Speeches
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation Branding Launch
Rod and I, as joint patrons, are delighted to be here with the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation community as prepare to mark a 50-year milestone - one that will see the launch later tonight of a forward-looking name and brand that shines a greater light on the foundation.
It has been Rod’s and my pleasure over the past four years to speak at presentations of the Foundation’s research grants.
All parents hope that their children will be able to lead healthy lives.
But sometimes, for some people, those hopes and expectations are not borne out. And that is where the work of the foundation comes in through its aspiration that every child is healthy, happy and supported.
As Sarah and Roseanna reminded us, many of us have memories of the original Telethon where banks of people on telephones took pledges of heartfelt Christmas Appeal donations.
That support raised money to help build the Regency Park Centre for Physically Handicapped Children, now Novita, of which Rod and I are proud patrons.
From 1976, Christmas Appeals were directed to the establishment of a Children’s Medical Research Foundation to promote medical research to encourage and advance investigations into the cause, diagnosis and treatment of all types of illness.
In 1987 the continuing evolution of the program led to it becoming the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, and research was broadened to help improve health, education and welfare outcomes for children.
While statistics don’t tell the whole story, it is worth reiterating that over the past 50 years, there have been:
- 1,044 research projects funded; and
- 514 researchers supported.
Today’s $2 million in annual grants generate new knowledge and importantly thousands of children’s lives have been saved or changed for the better.
Through the foundation, researchers are being empowered to undertake work, the benefits of which will be felt in homes, hospitals and classrooms.
Designing medical environments, improving infant nutrition, tackling adolescent eating disorders, through to life-long learning.
By their very nature breakthroughs take time and require tenacity to overcome setbacks and the support of the community that firmly believes in the end goal.
Importantly, the foundation supports early career researchers to establish themselves in their chosen field and so builds research capacity in our State.
Such investment in the health and wellbeing of our young people is an investment in our community and in our future.
Rod and I congratulate the board, staff, volunteers, researchers and supporters on your vision and hard work.
We wish the foundation well for the future as it embarks on its next half-century – and with a new name.