About Us

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia was established by the family of Riley Hughes, who have become vocal advocates of immunisation after the death of their son from whooping cough in 2015.  Believing in the importance of parents and community-members standing up to support immunisation, the foundation’s mission is to inspire further community-based immunisation advocacy, helping to protect babies and families from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia envisions a world where families are no longer affected by the unnecessary suffering and death caused by vaccine-preventable diseases.  To help make this vision a reality, we are committed to creating a network of community-based immunisation champions, who share our common values of respect, integrity and evidence-based advocacy. 

The Foundation’s core activities currently include:

1. Run effective pro-vaccination campaigns, bringing attention to the powerful and heartbreaking stories about vaccine-preventable diseases, shared by our community members

2. Coordinate education stands and pop-up immunisation clinics at parenting expos

3. Develop targeted projects to build vaccine confidence in populations with sub-optimal vaccine uptake rates

4. Strengthen our support for immunisation research, allowing us to assist with research planning, recruitment and dissemination of findings

5. Engage in advocacy and activities that improve access to vaccination for Australian adults

6.  Build Australia's biggest network of immunisation champions

7. Share immunisation advocacy strategies and personal stories about vaccine-preventable diseases in presentations at conferences, universities and schools

8. Develop and distribute our immunisation resources to childcare centres, schools, immunisation clinics, hospitals and medical centres

9. Provide consumer representation on a range of immunisation and infectious disease research projects

10. Refer community members who are concerned about vaccines to evidence-based resources, support & services.

CHARITABLE PURPOSES

• Educate the general community about the impact & prevention of  vaccine preventable diseases;

• Inform medical professionals regarding recent developments in best practice for vaccination and VPD-management;

• Inform business and government of the economic benefits arising from  preventing disease through the use of immunisation; and

• Raise funds for research on VPDs, vaccine development, and medical equipment used to treat/detect VPDs, to be used in areas of need.