Dear HealthServe Australia members,

We thank you for your support and partnership as we enter into the season of winter. This is a year where we can reflect on God’s goodness. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Remember the goodness of God in the frost of adversity”.

2023 is our ‘Year of GOODNESS!’ How might God transform us and our organisation, friends and partners as we focus on this theme of ‘Goodness’ as we seek to relieve illness, disease, distress, suffering and poverty? Let us be reminded of the scriptures when they encourage us: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8). “Those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.” (Titus 3:8).

What is goodness according to the Bible?

Acting “good” flows out of the spirit of goodness, which is a fruit of the Spirit outlined in Galatians 5:22. Goodness is the rightly-ordered motivation behind our desire to act well, and it prioritizes what God desires: love of others, rightness, justice, and mercy

What does the Bible say about Goodness? Scriptures in both the New and Old Testament tell us of the goodness of God. It is who He is and He created us to show His goodness to those around us. We can see God's goodness every single day - in how He guides us, protects us, and favors us.

Psalm 37:3-4 instructs us, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Good news from Anguganak!

We have received this wonderful dispatch from Debbie Butters, telling us of the great work happening in Anguganak, PNG, thanks to the Anguganak Healthy Motherhood Project.

"Our team of 5 are just back from Anguganak where we facilitated a safe motherhood training program to 62 Village Birth Attendants and 9 Community Health Workers. We also checked on the water tank project and had discussions about future plans. With us this time but apart from the safe motherhood program we had Dianne and James join us to support the Christian youth camp and provide the bible school with 4 days of training sessions on marriage and relationships. We also visited the schools provided Days for Girls kits and Dianne and James spoke about relationships, goals and aspirations."

HealthServe Updates

We celebrate with you the important news that HealthServe Australia has now gained Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) status. This allows us new opportunities including whole of organisation tax deductibility,  fringe benefits  and the privilege of gaining tax deductibility for Australian programs. I thank all who have contributed to the completion of a long journey. Special thanks go to William Messer and Murray Baird of the ProLegis law firm, and the able and committed HSA board led well by Dr Paul Mercer. 

I thank you for your generosity in partnering with six doctors from our Oceania region and from Africa to attend the ICMDA World Congress in Arusha Tanzania in late June 2023. All are most grateful. 

We are also pleased to share that we have new programs on track in Vanuatu and in Tanzania. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.

End of Financial Year Appeal

We have just launched our End of Financial Year Appeal, which is titled ‘Helping our Neighbours’. You can donate here.

This is a crucial appeal for HealthServe, as the funds from this appeal will be the main source of income for the next 12 months. Your generosity can make a big difference in the lives of those in need.

This year, we have three key projects that we are seeking urgent donations to fund:

• Healthy Planet Indonesia dental program: In partnership with local communities in Indonesia, we have been working to improve access to dental care for people living in remote and disadvantaged areas. This program provides education, training, and equipment to local health workers, as well as direct treatment to those in need.
• PICCSI program: The Pacific Island Cervical Screening Initiative (PICCSI) program aims to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the Pacific region through increased access to screening and treatment. We have been working with local partners in Fiji and Papua New Guinea to implement this program, which has already helped to save countless lives.
• Tanna Island Cyclone Relief program: In March of this year, Cyclone Ana swept through Tanna Island in Vanuatu, causing extensive damage to homes, schools, and infrastructure. Our relief program is seeking to provide much-needed support to the people of Tanna Island, including emergency supplies, shelter, and medical aid.

In addition to these projects, we also continue to support our ongoing Ukraine Appeal, which provides essential medical aid and supplies to people affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Thank you for your ongoing support of HealthServe Australia. 

Please note that all donations to HSA Administration are now fully tax deductible.

Together, we can make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people around the world.

Women’s health

We seek to continue to address women’s health challenges with our neighbours in our region of Oceania. And we continue to work in partnership in many programs to relieve poverty, illness, distress and suffering. 

On Thursday June 15 at 2000 AEST, we will be hosting another Health News Live with guest speaker Dr Nicola Fitzgerald speaking on the PICCSI program in Fiji. PICCSI is the Pacific Islands Cervical Cancer Screening Initiative – an important program in Women’s Health.

Add it to your calendars and use this Zoom link on the night.

Thanks to all our partners, members and supporters as we reflect on opportunities in this Year of Goodness.

Building health, hope and wholeness,

Dr Michael Burke
HealthServe Australia