Media release

Doctors unite to raise money for homeless

The AMA Queensland Foundation has chaired with Beddown, a charity providing safe sleeping spaces for vulnerable Queenslanders, for a Charity Gala Dinner on 18 November. “The funds we raise this year will support Beddown to create six permanent accommodation venues across Queensland. Each venue needs furniture, bedding, linen and more before they can open." - AMA Queensland Foundation Chair Dr Dilip Dhupelia

The AMA Queensland Foundation is aiming to raise much-needed funds for homelessness charity Beddown at a Gala Dinner this month.

“Homelessness is on the rise in Queensland as cost of living spirals and mortgage rates rise,” AMA Queensland Foundation Chair Dr Dilip Dhupelia said.

“A person sleeping rough has an average life expectancy of just 47 years. We cannot accept this for our fellow Queenslanders.

“We have partnered with Beddown, an innovative group who turn unused public spaces into safe places for people to sleep at night.

“The funds we raise this year will support Beddown to create six permanent accommodation venues across Queensland. Each venue needs furniture, bedding, linen and more before they can open.

“Our Charity Gala on 18 November is a great way for people to come together for a night of music, food, raffles and a silent auction, all in a very good cause.”

The AMA Queensland Gala Dinner is on Saturday 18 November at Customs House, Brisbane, with almost $62,000 in raffle and auction prizes available. Prizes up for grabs include:

  • A luxury five-night holiday for two in Maldives
  • A framed guitar signed by the entire 1983 line-up of Bon Jovi
  • A four-day tour of France’s Champagne region

You can register for tickets until 10 November here. You can bid on silent auction items here.

Background

  • The AMA Queensland Foundation was established in 2000 as the charitable arm of AMA Queensland, with a mission to improve medical conditions in areas of need.
  • It assists patients with life-saving medical services, treatments and equipment, particularly in rural and remote areas, and provides scholarships for medical student in financial need.
  • Previous partners include VacSeen, which provides medical care to homeless people in safe settings, and Juiced TV, which provides much-needed entertainment to children in Queensland hospitals.
  • Beddown’s founder, Norm McGillivray, has made it his mission to change health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, after his father died on the streets of London aged just 42.

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