South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:47): It is my pleasure today to highlight the work of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). Almost every time a new visitor comes to Adelaide they ask me a question about this building, and they would want and request to take a photo in front of the building. It looks like a spaceship from afar, and I have also heard that some people say it looks like a gigantic metallic pineapple or a giant cheese grater. You simply cannot miss it if you drive along North Terrace. The building I am talking about here is SAHMRI of course.

I was honoured to be invited by Ms Kay Gerard, Manager of Development and Communications at SAHMRI, for a personalised tour recently. It is certainly a unique and iconic building. The building is lifted, like a floating object, creating a partially open-ground plane, in an integrated landscape, opening the building up to the public as well as to the users. The 25,000 square metre facility is located adjacent to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, sharing its forecourt entry. SAHMRI is South Australia's first independent flagship health and medical research institute and the pioneer of the state's new health and biomedical precinct on North Terrace.

The institute houses a mix of 600 South Australian, interstate and international researchers in its purpose-built, state-of-the-art contemporary building, which was built to symbolise the growth and vibrancy of Adelaide. The construction of SAHMRI was made possible by a $200 million grant from the federal government. Since its establishment, SAHMRI has already attracted over $45 million in competitive research funding, which is allocated to the various research sectors SAHMRI represents. The main research themes are Aboriginal Health, Cancer, Healthy Mothers, Babies and Children, Heart Health, Infections and Immunity, Mind and Brain, and Nutrition and Metabolism.

The number one objective of SAHMRI is to apply innovation to transform research into health solutions. They want to fundamentally improve the quality of life of all people through innovative, world-class and groundbreaking health and medical research, as well as being a vibrant, globally recognised institute that fosters discovery and collaboration in delivering health outcomes.

SAHMRI plays a strong role in promoting the benefit of STEM subjects at schools and also offers unique opportunities for high degree students to undertake their honours or PhD studies in a world-class facility. SAHMRI has become a home to students from all three major universities based in South Australia—University of South Australia, University of Adelaide and Flinders University—in providing an opportunity for many to carry out their research across a broad range of research themes and pillars.

A critical element to the long-term success of SAHMRI will have to be securing funding and ongoing fundraising efforts. It is always a great honour to be asked to support events in South Australia that raise awareness and funding for SAHMRI, and one of those successful events was the Asia in SA gala event. Asia in SA was held in August last year and attracted over 300 people. It was organised by two successful South Australian exporters—Mrs Susan Lee and Gerald Lipman—and raised a substantial $28,000 for SAHMRI last year.

A second Asia in SA fundraising event is underway which will be held on 30 September this year and I take this opportunity to wish them every success. In discussion with SAHMRI recently, they expressed their wish to engage with a broader range of health professionals and business leaders, particularly those who have overseas connections or who are currently working in the international community.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with SAHMRI to create an event for a group of health professionals and business leaders to come together for a behind-the-scenes tour of SAHMRI in June. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the team at SAHMRI for their dedication to developing a centre of excellence in Australia and internationally and working collaboratively to deliver health outcomes to have a positive impact on our community.