Thank you for considering a gift in your Will to the Perkins.
Your gift, whatever the size, can help transform your Will into one of the most powerful tools for change by fuelling the WA medical research vital to improving health for generations ahead.
Preparing your Will needn’t be complex or expensive, but we always recommend you discuss your personal circumstances with a solicitor and your immediate family to ensure your Will is valid and reflects your intentions clearly.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about including a gift in your Will to support medical research at the Perkins.
Once you have decided to leave a gift in your Will to the Perkins, you will need to contact your solicitor to arrange to write or update your Will. Once it is ready and you are satisfied with the arrangements you have made, you will need to sign your updated Will before two witnesses and store it safely.
You’ll find more detailed information here
If you intend to include a gift in your Will your Solicitor will need the following:
They may also wish to see this suggested wording which you can download or print and give to your solicitor.
Yes, you can include a gift in your Will that is named in honour or memory of a loved one. Please contact Ann to discuss your wishes and we’ll work with your guidance to respectfully recognise you and the person you would like to honour.
There are several ways you can direct gifts in your Estate. We’d always suggest that you take care of your loved ones first and then consider including causes that are close to your heart and that best suit your circumstances.
What are the most common gift types?
It’s important to note that superannuation and life insurance do not automatically form part of your estate. We recommend speaking to your solicitor about making appropriate arrangements if you’d like to include them.
We’ll use your gift honestly, wisely and ethically, and where it will have the most impact.
Medical research is only partially funded by the government through unreliable short-term grants that usually last 12 months. Every year, researchers need to reapply for grants to secure funding so their research can continue. In WA, just 10% of grant applications are successful, yet researchers must spend a considerable amount of their time writing and submitting applications with no guarantee of success, and the odds against them. Your gift is so important to these researchers because it helps to fill the funding gap and provide a safety net so their research can continue.
Past gifts in Wills have been used to fund the purchase and maintenance of specialist equipment, bring international talent to our labs in Perth, and provide lifelines to promising projects when government grants have fallen short.
A portion of your gift will be assigned to a growing medical research “future fund” to provide a long-term, sustainable source of much needed funding for years to come.
Your gift is personal and it’s very important to us that we fulfil your wishes. If you are making a gift for a specific purpose, we urge you to contact Ann to discuss your intentions before you see your solicitor. Once Ann understands your wishes, she will be able to suggest the most suitable wording for your Will, which may help your solicitor.
The recent pandemic and the near elimination of cervical cancers through the HPV vaccine are both prime examples of the agile nature and ever-evolving focus of medical research teams. Therefore it is our preference that gifts are unrestricted and can be used for the most urgent needs as determined by our Research Leadership Team at the time your future gift is realised.
At this time the Perkins does not directly accept body donations for scientific use. The Department of Anatomy at UWA have the capacity to accept donations of this kind and you can find out more on their website.
Perkins researchers routinely work with local biobanks to obtain donated tissue from surgical procedures at nearby hospitals. We have approvals in place at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital and St John of God in Murdoch and Subiaco. If you’re undergoing planned surgery and wish to donate to a biobank, you should discuss your wishes with your surgeon.
We’d greatly appreciate you letting us know if you decide to include a gift in your Will to the Perkins. By doing so, you will give us the special opportunity to thank you for your kindness, discuss your wishes and hear how you would like to receive updates about our work and future plans. It would also be an honour to invite you to join a special group of like-minded and committed supporters — the Perkins Silver Lining. Silver Lining members are an important and valued part of our future.
We can also discuss your preferred acknowledgement of your gift when it’s realised, and any updates you may like sent to your loved ones about the impact you’ve made.
However, we understand if you do not wish to share this information and we appreciate that circumstances and priorities change, so we will always respect your decision to let us know or not.
If you decide to leave a gift in your Will to the Perkins, you can discuss with Ann how you would like your gift to be acknowledged – both now and in the future.
We would be honoured to invite you to join a special group of committed supporters – the Perkins Silver Lining. Silver Lining members are an important and valued part of our future.
Like you, this wonderful group of people understands the importance of medical research. You’ll receive invitations to:
We’d love you to become part of our special Perkins Silver Lining family. Please get in touch with Ann if you would like to join.
Your solicitor can help you change or update your Will at any time. We respect and understand that your circumstances and priorities may change and while you’re not obligated to do so, we would appreciate being informed of changes or updates. You can let Ann know at any time.
Any amount you’re able to give will be greatly appreciated by our research teams, as well as the families set to benefit from the breakthroughs made as a result of your generosity.
If you would like to find out more about the difference your gift can make, please contact Ann. Ann can help you visualise your impact by sharing with you the inspiring research happening today and our audacious goals for the future.
If you’d like any help with questions or would like to notify us of your intention to include a gift in your Will, please contact our Planned Giving Specialist Ann Hunter via email, or phone (08) 6151 0745. She is just a phone call away and welcomes your call.
Planned Giving Specialist
Leaving a gift in your Will is a very personal decision. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch with Perkins Planned Giving Specialist, Ann Hunter.
T. +61 8 6151 0745
E. [email protected]
Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am – 5pm
All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible in Australia.
Perkins is registered with the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR): Charitable Fundraising Authority No DGR CC20761
The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research recognises Australia’s first healers and scientists, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live and work, and pay respects to their elders past and present.