Mackay Hospital Staff Help Students Start The School Year Prepared

Returning to school can be a challenge for many families, but thanks to the generosity of Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have begun the school year with the tools they need to succeed.

As part of the Back to School Supply Drive, staff from across Mackay HHS donated hundreds of essential items, including pens, rulers, rubbers, glue sticks, books, scissors, lunchboxes, water bottles, backpacks, and other learning equipment. The donations were collected by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit and delivered to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS Mackay) to support families who are doing it tough.

Contributions came from various hospital units, including the Executive Leadership team and contracts department, demonstrating a strong commitment to health equity and efforts to help Close the Gap.

Organisers say the drive does more than provide supplies; it eases the financial burden on families while encouraging students to attend school regularly, reinforcing the importance of the 'Every Day Counts' message.

“A backpack filled with school supplies is the first step towards a mind filled with knowledge,” a spokesperson said.

Through this small but thoughtful gesture, Mackay HHS staff are helping local students pursue their learning and big dreams, showing how community support can make a real difference in the lives of families and young learners.

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Photo source: Mackay Hospital Health Service

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