Charlies Foundation for Research

26/08/2026

A big Happy Birthday to a very special member of the Charlies Foundation for Research Community - Jackie! 🎈 🎂

Jackie is a long-time supporter of the Foundation, and this year has chosen to celebrate her 84th birthday high tea and in lieu of gifts has asked for her present to be a donation to Charlies Foundation for Research!

Her husband Peter was a long-term patient at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and she has since extended her gratitude to the health care workers through her fundraising generosity.

A massive thank you to Jackie and all those in her circle who show their support on her birthday! 🥳

21/08/2026

Charlies Foundation for Research recently took the time to speak with Erin Godecke and her work around Aphasia, a communication disorder that can occur after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumours, epilepsy and a type of dementia.

Aphasia can make everyday conversations, relationships and independence incredibly difficult. For many people recovering from these conditions, finding the right words can become one of the biggest challenges they face.

Erin Godecke is The Director of Allied Health Research at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group and Senior Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University and has piloted a project "Determining dose limiting factors for aphasia intervention in clinical trials" through funding from her Charlies Foundation for Research, Bright Ideas Grant.

How can rehabilitation research be better designed for people recovering from stroke? Sometimes, the answer starts by asking better questions.
This project explores how to improve the design of future clinical trials for people living with Aphasia. Rather than researchers making all the decisions, the project embraced a co-design approach, working alongside people with lived experience to shape the study from the very beginning. Their feedback transformed the research, leading to the development of aphasia-friendly interview guides, accessible resources and a more inclusive study design that better reflects the needs of participants.

The project also strengthened research capacity by mentoring three clinicians who were new to research, equipping them with skills in study design, ethics, qualitative research and stakeholder engagement to help lead the next generation of clinician-led research.

By improving how early-stage aphasia clinical trials are designed, this work is laying the foundation for more effective rehabilitation research and, ultimately, better outcomes for the approximately 140,000 people affected by this condition in Australia.

Research doesn't just advance through discoveries, it advances when we listen, collaborate and ensure the voices of people with lived experience help shape the future of healthcare.

You can read the full article on Erin's research here https://charliesfoundation.org.au/content/aphasia-intervention/gkhfzp
North Metropolitan Health Service

17/08/2026

The Charlies Foundation for Research Business Events Perth Aspire Awards 2026 are closing soon!

This opportunity is open to the Charlies Foundation for Research community of researchers, clinicians and staff at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospital Group. There’s only one week left to apply to receive a $6,000 grant to attend an international conference in your field in the next three years.

Don’t miss this opportunity to broaden your networks and connect with global leaders in your field. For the full awards criteria and how to apply head to https://www.businesseventsperth.com/aspire-program/apply-now

07/08/2026

📢 NEW OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENT! 📢

We would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that the Charlies Foundation for Research office has moved to a new location within the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital precinct and you can now find us on E-Street, near the E Entrance off Hospital Avenue.

Our phone numbers and email addresses remain unchanged and the new office still has our donation counter, second-hand book stall and card stand. We look forward to continuing to work closely with you from our new location.

If you're in the area, please feel free to drop in and say hello.

06/08/2026

Well done to Professor Rajesh Thomas for his outstanding leadership in Robotic Bronchoscopy. The Foundation is so proud to support the robotic bronchoscope through generous donor funding, as well as backing Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital's position as a leader of training and education in this area of respiratory medicine.

We have already seen such positive outcomes for patients with this equipment in the first 12 months of use and can't wait to see this progress continue. A massive congratulations to all the health care workers involved in this program.

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is helping shape the future of advanced bronchoscopy training 🔬🏥

Our SCGH Bronchoscopy team recently held a three-day Navigational Bronchoscopy Masterclass, which brought together national and international experts and participants.

The workshop forms part of the hospital's Robotic Bronchoscopy Program and was supported by Professor Rajesh Thomas's Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Enabling Grant.

Recognised as one of Australasia's most sought-after robotic bronchoscopy training programs, the masterclass highlighted SCGH's position as a leader in advanced robotic bronchoscopy training and education.

The program is another great example of how our teams are embracing innovation, education and research to support patient care.

05/08/2026

The 2026 Charlies Foundation for Research Thank You Report is hot off the press!

While it's hard to summarise such a full year, we've bundled it all up in our 2026 Thank Your Report. Inside you'll discover the people, research and patient stories that your support made possible over the past year.

This financial year, your generosity has gone a long way, enabling the Foundation to proudly allocate more than $2 million to life-changing medical research at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals.

