$10 million for new BIRCH Facility
29 Apr 2019
29 April 2019
The funding would allow BIRCH to have a brand new facility, and turn Ballarat into a health care research hub.
BIRCH aims to have 300 researchers within 10 years, and more than 1,000 working and living in the region within 20 years. Having a purpose built facility is a step in the right direction in achieving these goals.
Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King says research in Ballarat is vital to the community.
“Providing access to research is critical. It’s the research that provides the opportunity for patients to be engaged in clinical trials, and improves health outcomes in our community,” she said.
“Being involved in research also means attracting the best and brightest here in Ballarat and we retain them here in this community.”
This funding is part of a wider Labor commitment to healthcare, with a $2.8 billion Better Hospitals Fund to be established if elected.
What is BIRCH?
The Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration for Health is a collaboration between Ballarat's two major hospitals, and six universities throughout Victoria. The partners in this collaboration are:
- Federation University
- Deakin University
- Melbourne University
- La Trobe University
- Australian Catholic University
- University of Notre Dame
BIRCH will bring together researchers across a range of disciplines to tackle issues in health. It will develop a focal point for research that will then be translated to healthcare practice in our region.
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