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One hundred researchers, volunteers, study participants and
supporters gathered to be thanked and in turn show appreciation
for the amazing achievements of Australia's health and medical
researchers at a morning tea to celebrate Research Australia's "Thank
You" Day 2005. The event was jointly hosted by the University
of Tasmania's Faculty of Health Science and the Menzies Research
Institute.
The Literacy Pathways study, which is examining the role vision
coordination plays in low literacy among some children, was showcased
at the event, which this year had the theme "Research today
for a better future for our children". Children present signed
a giant "Thank You" card by painting a handprint. The
card has been travelling to Thank You Day events all over Australia.
Research Australia is a national alliance of over 160 members,
supporters and donors standing together to make health and medical
research a higher national priority.
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Professor
Allan Carmichael (left), Dean of the Faculty of Health
Science addressed the gathering:
It is a great pleasure for me on behalf of the Faculty
of Health Science, to co host this particular Thank You
morning tea for Research Australia. Health
and Medical Research is of fundamental importance to us all. It results
in prevention of illness, promotion of health and wellbeing, and interventions
to prevent and treat illness and disease. Health and medical research
and evaluation ensures we provide quality and safe health services and it informs
our teaching and practice by testing and producing the best evidence available.
For all these general reasons, health and medical research
is important in Tasmania. But it is not only for the health
and wellbeing of Tasmanians. Because of the
unique features of Tasmania and the research environment here,
we are able to contribute to health and wellbeing of people elsewhere
in Australia and worldwide. Linking with our focus
on a better future for children, the Menzies work on safe sleeping
position to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a clear example
of world wide implications of Tasmanian research.
There are a number of exciting developments in Tasmania which
will enhance our health and medical research effort. The
creation of the Menzies Research Institute from the earlier Menzies
Centre for Population Health Research will be enhanced by the
incorporation of a number of key strategic research groups from
the Faculty of Health Science and other sections of the University. |
This will
increase the critical mass of researchers and infrastructure
which are essential for successful research in the current
national and international climate which is increasingly
competitive, and requiring interdisciplinary collaboration. These collaborations
will be immensely strengthened by the coming together of
these researchers, the School of Medicine and other Faculty
of Health Science groupings in a major new building. This
will provide for the expansion which is necessary for the
future and for a number of research programs which are currently
inhibited by lack of space. Just as importantly
physical colocation will enhance the multi disciplinary
collaboration which is necessary for future research and
for which Tasmania is uniquely suited.
The bringing together of basic biomedical science research
with clinical and epidemiological research is the way of
the future. There is need
to link all these aspects together to gain a complete understanding of factors
which influence health and wellbeing in our population. This is particularly
well illustrated in considering health, growth and development of children where
the old debate of whether nature or nurture is the predominant determinant for
health or illness has been replaced by the modern understanding that nature and
nurture interact. Genetic and biological characteristics of children interact
and are influenced by the physical, emotional and social environment in which
they are brought up. The breadth of research which will be possible
within our newly configured research structures will enable us to provide important
contributions to health and wellbeing not only of children but of older people,
because we can bring a number of these aspects together and in addition the
characteristics of and knowledge about the Tasmanian population provide a unique
base for understanding these interconnections and their outcomes.
This morning is a opportunity to thank our researchers and their supporters.
Many of you who represent those supporters, whether through volunteering, making
donations or fundraising. Our major fundraising bodies and foundations
make this work possible, but as well as thanking you I've to thank another group
who provide the fundamental basis for research in Tasmania and contribute to
its local and general effects. These are the people (including children)
who participate in our studies. This is always at a minimum with
some inconvenience, occasionally involving unpleasant procedures and is often
without the expectation of any direct benefit from the research to themselves. It
is your contribution to society in this way which provides us with a unique
opportunity in Tasmania and for this we thank you and we continue to rely on
the generosity of the Tasmanian community for this in future. |
L-R : Professor
Carmichael, Vice-Chancellor Professor Daryl Le Grew,
Sir Guy Green and Professor Anne Louise Ponsonby
view the thank-you wall at Research House |
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