The Sydney Nursing School receives million-dollar gift

The $1 million gift is one of many major donations made by the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation to Sydney Nursing School in the last five years. The extraordinary donors have now gifted more than $47 million to enhance the future of healthcare through investment in scholarships, teaching and facilities.

Their most recent donation will fund the salary of the Head of School and Dean. It is a strong endorsement of the University’s choice in leadership – Professor John Daly.

Appointed in June, Professor Daly has a clear vision for the future and hopes to make many advancements at the school throughout the duration of the Foundation’s donation.

“I see the school being a very active participant in challenging conventional wisdom, in leading new possibilities in the way we deliver wellness and health and in striving to make a distinctive impact on healthcare, both locally and globally,” said Professor Daly.

This vision is strongly supported by Isaac Wakil AO, who hopes the Foundation’s donations can address immediate and future healthcare challenges.

“This gift underlines the special relationship and ongoing partnership between the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation and the Susan Wakil School of Nursing & Midwifery,” he said.

The University was overjoyed that the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation had continued its long-term partnership with the Sydney Nursing School.

“This special gift is a wonderful vote of confidence in John as the new Dean and of the ongoing work of the School,” said Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC.

University of Sydney's Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence AC shared similar sentiments, expressing the pivotal role that Professor Daly will play as a Dean at the University.

“It is so heartening to see the Foundation support the leadership of the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery,” said Dr Spence.

“The role of a Dean at a university is to develop the best teachers, champion research, inspire students and advocate for their profession. We are so thrilled that the Foundation is our partner in achieving this for nursing.”

With an exciting strategic planning process underway at the school, the donation has come at the perfect time.

The review, led by Professor Daly, will consider expansion in a number of areas including interdisciplinary research and scholarship to further improve health outcomes, particularly for people living with chronic illness. It will also look into growth in new educational endeavours that will enhance the skills of nurses in providing excellent patient care.

“The donation by the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation will help us achieve our goals, greatly enhancing our resource base and enabling us to make advances in important areas of our work,” said Professor Daly.

Another major milestone in the partnership between the Sydney Nursing School and the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation is fast approaching, with building work nearing completion on the Susan Wakil Health Building. Construction was funded through a $35 million-dollar donation made by the Wakils in 2016.

Students and staff at Sydney Nursing School will officially move from Mallett Street into the new building on the University’s Camperdown Campus in 2021.

“Such a special building will open up new possibilities for all students in education, research and scholarship in the Faculty of Medicine and Health,” said Professor John Daly.

The state-of-the-art facility will offer clinical simulation spaces, a multi-service clinic, as well as flexible teaching and research spaces. The building is a remarkable example of the enduring impact of philanthropy on teaching and research, and we expect that it will be a fitting tribute to the vision and generosity of the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation.