Lessons of a Social Entrepreneur

Ros Worthington speaking at the AELC Entrepreneurs Club

Ros Worthington is a unique social philanthropist who has achieved the extraordinary feat of establishing two of Perth’s highest profile and much loved charities. Ros founded The Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia, which promotes awareness and early detection of this deadly disease and she also set up the Make- A- Wish Foundation, which makes dreams come true for terminally ill children.

The complete coverage of Ros' presentation - 3 videos, approximately 41 minutes in total - is only available for logged in members to view.

Ros Worthington

Ros' inspiring work has been recognised with a prized Order of Australia Medal. Ros was also the 2007 State Finalist in the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.

Her journey is extraordinary. She was abducted at three, sexually molested from the age of four, had a mastectomy after battling breast disease for decades, got divorced, came close to bankruptcy and then had a emotional breakdown after her second husband tragically took his life. For most, just one of these traumas would be crippling, but these sufferings have simply pushed this amazing Perth grandmother in completely the opposite direction.

In 1986 Ros became the first volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in WA. Single handedly she roped in family and friends, set about fundraising and granted the first wish to a terminally ill child in this state. During the next decade, she set up seven other state branches, trained hundreds of other volunteers and helped make hundreds of dreams come true for children with life threatening illnesses. She was made Chairman of the National Board and member of the International Board, setting up the Foundation in India and helping to develop Make-A Wish in Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Belgium and Holland.

However Ros knew she still had more to give. After suffering from breast disease and having a mastectomy and reconstruction at age 34, Ros started up a specialised mastectomy boutique in King Street Perth, but knew the need for services was much greater than this. So in 2000 she founded the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA, to raise awareness of early detection as well as provide grassroots financial, practical and emotional support to women diagnosed with this silent killer.

More Information - www.rosworthington.com.au