About Us
The St Andrew's Foundation is operated by representatives of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. The Foundation makes annual grants and donations to hospitals, aged care facilities and community services. Priority is given to services provided by the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches and their ecumenical partners.
You can learn more about our grant-making criteria and process here.
Our History
St Andrew's Hospital
1934
Originally the school campus of Scotch College, the St Andrew's Presbyterian Intermediate Hospital is founded by the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. The Hospital is located in East Melbourne on the site bounded by Lansdowne Street to the east, St Andrews Place to the south and Cathedral Place to the north. It soon obtains a reputation as one of the finest general surgical and maternity hospitals in Victoria.
1971
In anticipation of the upcoming establishment of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, the St Andrew's Hospital Act 1971 is enacted to establish the St Andrew's Hospital as a body corporate. The Hospital is now to be known as the 'St Andrew's Presbyterian and Uniting Hospital'. A Board of Management is established with representatives from both the ongoing Presbyterian Church of Victoria and the new Uniting Church in Australia.
1980s
In the course of a major development programme, the Hospital suffers financial difficulties because of delays and cost overruns in the construction. The Victorian Government, which had guaranteed the loans for the new buildings, appoints a Receiver/Manager to the Hospital. The Receiver, however, does not have the right to the Hospital's endowment funds. These funds are made up of perpetual gifts made in the wills and testaments of the Hospital’s supporters – many of whom were members of either the Presbyterian or Uniting Churches.
1990
After considering the various alternatives, the State Government Receiver ‘sells’ the Hospital site to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for the amount of the Government’s guarantee. This move allows the Peter MacCallum Centre to consolidate its 11 sites onto the one property - from which they have operated to the present day. However the Hospital's Endowment Funds are now only available for use by a Hospital which is no longer in existence.
St Andrew's Foundation
1997
After lengthy negotiations with the State Government, the St Andrew's Foundation is established as a public charitable trust on 20 October 1997 by seven initial trustees from the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches. The purpose of the trust is, and continues to be, for the provision of grants and donations towards the hospitals, aged care facilities and community service programmes provided by the PCV and UCA and to other public benevolent institutions in Australia having objects similar to those bodies or to the objects of the former body corporate known as St Andrew's Hospital.
1998
The St Andrew's Foundation Act 1997, as enacted by the State Government, on 23 April 1998 transfers the Hospital's Endowment Fund and charitable donations and bequests to the trustee(s) of the Foundation. Any bequests, gifts, or donations made at any time to or for the purposes of the Hospital are now to be treated as if they are made to the trustee(s) of the Foundation.
For all other purposes, the successor at law of the Hospital is deemed to be the Secretary of the Department of Health - see Health Services Act 1988 section 176(2).
Present
The directors of the Foundation are proud to continue the caring and compassionate legacy of the St Andrew's Hospital.
Board of Directors
Independent Chair
Bronwyn Wellings
B. Ec, FCPA, FCTA, GAICD
Bronwyn joined the St Andrew’s Foundation in November 2020. She has over 40 years experience as a finance executive in the resource and manufacturing industries, both locally and internationally and over 18 years experience on Boards. She is currently Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee of the ETU (Vic. Branch), Deputy Chair and Treasurer of the Australasian Reporting Awards and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Victoria University.
Presbyterian Church of Victoria
Iain Bramley
B.Econ
Iain is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria (PCV), former Chair of the PCV Trusts Corporation, current Treasurer of the PCV’s Ministry Development Committee, and State Treasurer for Girls’ Brigade Victoria. Iain is also the Chair of Presbyterian Care Victoria Ltd’s Board of Directors. He is a retired public servant having worked in senior roles with the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance and previously for the Commonwealth Department of Finance and Australian Bureau of Statistics. Iain brings a wide-ranging understanding of financial and policy analysis, together with a good knowledge of church affairs.
Dr. W. Bruce Ellis
JP BBSc, BAppSc(Chiro), MChiroSc, FACC, FRVAJP
Bruce is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, and has served on the PCV Ministry Development Committee for the last 9 years. He is a Chiropractor in General Practice, Life Member of the Australian Chiropractors Association, State Leader (Scuba), Scouts Victoria, and a Justice of the Peace.
Lauren Walley
LLB(Hons), BComm(Economics), GDLP
Lauren is an experienced and award-winning property and commercial lawyer, currently advising the public sector. Lauren serves on a range of legal industry and religious committees and groups, including on the Board of Management of a medium-sized Presbyterian Church which operates as a registered charity.
Uniting Church in Australia
Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Shawn Whelan
BJuris LLB
Shawn is a mediator, lecturer and consultant (conflict resolution and Indigenous land justice), former lawyer, treasurer of Brunswick Uniting Church Council, and Chair of the Australian Student Christian Movement Trust. He is also the Convenor of the General Secretary Oversight Group for UCA Vic/Tas.
Ken Marshman
BA(Hons), MEc, GAICD
Ken has been actively involved in investments and the investment industry since 1986 including as Chair of an industry superannuation fund and CEO of a major investment consultancy. He has held a number of senior executive and non-executive positions in industry over his career, and continues to advise a small number of large investment organisations. He is an Elder of Kew Uniting Church, and is active in other community based organisations.
Natalie Brown
BSc(Hons), Grad. Cert. Leadership
Natalie has 15 years' experience working at the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, where she works with all aspects of UCA mission grants, their associated application processes and ongoing management. Her experience also includes Property Services applications and oversight of processes, data management, Secretary for 8 years to the UCA Board of Mission and Resources (BOMAR), and member of the assessment group for Uniting SHARE Grants. Natalie is a Church Councillor, and is actively involved in worship planning and music.