ADJOURNMENT
Senator ASKEW (Tasmania—Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate) (19:40): It is fair to say the challenges facing the health system in my home state of Tasmania are complex. Crucial issues related to funding, workforce shortages and access to medical equipment remain key barriers to healthcare delivery. When combined with Tasmania's economic, geographic and demographic challenges, this results in many Tasmanians facing reduced access and affordability for the health care they need.
But, despite the challenges, there are some positive stories that demonstrate the resilience of Tasmanians thanks to innovation coming not only from individuals but from an energised not-for-profit sector. There is no better example than the positive contribution being made to Tasmanian health care than the Clifford Craig Foundation. Established in 1992, Clifford Craig Foundation is a leading health promotion charity dedicated to positive health outcomes in north-west and Northern Tasmania.
Its mission is to improve the health of the community, and they have been demonstrating their commitment to that goal for over 30 years. Today I want to acknowledge their amazing efforts over recent weeks, where they have delivered significant achievements that will transform health care in Launceston and Northern Tasmania through conversations, fundraising efforts and new facilities.
One of the most notable events was their inaugural Launceston General Hospital Giving Day. Giving days have proven successful for hospital foundations across Australia, inspiring generosity and raising vital funds to enhance patient care and amenities. Clifford Craig's LGH giving day was supercharged by generous donors committing to double each donation made, with an initial target of $60,000 being set.
True to form, Tasmanians demonstrated their generosity by raising a total of $74,000 in just a few short hours. What an amazing achievement. Another demonstration of the foundation's commitment to improving health outcomes has been by starting important conversations.
Over the last couple of years, Clifford Craig Foundation has used the vehicle of Women's Health Week to host a Let's Talk event to help start conversations around taboo subjects that affect women. This week the topic was endometriosis. It brought together medical professionals, researchers and patients as well as Endometriosis Australia ambassador and Tasmanian journalist, Olivia Hicks, to discuss the gaps in care, barriers to treatment and the different ways endometriosis can manifest.
It was a well-attended and thought-provoking event that has encouraged Tasmanian women to continue the discussion to expand opportunities for treatment. Throughout its more than 30-year existence, Clifford Craig Foundation has been steadfast in its mission to improve health outcomes in our community. The foundation has supported local research through the provision of significant grants, attracting specialist doctors to our region and achieving breakthroughs in a number of different areas.
They are not stopping there. The foundation officially launched its new research and innovation centre at the Launceston General Hospital last month, creating a centralised hub where collaboration, clinical trials and innovation can thrive. Built with funding from both the Australian and Tasmanian governments contributing to this $5.1 million state-of-the-art facility, I would like to acknowledge the advocacy of former federal Liberal member for Bass Bridget Archer, now Tasmanian health minister, in securing federal funding.
Without her determination, this centre would not have been possible. At the launch, the CEO, Vanessa Cahoon, explained: This new Research and Innovation Centre will transform the way medical research is conducted in Tasmania. This Centre is a clear health investment in our current and future generations, offering the leadership, governance and fit-for-purpose space to enable clinical trials, collaborative studies and health education activities to thrive right here in North and North West Tasmania.
Clifford Craig Foundation chair, John Batten, described the centre as 'nothing short of a game changer'. The Clifford Craig Foundation also recently announced 14 successful 2025 foundation grants to be funded. These were awarded for research into a wide range of topics, including pre-hospital delay in stroke patients, creating better pathways for early pregnancy complications, navigating continence assessment and care, and long-term antibiotics use in Tasmania—just to name a few of the wide range of them, as you can tell.
Medical research is about providing hope. Thanks to the vision of the Clifford Craig Foundation and their concerted efforts in the area of community engagement, fundraising and vital research, this will continue across Northern Tasmania for many years to come. Thank you for all you do.