News Alert |

The City of Ballarat has welcomed Monday’s announcement from the state government of $300,300 towards a new health research initiative.  

The money will help fund the creation of the Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration for Health (BIRCH) project.  

BIRCH is joint project between St John of God Ballarat Hospital, Ballarat Health Services, Federation University, Australian Catholic University, Deakin University, Notre Dame University and University of Melboune.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Councillor Samantha McIntosh said BIRCH was one of six projects for which the city and key Ballarat organisations have advocated as part of the Ballarat Now and Into the Future campaign.    

“This multi-faceted research centre will bring together the research facilities of Ballarat’s two hospitals and six universities into an innovative health care research hub located in the Ballarat Health, Knowledge and City Living Precinct.”  

“BIRCH will support Ballarat’s medical students to undertake mandatory research locally, creating career research pathways not currently available. It will also significantly enhance Ballarat’s ability to attract research income and researchers, leading to collaborative research grant submissions and strong philanthropic and community engagement.”