Thursday, 30 May 2024

Ministers statements: medical research

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:27): I rise to update the house on the world-leading research our government is backing to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses in residential aged care, such as COVID-19 and influenza. I was pleased to visit Boyne Russell House in Brunswick last week to announce $16.8 million of investment to deliver a trial that will assess the efficacy of germicidal ultraviolet light technology in a real-world setting to help reduce the level of COVID-19 and other airborne viruses in aged care residences. Completely safe for residents and staff, the technology works by shining an invisible ultraviolet light across the ceiling with the purpose of neutralising particles of airborne viruses in the room. It will be the first time the technology is measured in a clinical study.

Aged care services are home to some of our oldest and most vulnerable Victorians, and this trial was established in direct response to the severe impact the pandemic had across the aged care setting. The study is about new ways of reducing illness in our aged care facilities, keeping residents, staff and visitors safe and reducing the pressure on our broader health system during peak COVID-19 and flu season. After a successful trial, ultraviolet light will now be installed in facilities across Melbourne and Geelong over the coming weeks before the study led by the Burnet Institute – those very clever people – formally commences. A successful outcome could pave the way for a wider rollout of this technology in other health settings, and I am looking forward to seeing the results with interest.