GEDDES PHILANTHROPIC TRUST |
FELLOWSHIPS
Over the years in which the Geddes Philanthropic Trust has supported various organizations,
it has become apparent that the greatest benefit in the fight against child abuse
has come from providing financial assistance for doctors to devote a year’s study
in the field of child abuse. The doctors then take the knowledge they have gained
out into the greater community and also pass it on to others, thereby building up
a network of skilled people.
The following Fellowships are currently in operation:
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT WESTMEAD, SYDNEY
This Fellowship was set up in 1998 and has been a resounding success. In 2005, Professor
Kim Oates, the former CEO of The Children's Hospital at Westmead, wrote in a letter
to the Trust that most of the child protection specialists in New South Wales, Australia,
have had their opportunity for training as a direct result of having been a Geddes
Fellow.
THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
This Fellowship was set up in 2006 and will run for five years providing funding
for training and development of staff for the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect
Unit of the Hospital and the greater community. The team at CHOC conducts the initial
consultations, follows cases, reviews charts and attends court appearances.
STARSHIP NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AUCKLAND
This three-year Fellowship commenced later in 2007 for training and development
of medical staff for Te Puaruruhau, the multi-agency child abuse centre established
to make abuse investigations and resulting treatment processes easier for families
and children. The Geddes Philanthropic Trust also provides funding for travel expenses
for the Fellows of the various Fellowships to enable them to visit each other's
health facilities and to attend conferences on child abuse and neglect.