05:00, 29 May 2026
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
“It was the way [Paul Ramsay] felt about people – he wanted to listen to people, to hear them. His motivation was to do things, to do deals, to get things done, to make a difference."
- Michael Siddle, founding Director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
Born and raised in Australia, Paul Ramsey was a businessman who was responsible for setting up private psychiatric hospitals, but is perhaps best known for the philanthropic work he has funded.
In a wildly generous amendment just months before his death, Paul Ramsey changed his will to bequeath his $3 billion to his charity, the Paul Ramsay Foundation. A donation this generous, at the time, made the Paul Ramsay Foundation the largest philanthropic foundation in Australia.
Even in life, Paul Ramsay was incredibly generous - in the 1990s, after he had already become a huge success through his private psychiatric hospitals, Paul vehemently defended Darlinghurst’s St Vincent’s Hospital, which was under threat of being shut down by the Australian government.
St Vincent’s Hospital was, and still is, at the heart of HIV/AIDS research and LGBTQ+ inclusion in healthcare, and Paul Ramsay was instrumental in protecting and keeping open the doors of this singular institution for care.
In 2002, Paul Ramsay was made an Officer to the Order of Australia for his services to community, cementing him in the country’s public eye as a generous and kind man, committed to leaving the world better than he found it.
“His love of people was what drove him.” said Peter Evans, founding Director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, of Paul. “He had a joy in seeing people educated, in encouraging and supporting young people to succeed.”
Ramsay set up the Paul Ramsay Foundation in 2006, just eight years before his death, with the goal of breaking the cycle of disadvantage and ensuring all people have access to a good and successful life.
Since Paul Ramsay’s passing, his friends and family and all those who work for the Paul Ramsay Foundation have been committed to continuing his legacy. The Foundation is a testament to Paul Ramsay’s deep belief in action, and in what he considered to be fact; that empathy, collaboration and new thinking can help to transform people’s lives.
Thanks to the incredibly generous gift left to continue Paul Ramsay’s legacy long after his death, the Paul Ramsay Foundation has been able to make a number of large, life-changing financial gifts.
In 2015, the Paul Ramsay Foundation made a $14.7 million donation to the Black Dog Institute, a not-for-profit institute which runs suicide prevention programmes and is dedicated to helping those whose mental health is leaving their lives in danger.
The Paul Ramsay Foundation does their work through a three pronged approach; investing, building and influencing the conditions necessary to stop disadvantage in Australia. In the last 20 years since the Foundation was set up, the charity has granted around $1 billion to more than 200 partners, and invested $140 million in a portfolio of impact investments.
Paul Ramsay Foundation grants go out to various charities and not-for-profits in Australia, all with the aim of ending disadvantage in the country. The Foundation shows particular attention to healthcare-related charities, partly in deference to Paul Ramsay’s history with healthcare.
The Paul Ramsay Foundation has additionally installed a First Nations Advisory Council. This is with the aim of enabling the Foundation to work with their partners in a sustainable, respectful way that takes into account the differing lives and experiences of First Nations peoples in Australia.
If you are a charity, non-profit, social enterprise or other organisation who want to create positive change in Australia and you are looking for funding from the Paul Ramsay Foundation, you can find their grant portal here at this link.
By going through this application portal, organisations, no matter their size, stand a chance of being granted money by the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
Paul Ramsay was a powerful and generous man in life, and his landmark gift upon his death simply cements that further. It is thanks to his generosity that so many lives across Australia are being changed even today, twelve years after his passing, and will continue to be improved for much, much longer.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Black Dog Institute. This Australian charity focuses on mental health research, suicide prevention, and support programmes, reflecting Paul Ramsay’s long-standing commitment to healthcare, wellbeing, and improving lives through compassionate action and innovation. Learn more here.
St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. A leading Australian hospital known for its work in HIV/AIDS research, inclusive healthcare, and community support, St Vincent’s reflects the values Paul Ramsay championed through his advocacy for accessible, compassionate healthcare and protecting vital public services. Discover their work here.
Paul Ramsay Foundation. Established to break cycles of disadvantage and create opportunities for healthier, more successful lives, the Foundation continues Paul Ramsay’s legacy through investments in healthcare, education, First Nations partnerships, and social impact initiatives across Australia. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Health and Wellbeing.
