StepUp4ICU is a community driven initiative dedicated to strengthening the future of intensive care through targeted support for research and education. The project aims to raise essential funds that will expand grant opportunities for clinicians, researchers, and educators working to advance critical care practice. By investing in these areas, StepUp4ICU helps accelerate innovation, improve patient ...
Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation
Step Up 4 ICU A Bi-National Digital Campaign for Critical Care Awareness
GOAL
$23,045
International
Field of Interest
- Health/wellbeing and medical research
Target Population
- General population
Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation
The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation (ANZICF) fund research, and education initiatives. Our grants often provide the first spark that leads to major national and international trials, new standards of care, and innovations that directly improve both survival and quality of life after critical illness.
Intensive Care is the life-support centre of every major hospital. 1 in 2 Australians will require an ICU admission at some point in their lives, and more than 200,000 critically ill adults and children are treated in ICUs across Australia and New Zealand every year. Australia and New Zealand are recognised as world leaders in intensive care survival. Our mortality rate is 8%, compared with the international benchmark of 13%, a difference that translates to 10,000 additional lives saved every year.
Maintaining this world-leading standard is not guaranteed. It requires continuous investment, new ideas, and the ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats. Each year, ANZICF distributes around $220,000 in competitive grants. Yet last year alone, we received over $2 million in high-quality applications, evidence of both the extraordinary innovation within our ICU community and the significant gap between what is needed and what we can currently fund. Every unfunded project represents a missed opportunity to save lives, improve recovery, or support the next generation of ICU clinicians.
Project Summary
StepUp4ICU is a community driven initiative dedicated to strengthening the future of intensive care through targeted support for research and education. The project aims to raise essential funds that will expand grant opportunities for clinicians, researchers, and educators working to advance critical care practice.
By investing in these areas, StepUp4ICU helps accelerate innovation, improve patient outcomes, and build a more resilient and skilled intensive care workforce.
Alongside its fundraising mission, StepUp4ICU seeks to shine a light on the unseen challenges faced by intensive care professionals. ICU teams work in high pressure environments where every decision carries significant weight, and the emotional and physical demands can be profound. Through storytelling, public engagement, and community events, the initiative highlights the dedication, expertise, and humanity of ICU workers, fostering greater understanding and appreciation across the broader community.
StepUp4ICU also encourages individuals and organisations to take an active role in supporting critical care. Whether through donations, participation in awareness activities, or sharing the message, the initiative creates accessible pathways for people to contribute to meaningful change. By bringing together healthcare professionals, patients, families, and supporters, StepUp4ICU builds a collective movement committed to strengthening intensive care now and for the future.
Ultimately, StepUp4ICU stands as both a fundraising campaign and a tribute to the resilience of ICU teams. It empowers the community to step up, support vital research and education, and acknowledge the extraordinary work of those who care for the most critically ill.
Project Outcomes
The StepUp4ICU pilot campaign aims to drive measurable growth in participation, engagement, and fundraising across six ICU units while establishing a scalable model for future bi‑national rollouts.
The campaign targets registration of 40% of ICU staff, with 60–70% of participants logging steps daily or per shift and at least 60% remaining active through the final week. One third of participants will set personal step goals, and 80% are expected to indicate willingness to participate again in post‑campaign surveys. Internal visibility will increase, with half of all staff reporting exposure to campaign promotion.
Team-based features will strengthen collective engagement and support the capture of 1–2 stories, quotes, or photos per ICU to deepen connection with families, friends, and professional networks. Step‑based metrics—including total steps, average steps per participant, and distance equivalents—will establish a baseline for future campaigns and enhance public storytelling.
Fundraising outcomes will include higher average funds raised per participant, improved donor conversion and repeat giving, and more consistent momentum across the full campaign month. Total funds raised and number of donations will set benchmarks for year‑on‑year growth, while cost per dollar raised will decrease compared with previous Intensive Care Foundation initiatives.
The campaign will also secure 2–5 corporate sponsors for the October national rollout, supported by documented conversations or expressions of interest.
Platform performance will be assessed through short sign‑up times, minimal support needs, and at least 70% positive user feedback, ensuring administrative workload remains manageable. Real‑time data and improved post‑campaign reporting will strengthen optimisation, accountability, and long‑term sustainability.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $23,045
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funding gap | $23,045 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fundraising platform startup fee | $5,000 |
| Licensing fee | $165 |
| Monthly subscription (total annual cost) | $1,560 |
| Design costs ($ per hour) for website design | $1,320 |
| Content development | $2,000 |
| Paid social media ads | $3,000 |
| PR Marketing strategy | $10,000 |
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