The impact of generosity is not measured only in size – it is measured in intention, alignment with what we care about, and the lives it touches. Professor Thomas “Tom” Trauer is a perfect example of this. When he died suddenly in 2013, he left more than a distinguished career in psychology and psychiatry. He left a legacy of compassion, intellect, and unwavering advocacy for mental healthcare – particularly in regions where the need is greatest and resources are limited.
Tom spent decades as a researcher, teacher, and clinician, and most recently as a professorial fellow at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. He was a generous mentor, known for his humility and quiet drive to shift systems and mindsets around mental healthcare. Towards the end of his life, his focus broadened to the Asia-Pacific region, where he worked to improve services in countries where stigma and under-resourcing often left people without support.
To honour his life and values, Tom’s wife Barbara and their sons James and Michael created the Thomas Trauer Fund through St Vincent’s Foundation Victoria. Their goal was simple yet powerful: to continue the work Tom had begun in a way that reflected his passions, creating something lasting that makes a real difference.
Since 2015, the Fund has supported dozens of initiatives across the Asia Pacific – from training frontline clinicians to fostering peer networks – all designed to strengthen mental health services where they are needed most. What is remarkable is how far even modest gifts can go. Grants as small as $9,000 have funded weeks-long courses on topics such as gender-based violence, reaching health professionals across multiple countries and sparking changes that ripple through communities.
Thanks to the Trauer Fund, more than 22 projects have been fully funded in the Asia Pacific since 2015.
“Tom had seen firsthand the lack of funding and support for mental health in the region. We felt it was important to do something lasting and meaningful that reflected his values and vision,” Barbara said.
Her son James reflects: “This is a perfect example of how small-scale philanthropy can spark huge impact. The money acts as a catalyst, but what follows is driven by goodwill and passion.”
The Thomas Trauer Fund continues to grow. What began as individual grants is now a coordinated program with a clear focus on lasting change. From the Pacific Mental Health Nursing Community of Practice to targeted training initiatives, the Fund shows that leaving a legacy is about aligning generosity with what matters most to you and your loved ones – creating something enduring that transforms lives across the Asia-Pacific region now and for generations to come.
