, and the generosity of our supporters who have helped make this possible.

18/12/2025

Thank you to Peter Vanderwal and the Sumatra crew for their generous support of Heart Lung Innovation at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.

After taking up sailing this year, Peter is competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart and aiming to raise $20,000 for Heart Lung in support of his friend Shane - a heart transplant recipient and co-owner of the boat.

Funds raised will help advance life-saving care, research and innovation at St Vincent’s, supporting patients and families when they need it most.

We are so grateful for your generosity and commitment! You can help Peter get closer to his goal - donate today at https://svhs.grassrootz.com/create-your-own-event/support-sumatra

12/12/2025

Make a gift today to St Vincent’s Curran Foundation’s Christmas Appeal and help someone in urgent need.
Donate here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2p9zuxdc

03/12/2025

Homelessness can happen to anyone. One accident, one lost job, one health crisis is all it takes.

This Christmas, your gift to St Vincent’s Curran Foundation’s Healing, Hope & Humanity Fund can provide life-changing care when people have nowhere else to turn.

Donate here 👉 https://www.supportstvincents.com.au/about-us/our-stories/help-make-a-life-changing-difference-this-christmas/

30/11/2025

World AIDS Day: Remembering Bill Patterson

We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Bill Patterson, who served as Nurse Unit Manager on Ward 17 South from 1986 to 1993, caring for people with AIDS at St Vincent’s Hospital during one of the most challenging and defining periods in our history.

Bill was not only a highly skilled nurse — he was a steady, compassionate presence for patients, families and colleagues at a time when fear, stigma and uncertainty surrounded the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic. His leadership shaped the culture of Ward 17 South, and his instinctive humanity set a benchmark for the care that St Vincent’s is known for today.

As Bill once reflected:

“People used to say: why are you touching them all the time… why are you holding their hands and stroking them?…
Well it was to demonstrate clearly what was and wasn’t necessary in terms of infection control… and also to demonstrate that they were worthy of this touch.
This was about humanness, a very compassionate approach.”

This photograph — Bill alongside his colleague Rosemarie Lorimer in the AIDS ward in 1992 — captures both the courage and the compassion that defined those years.

On this World AIDS Day, we honour Bill’s remarkable contribution, acknowledge the tireless work of the clinicians and community advocates who continue to advance HIV care, and remember the patients and loved ones whose lives shaped a legacy of care that endures at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.

VALE Bill. Your kindness and leadership will not be forgotten.

13/11/2025

On World Diabetes Day, we are proud to celebrate the impact of the DREAM Program, made possible through the legacy gift left by the late Tim and Yoshiko Wright.

Launched in Feb 2024, DREAM brings St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney diabetes experts to regional NSW. Prof Jerry Greenfield and CNC Gael Holters lead our monthly mobile clinic, supporting complex patients, training local clinicians, and providing telehealth follow-up with Little Wings’ support.

The Wrights’ transformational bequest further advances vital research in osteoporosis and bone health.

We thank Peter and Rae Fletcher who generously donated an essential mobile retinal camera, helping treat diabetic patients in rural and regional settings.

Today, we honour their vision in bringing expert care to the communities who need it most.

To support Diabetes Research, visit: https://www.supportstvincents.com.au/ways-to-give/donate/

10/11/2025

We’re proud to congratulate Peter Duncan and the entire Pirtek Network on 45 years as an Australian industry leader.

For more than a decade, Pirtek and its incredible community have stood with St Vincent’s, raising close to $900,000 through initiatives like the Pirtek Fishing Challenge and Pirtek Ultimate Motorsport Prize.

Your support of the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit has advanced world-class research into Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, MS and HIV, contributed to over 50 clinical studies, and helped drive discoveries that will change lives for generations to come.

From all of us at St Vincent’s Curran Foundation – thank you, and here’s to another 45 years of innovation, compassion and impact.