Funding Objectives
“Donations to the Foundation will secure the future of our service by enabling us to fund research into areas of craniofacial treatment and ultimately give us the possibility of appointing a full-time Chair of Craniofacial Research. It will enable us to continue to teach surgeons from here and other countries to take techniques back to their own people and to fund some of the necessary technology that is outside government budgets but will enhance our service.” Dr. Andrew Heggie
The challenge for the Jigsaw Foundation is to continue providing the best care in our field for children, not just in Victoria or Australia, but anywhere in the world. We must continue to be a world leader in cleft and craniofacial clinical practice, research and education. This can’t be done without having the best people for the job. So we must attract, fund and retain the finest surgeons, clinicians and scientists and provide them with the means and equipment to allow them to continue and improve their vital work for children in need.
At the Jigsaw Foundation we see supporting education as a crucial step in ensuring that we maintain our standard as world leaders in Plastic and Maxillofacial surgery. Education is the foundation of a skilled and experienced surgeon, a successful scientist and a happy ending for a child in need of surgery. Surgical and research leaders are attracted by positions that offer “cutting edge" clinical and research opportunities. We in Australia must be able to compete globally with other similar international centres or risk the loss of valuable Australian talent. Whilst the Government can provide remuneration for clinical work performed, additional funding for the academic research and development is needed. This is where fundraising, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility can make a difference. Our future is about people, knowledge, infrastructure and equipment.
We support continual education in a number of ways:
• Fellowship program funding,
• Supernumerary Fellows from developing countries,
• Pro bono lecturing,
• Conferences,
• Supply academics for research PhDs; and
• General support of research PhDs.
The Jigsaw Foundation is a charitable arm for the Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. The Medical Advisory Committee liaises with the Board regarding funding objectives and priorities.