To celebrate 20 years of improving the health and lives of regional Australians, the Lishman Health Foundation will host a free child health symposium on Friday, June 23.
A panel of experts including paediatrician Dr Harvey Graham and Rural Clinical School of WA senior lecturer Dr Andrew Kirke will examine the pathways into treatment for early childhood learning difficulties.
Lishman Health Foundation chief executive officer Tanya Meyer said the response to the symposium has been outstanding with a huge contingent of teachers, child health nurses, school psychologists, general practitioners, parents and concerned citizens registered from across the South West.
“This event has created enormous interest with registrations so high that we have reached our maximum of 150 well before registrations were due to close,” she said.
“While delighted with the response, we are extremely disappointed to be turning people away, so the Foundation will consider holding a similar event in the future to cater for the people who missed out this time.”
Celebrations for the Lishman Health Foundation’s 20th birthday will follow immediately after the Symposium.
Patrons will hear of the Foundation’s strong history and promising future from founding chairman Anne Donaldson and current chairman Trevor Jackson.
The Foundation is named in honour of Dr Val Lishman who was the region’s first specialist surgeon.
Dr Lishman dedicated his life to improving people’s health not just across the regions of Western Australia but also in Vietnam and Malaysia, Nepal and the Antarctic.
He actively encouraged other specialists to come to the regions and was firmly convinced that every hospital or group of doctors should have exposure to research.
Unique in Australia, the Lishman Health Foundation is the only health foundation that focuses solely on the health circumstance of regional, rural and remote Australians.
“Since its inception, the Foundation has initiated research that has truly improved the lives of country people,” Ms Meyer said.
“Major issues that have dominated our first 20 years have included the high incidence of Ross River Virus, services for cancer patients, the prevention of suicide and detection of inherited high cholesterol.
“Current projects include research on regional health needs associated with gestational diabetes, methamphetamine and alcohol use and quality end-of-life care”.
The Foundation undertakes small projects (up to $10,000 over 12 months) and larger projects (costing around $100,000 per year over multiple years).
To fund these projects the Foundation relies heavily on donations from private individuals along with corporate sponsors.
The symposium has been sponsored by the WA Primary Health Alliance with funding from the Australian government.
To find out more about the Lishman Health Foundation or donate, visit vlfoundation.com.au.