We have funded 12 Discovery Grants, 13 Bright Ideas Grants, and 5 Giving Day projects. Raised more than $3 million to support better healthcare and welcomed 1,117 new donors to the Charlies community.

These stories showcase just how important and valued the Charlies community are, and how every small gesture leads to patients receiving better care, researchers pursuing groundbreaking discoveries, and hope is created for families across Western Australia.

To every donor, volunteer, fundraiser, researcher and healthcare professional, thank you for helping create a healthier WA.

📖 Read the full Thank You Report to see how your generosity is changing healthcare in Western Australia. https://pubhtml5.com/cyspg/ilex/

03/08/2026

Have you applied for the Business Events Perth Aspire Awards 2026 yet?

Time is running out to get your application in. The Charlies Foundation for Research, Aspire Award will support one exceptional Western Australian with a $6,000 grant to attend an international conference of their choice, expanding their knowledge and networks.

Charlies Foundation for Research is a proud partner of the Business Events Perth once again this year and strongly encourages staff, researchers and academics within the SCGOPHG to apply for this rare and exciting opportunity.

Last year, Charlies Foundation for Research Discovery Grant Award winner, Milad Mirzaei, was the winner of the awards, and his prize has enabled him to attend the ASRT Radiation Therapy Conference. This event has allowed networking and learning opportunities to help grow his work which focuses on stereotactic radiotherapy for chordoma and chondrosarcoma — rare, aggressive tumours that require highly specialised care.

This is an opportunity not to be missed – good luck!
For the full awards criteria and to apply, visit https://www.businesseventsperth.com/aspire-program/apply-now

31/07/2026

Yesterday, we invited some of our very special members of the community to join us for morning tea and hear from Jimena Garcia-Vega, a researcher and Neurological Physiotherapist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, as she shared insights into her incredible work.

The morning provided an opportunity for the Charlies Foundation for Research community to come together, hear first-hand how donations are helping to support vital medical research, and learn more about one of the critical research areas currently being explored through the Foundation’s support.

Mena’s research was featured in this year’s Tax Appeal and focuses on better understanding and treating pusher syndrome, a condition that can affect stroke and brain tumour patients, making it challenging for them to stand and maintain balance. Mena’s vision is to create a more personalised care pathway for brain tumour patients undergoing neurosurgery, oncology treatments and rehabilitation, ensuring their treatment and recovery journey is tailored to their individual needs.

It was a wonderful morning hearing first-hand the passion, dedication and impact of a highly regarded researcher like Mena. We were also grateful to have members of her team join us, alongside some of our valued donors, sponsors and partners.

Thank you to DFR Commercial, Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers, Perron Charitable Foundation, Radiological Clinic Foundation, 6PR Perth, Nova 937 and Business Events Perth for your ongoing support and commitment to advancing research and patient care at Charlies.

North Metropolitan Health Service

31/07/2026

31 Days of Dry July Done! A Huge congratulations to all our participants for their incredible effort and for giving up alcohol to support an amazing cause.

We've got one more sleep to go - finish strong and carry momentum into August! If you haven't already, now is the final chance to donate to your mates, family or colleagues and support their fundraising journey.

Charlies Foundation for Research is so grateful to everyone who committed to the cause this July and for helping create a safe, comfortable space for patients in the Cancer Centre at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital - we couldn't have done it without you!

Last chance to donate! https://www.dryjuly.com/beneficiaries/sir-charles-gairdner-hospital

27/07/2026

The Charlies Foundation for Research Mid-Range Grants Awards are now open!

Charlies Foundation for Research is pleased to invite applications for the 2026 Mid-Range Research Grant Program, supporting innovative discovery research across the Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group.

Our Mid-Range Research Grants are designed to help researchers explore new ideas, generate preliminary evidence and advance projects that have the potential to improve patient care and health outcomes for Western Australians.

Applications now open for:

🌟 Mid-Range Research Grants – Discovery research grants of up to $30,000.

🌟 Ray Florence Shaw Trust Grants – Funding of up to $30,000 for one cardiovascular research project and one ophthalmology research project to be undertaken within the Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group.

🌟Bob Johnson & Jenny Llanos Respiratory Grants – Two grants of up to $30,000 awarded to the highest-scoring applications in respiratory medicine.

Applications close - 24th of September, 6pm.

For the full details and documentation on how to apply, please visit our webpage
https://charliesfoundation.org.au/content/discovery-grant/glatuo

Good luck to all applicants!