Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In the last week of November I welcomed Minister Cash to Curtin University in my electorate of Swan to announce over $4 million in medical research projects in Western Australia. The Turnbull government will invest $4.62 million in seven Western Australian health research projects at Curtin University aimed at improving the lives of Australians. The projects to be undertaken include investigating lower back pain, examining vitamin D deficiency and addressing issues relating to binge drinking—probably well-known within this place.

I would like to thank Minister Hunt for his efforts in securing the grants, which will actively support researchers with funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. This funding will support Australia's talented researchers to find solutions to health challenges facing many Australians. The research, to be undertaken at Curtin University, will address public health issues that affect all Australians. Associate Professor Peter Kent will be provided with $1.21 million to lead a project that examines new and innovative treatments of lower back pain. Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in Australia, with an enormous cost burden for society. Available treatments have resulted in only moderate improvements that typically do not last. This project will investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of two new treatments that have shown promising early results, including an individual movement and cognitive rehabilitation approach, and biofeedback from wireless movement sensors worn on the spine.

I congratulate Curtin University and thank Minister Cash and Mr Hunt for their advocacy. (Time expired)

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