BIRCH gets seed funding

FUNDING for the Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration in Health, or BIRCH has been announced.

Just over $300,000 has been set aside for the project that aims to bring together researchers and clinicians who will look at a range of health challenges.

“By funding this great project, we’re taking full advantage of Victoria’s world-leading health research capabilities to create jobs, strengthen Ballarat’s economy and pave the way for future growth,” said Western Victoria upper house MP Jaala Pulford.

BIRCH is made up of a number of health providers and education institutions based in Ballarat including St John of God Ballarat Hospital, Ballarat Health Services, Federation University, Australian Catholic University, Deakin University, Notre Dame University and University of Melbourne.

“We are a collaboration and very importantly so,” said Associate Professor Mark Yates from Ballarat Health Services.

“A collaboration is an active engagement that requires trust and engagement across different peoples and Ballarat is unique in the fact it is emerging as collaborative city.”

BIRCH is one of the projects that Ballarat Now and In the Future has been lobbying for action on.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Councillor Samantha McIntosh, who represents one of the eight member organisations that make up BNIF said she was pleased with the announcement.

“It’s important that the regions have access to research, it’s important that the regions have access to the results of that, and the successes that will bring to a health community,” she said.

However, with $300,000 on offer, Cr McIntosh said there was more could be done to get BIRCH to a point where is could meet its goals.

“Of course I’d love to see something a bit more given this a project we’ve been working on for many years,” she said.