Ballarat joins research project

AUSTRALIA’S largest-ever child and parent research project has launched in Ballarat.

The Generation Victoria, or GenV, initiative is led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and seeks to map the lifelong health of the state’s first generation of post-pandemic people.

Ballarat Health Services and St John of God Hospital joined the research efforts late last week, which includes 27 other regional hospitals and some 150,000 volunteer Victorians.

It’s thought the research could help drive better health outcomes for young people by assisting doctors and researchers to identify location-specific health issues, according to the State Government.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, said the project was making way for better understanding of Ballarat’s health needs.

“As one of the largest studies ever done on pregnancies and children, GenV reinforces Victoria’s position as a world leader in medical research and will give great insight into health issues in the region,” she said.

Regional manager of GenV, Rachael Cooper, said the project could help vulnerable Victorians in particular.

“Through this this once-in-a-generation initiative we are addressing the inequities that face so many children and families across Victoria and we hope it will be particularly useful for the most vulnerable communities in our state,” she said.