Flinders Foundation

12/06/2026

When Sonja first met Sally, she was in a petri dish under a microscope. 🔬

10 years on, the pair met for the first time to celebrate progress in cancer research and care as panellists at Flinders Foundation’s forum – Beyond Diagnosis: Stories and Science Behind Cancer Care.

When Sally was first diagnosed with mesothelioma, the median survival rate was just 12 months. So when her biopsies kept re-appearing in Sonja’s lab, they formed a connection that was about more than survivorship – it was about the power of research.

Their story is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when our community comes together to support groundbreaking research and patient care. People like Sally are given the chance to make more memories. Go on their dream holidays. Meet their grandchildren.

With your help, Flinders Foundation can ensure nothing stands in the way of everyone being able to experience exceptional care, without exceptions.

11/06/2026

Understanding why people with diabetes often experience poorer outcomes after receiving medical implants. 🔬

Thanks to community support through Flinders Foundation, Dr Richard Bright and his team have found that implant surfaces can influence how immune cells respond – and that ultrathin surface coatings can create a more supportive healing environment.

For people living with diabetes, this could mean less pain, fewer complications, and a quicker return to everyday life.

Every breakthrough starts somewhere. Your support helps researchers take promising ideas from the lab towards real-world healthcare improvements that could change lives.

Read the full story on our website and learn how small molecules could make a big difference for people with diabetes: https://bit.ly/4ehCw4M

09/06/2026

When Natalie was diagnosed with cancer, everything became about one thing. Staying here for her children.

She told her children, who were just nine and five at the time, that she was going to do everything she could to get better.

And she did. But the path was relentless.

Surgery. More surgery. And sixteen rounds of chemotherapy.

Natalie showed up for her family, no matter how hard it became. Today, we’re asking our community to show up to help more families affected by cancer.

Because when someone hears the words “you have cancer”, what happens next matters.

When our community comes together in support of exceptional research and care, it gives hope to families when they need it most.

Read Natalie’s story and how she made the remarkable decision to give back to the research that helped her exist today: https://bit.ly/4vAaOXR

08/06/2026

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Richard Scolyer, a world-renowned pathologist, melanoma researcher and tireless advocate for health and medical research.

Professor Scolyer dedicated his career to improving outcomes for people affected by cancer, helping to transform melanoma treatment and save countless lives through his groundbreaking work. Even after his own diagnosis with glioblastoma, he continued to advance medical science, becoming the first patient to receive an experimental brain cancer treatment based on melanoma research he had helped pioneer.

His extraordinary courage and commitment to research never wavered. By participating in clinical trials and sharing his journey so openly, he contributed valuable knowledge that will continue to benefit future patients and families facing cancer.

Professor Scolyer often spoke about how a cancer diagnosis affects far more than the individual, touching families, friends, and entire communities. He also championed the critical importance of funding medical research, recognising it as one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change and improve lives.

On behalf of Flinders Foundation, we extend our sincere condolences to Professor Scolyer's family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy will live on through the discoveries he helped make, the lives he changed, and the hope he inspired for future generations.

Read Professor Scolyer's open letter 👇

Professor Scolyer wrote he "would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who 'gave it a crack', and in doing so, inspired others to pursue their dreams and passions with humility, love and compassion".

03/06/2026

💩 Do good crap this month.

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, but it isn't just about awareness — it's about action.

The good news? There are simple things you can do right now that could help save lives.

✔️ Take your free bowel screening test or encourage someone you care about to do theirs
✔️ Help fund groundbreaking bowel cancer research
✔️ Take the Poo Quiz to learn more about your bowel health
✔️ Start a conversation and help wipe the stigma

Because when we talk crap, more people get checked. And when more people get checked, more lives can be saved.

🍑 Read more on our website:

At Flinders Foundation, our purpose is you. We raise money for research, treatment and equipment, so that our community, can live a longer and happier…

02/06/2026

Over the course of her career in lung cancer and mesothelioma research, Professor Sonja Klebe has seen remarkable progress in how cancer is understood, classified and treated.

Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the protective lining of organs such as the lungs, heart and abdomen, was once considered a single disease with limited treatment options. Today, thanks to ongoing investment in research, care is becoming increasingly personalised and precise.

With support from a Health Seed Grant from Flinders Foundation in partnership with Flinders University, Professor Klebe and her team (pictured) are advancing precision immunobiology research to better predict how patients will respond to treatment, helping pave the way for more targeted and effective cancer care.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4xin8Oe

01/06/2026

We are incredibly grateful to our corporate supporters who help advance life-changing health and medical research, as well as exceptional patient care.

The 2025 Drakes Charity Showbag raised an amazing $35,038.80 for each of its charity partners, including Flinders Foundation.

With more than 20,000 showbags sold last year, this remarkable initiative has raised over $2 million for charities since 1999.

This enduring commitment to giving back reflects Roger Drake's belief: "You cannot take out of this world unless you give back."

Thank you to Drakes Supermarkets, its suppliers, and everyone who purchased a showbag and helped make a tangible difference. 💙

28/05/2026

Right after National Volunteer Week, we welcomed our valued volunteers to a special morning tea filled with coffee, meaningful conversations, and a few insightful chats with researchers whose work has been made possible through community support. ☕💙

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrated the incredible volunteers whose compassion helps make difficult moments a little easier for patients and families, and whose support helps our events run smoothly.

Volunteers are at the heart of our community, united by a shared belief that together, we can improve outcomes for people when they need it most.

“When people volunteer, it encourages communities to keep improving and helps build a more fair and supportive society.” — Volunteer Francis

Thank you to every volunteer who gives their time, care, and energy to support our community. 💙

26/05/2026

This National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on the importance of learning from our shared histories, cultures and achievements, while continuing to work together towards a more reconciled Australia.

At Flinders Foundation, we are proud to support research and hospital initiatives that aim to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

From supporting the vital role of Aboriginal Health Workers in the early detection of ear disease and hearing impairment in children, to funding research exploring culturally safe nutrition support and improved liver cancer screening pathways, these projects are helping create meaningful change and improve community outcomes.

This week, and every week, we remain committed to supporting better health outcomes and advancing reconciliation through research, care and community partnerships.