Living the mission of the Sisters of Mercy, the Mater Hospital continually goes above and beyond to meet the needs of those most in need. Initiatives include the following.
Community fundraising
The Mater Hospital often engages in numerous community fundraising activities including the dragons abreast dragon boat race for breast cancer. Through participation in such sporting events we raise money for specific causes and awareness.
LinkAGE
A community service program, LinkAGE improves quality of life for residents in over 50 aged care facilities across Sydney. Linking elderly, isolated residents with trained volunteers, the volunteers offer companionship on an individual basis for at least one hour each week through activities such as conversing, reading and letter writing.
Having recently celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009, LinkAGE has gone from strength-to-strength. In 2009 alone LinkAGE volunteers provided over 4,000 hours of caring companionship. Read more about LinkAGE
Refugee traineeship program
The refugee traineeship program improves employment prospects for refugee and humanitarian job seekers. Taking in four new trainees each year at St Vincent’s Private and Mater Hospitals, the one year program offers two six month rotations in the areas of food and housekeeping services. Underpinning the program’s development is the strong tradition of the Mater Hospital in responding to the needs of the community and going the extra mile by caring for those most in need.
Partnered with Jesuit Care, who put forward candidates who have an interest in working in the roles on offer, the program provides a source of motivated employees who have been through a structured training program and may move from fixed term to full term employment. Ultimately, the refugee traineeship program highlights the benefits of a culturally diverse working environment whilst providing stability for families most in need.
Trafficked persons project
As part of St Vincents & Mater Health Sydney the Mater Hospital has joined the University of Technology Sydney’s Anti-Slavery Unit, the Salvation Army’s Samaritan Accommodation Program and the Josephite Counter Trafficking Project to provide legal advice, accommodation, pastoral care and meet the critical healthcare needs of men and women who have fallen victim to human-trafficking.
Serving overseas communities
Living our mission staff from across the Mater Hospital serve the community in a variety of different ways. Integral to this service is the support we offer – special or pro bono leave is granted for staff volunteering with overseas medical missions in association with charitable organisations. To assist those in need equipment and provisions such as old medical books are also provided.
Vaccinations are provided free of charge to those travelling overseas to undertake this important community work.
Sudanese Project
Assisting refugees staff and volunteers from across the Mater come together to donate clothing, children’s uniforms, footwear, school equipment and Christmas gifts for Sudanese families in Sydney’s west.