Charlies Foundation for Research

16/10/2026

This year Charlies Foundation for Research has been proud to sponsor Research Week and assist with expansion across Osborne Park Hospital along with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital through the poster displays and Research workshops.

The event is a chance to celebrate research excellence and featured presentations from research experts, competitions, a research panel discussion and an awards ceremony.

48 research posters were displayed as part of the Poster Showcase competition across both hospitals, capturing the diverse and innovative research being undertaken across various departments to support the health of the community.

Congratulations to the following research poster winners:

🥇 First place: Bec Kevill – Advanced practice occupational therapy for patients with hand and upper limb conditions
🥈 Second place: Capri Laforest and Sarah Wood Implementation and evaluation of an occupational therapy Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) outpatient program for stroke survivors
🥉 Third place: Gráinne Marron - Infusion-Related Reactions Following First-Dose Obinutuzumab in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Patients
🏅 People’s Choice: Anneliese McNeil - Elder Abuse “No More Shame” Recognition and response in a sub-acute setting
🏅 People’s Choice: Kaylee Molin - Biomarkers from pre-therapy PET scans predict prostate cancer treatment response

Our talented researchers also presented findings from their research projects as part of three New Investigator competitions. Congratulations to the category winners:

🏅Scientific: Joel Noble - AI-enabled Personalised Medicine for Improving Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment
🏅Allied Health: Michelle Gyr - Exploring Community Pharmacists' Knowledge of Voluntary Assisted Dying and Authorised Disposal
🏅Nursing: Luzanne Botes - Preceptors' Expectations of Newly Qualified Nurses' Performance at 3 and 9 Months of Practice
🏅Clinical Medical: Dr Katherine Ferguson - Non-fatal strangulation and the incidence of bony, soft tissue and vascular injury on CT angiogram
🏅Clinical Medical: Dr Xinxin Hu - Robotic Bronchoscopy Streamlines Lung Cancer Diagnosis By Reducing 'Redo' Procedure.

Well done to all involved.

Thank you to the Research Department for their efforts in organising the week, and to all involved; our wonderful guest speakers throughout the week and our Q&A panel members, who spoke at the Research Evening.

View the posters and read more about the projects here. https://charliesfoundation.org.au/content/research-week-2026/gkayzg

North Metropolitan Health Service

14/10/2026

One team, one dream! 💙 The Charlies Foundation for Research team spent the morning at RSM in the city for a dedicated team development workshop, facilitated by Zoe McAlpine Coaching & Consulting to help strengthen and grow together.

It was a valuable opportunity for some introspection, to reflect and strengthen our connections, share ideas and explore how we can continue working together to make a meaningful difference through medical research and patient care across WA.

A big thank you to Zoe for guiding the day, and to RSM for hosting us, we particularly enjoyed the view!

We’re looking forward to putting these insights into action as we continue supporting research that creates a brighter, healthier future for our community.

01/10/2026

How can Mental Health First Aid training make a meaningful difference in a healthcare workplace?

October is Mental health awareness month and Prof. Ravani Duggan from the Centre for Nursing Research, SCGOPHCG and the Curtin School of Nursing conducted a study exploring the impact of Mental Health First Aid training within Western Australia’s North Metropolitan Health Service—examining its influence on staff knowledge, attitudes, confidence and willingness to support others, as well as the ongoing support Mental Health First Aiders need.
The research team comprised of Professor Ravani Duggan, Dr Shirley McGough, Janette Morris and Stacey Dix.

Using a mixed-methods design, the team conducted a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews across four North Metropolitan hospital sites, collecting data from 148 survey respondents and 14 interview participants.

The findings were encouraging. Participants reported that the course provided new knowledge as well as strengthening existing knowledge, provided new practical skills and increased their confidence to recognise mental wellbeing concerns and continue difficult conversations. They described using these skills with patients, colleagues, friends and family, including listening without judgement, asking open-ended questions and helping people access appropriate support.

The study also identified opportunities to strengthen the program’s impact. Workload, limited privacy and isolation among Mental Health First Aiders can make providing support difficult. Participants highlighted the value of debriefing, peer forums, continued upskilling, visible management support and permission to step away from routine duties when someone needs help.

These insights show why evaluating workplace mental health initiatives matters: it helps translate training into practical, sustainable support for healthcare staff and the people they serve.

Prof Ravani Says, “This project could not have been undertaken without the generous funding provided by the Charlies Research Foundation. We are sincerely grateful for its investment in research that supports healthier workplaces and communities.”

30/09/2026

Proud to support and celebrate emerging research talent. Congratulations Joel and Kaylee! 👏🎉

Congratulations to Joel Noble on winning the 2026 New Investigator Award: Scientific, and to Kaylee Molin on winning the 2026 Overall People’s Choice Award in the Poster Showcase at Research Week, SCGOPHCG.

- Joel’s presentation was entitled: “AI-enabled Personalised Medicine for Improving Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment”

- Kaylee’s poster was entitled: “Biomarkers from pre-therapy PET scans predict prostate cancer treatment response”

These are fantastic achievements and wonderful recognition of the outstanding being conducted by our candidates.

