Premier Mark McGowan was joined by Channel 7’s iconic presenter Susannah Carr today as he presented a record $3.5 million boost to Telethon 2019.
The landmark contribution, which includes a record $1.5 million donation, will support Channel 7 Telethon Trust’s efforts with every cent going directly to children’s hospitals, medical research facilities and community organisations to provide the latest equipment, services, therapies and programs that improve the lives of our young people.
The State Government has partnered with the Channel 7 Telethon Trust for the past seven years to co-fund the WA Child Research Fund which supports child and adolescent health research.
The $2 million allocated this year by the State Government is an important contribution to enable the WA Child Research Fund to continue funding its projects which improve services, research capacity and knowledge, and leverage further research into child and adolescent health.
In the most recent round of the research fund, six local researchers have received funding to undertake child health projects on issues such as allergy prevention, the origins of neurodevelopmental risk and improving gut health in neonates following antibiotic exposure.
The McGowan Labor Government continues to position Western Australia as a centre for research excellence.
It is currently delivering on its election commitment to establish the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund to invest in a long-term health and medical research and innovation fund that will improve the future health and prosperity of all Western Australians.
A major boost of $126.6 million has been committed towards medical research over the next four years which will address a gap in current investment in health and medical research and increase the calibre and capacity of projects undertaken locally.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Telethon continues to be a huge success because of the support of each and every Western Australian who digs deep and donates to help change the lives of WA children.
“Research is the key to improving health outcomes for Western Australian babies, children and teens.
“We are fortunate to have many world-class researchers working in WA universities, research institutes and hospitals on projects that are focused on bettering the lives of children and adolescents.
“I’m pleased to provide this record funding of $3.5 million to Telethon in an effort to improve the health and wellbeing of our young people.”