Well done, Joel and Kaylee! 🎉👏

North Metropolitan Health Service, UWA Research, Charlies Foundation for Research, ,

25/09/2026

Giving Day 2026 — Final Tally 💙

WE DID IT and MORE- $148,616 raised!!!

What an incredible outcome for our BIGGEST EVER Giving Day!

Thanks to our amazing Charlies Champions, the funds raised are supporting projects that will make a real difference for patients and families at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park Hospital.

Your generosity is helping fund not only the Foundation but our incredible Giving Day projects:

💙 Cancer Centre – Celebrating the Fight
💙 Breast Centre – Improving Breast Lymphoedema Diagnosis and Treatment
💙 Immunology & Transplantation Lab – Immunity for our Community
💙 Palliative Care Service – Care and Comfort at Charlies
💙 ICU – Supporting Patients and Families
💙 Emergency Department Education Team – Supporting Patients in Their Most Urgent Moments
💙 Osborne Park, Ward 4 Gardens – Redeveloping the garden for Patients and Families

Thank you to our Giving Day matched partners for doubling the impact DFR Commercial, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Perth Radiological Clinic foundation, Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers, Nova 937, Stack Physio and our very special Friends of the Foundation.

To every donor, fundraiser, matched partner, workplace, volunteer and supporter who made Giving Day possible — thank you.

You are helping make the world a better place 💙

Alcoa Australia UWA Medical Physics Group 6PR Perth North Metropolitan Health Service

23/09/2026

Firstly, a HUGE thank you to every incredible Charlies Champion who has already donated to our 2026 Giving Day 💙

Together, we’ve already raised $140,000 but we’re not there yet ⏰ There are just TWO HOURS left to Be a Champ for Charlies, help us reach our final dream goal of $145,000!

Our hospital teams have shared the projects they need to make a real difference for patients, families, clinicians and researchers — and your support can help make those projects happen.
If you’ve been thinking about donating, now is the time.

Every donation matters. Every share helps. Every last-minute donation could help us reach our goal.

And to our amazing Giving Day matched partners - Commercial, Stan Perron Foundation, Perth Radiological Clinic foundation, Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers, Nova 937, Stack Physio and our very special Friends of the Foundation, thank you for helping make this day possible and helping every donation go even further.

Let’s give it one final push. 💙

Giving Day closes at 9AM.

Donate now. Be a Champ for Charlies.
http://www.beachampforcharlies.org.au/?utm_source=Facebook

North Metropolitan Health Service

23/09/2026

What a day it’s been! Since 9am this morning our Charlies community has come together in an incredible show of support for our hospitals, patients, clinicians and researchers. We’ve seen generosity, kindness and so many people getting behind Be a Champ for Charlies Giving Day — and we couldn’t be more grateful.
But we’re not finished yet. We have currently raised $125,000 and Giving Day is open until 9AM tomorrow, which means there is still time to make a difference.

Let’s finish strong. Let’s get behind our hospitals. 💙

23/09/2026

A special message from Renee De Prazer, Acting Executive Director of Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group. 🩵 North Metropolitan Health Service

23/09/2026

$100,000 RAISED! 🤩
We are blown away! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far, we are now trying to reach $125,000 for our hospital teams! If you haven’t yet donated there’s still time to show your support!
Head to the link in our bio!
North Metro Health Service

23/09/2026

WE HIT OUR $75,000 GOAL! LET'S GO FOR 🌟*$125,000*🌟 NEW GOAL!
In an unbelievable Giving Day morning, we have had so many generous volunteers, donors, hospital staff members and matched partners help us reach our goal and are now RAISING IT! http://www.beachampforcharlies.org.au/?utm_source=Facebook
Please keep the donations coming to support these seven incredible hospital team projects who care for patients at our hospitals every single day:

🩵 Cancer Centre – Celebrating the Fight: Creating a more peaceful and uplifting environment for patients completing cancer treatment, with celebration bells, artwork and opportunities for patients and families to share messages of hope.

🩷 Breast Centre – Breast Lymphoedema: Introducing Lymph scanners into the breast Physiotherapy service to facilitate early diagnosis & treatment of breast lymphoedema – a painful condition impacting quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

💉 Immunology & Transplantation Lab – Immunity for our Community: Supporting research, equipment and professional development to help advance immunology and transplantation care.

Palliative Care – Care and Comfort at Charlies: Enhancing end-of-life spaces to provide warm, peaceful and compassionate environments for patients and their families.

🚑️ Emergency Department – Simulation Room Enhancement: Enhancing staff training through an improved simulation space, helping build confidence and skills in emergency care.

❤️‍🩹 Intensive Care Unit – Recovering After ICU: I See You: Supporting patients and families after critical illness through peer support, ICU diaries and practical recovery resources.

🌱 Ward 4, OPH – Therapeutic Courtyard Garden: Creating a safe, accessible and engaging outdoor space that supports patient wellbeing, connection and participation.

a HUGE thank you to our matched donors Perron Foundation, DFR Commercial Perth Radiological Clinic Capital Partners Private Wealth Advisers, Nova 937 Stack Physio who have doubled all your donations!

North Metropolitan Health Service