Tuesday, 18 March 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:48): I would like to commend the outstanding efforts of St John of God Hospital in Bendigo. Through the generous support of individuals, families, local companies, businesses and community groups, the hospital has successfully secured and installed a da Vinci robotic surgical system. The da Vinci robot, valued at $2.5 million, has already been put to good use, with the first robotic surgery recently completed on a resident from Charlton. St John of God staff have been trained to operate this advanced technology, which will allow for up to a thousand surgeries each year. This will not only help reduce long surgery waitlists but also shorten the time patients spend in hospital, leading to better outcomes for both private and public patients. The presence of this cutting-edge equipment will also attract more specialists to work in regional Victoria, further improving the quality of health care available to residents.

I thank St John of God for their commitment to advancing health care in our region and extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the donors whose generosity has made this possible. A special thankyou to Associate Professor Janelle Brennan for championing this investment and conducting the first surgery, to Anna Hill for leading the fundraising campaign and to St John of God CEO Michael Hogan for making this vision a reality. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the community’s support and commitment to improving health care in regional Victoria and will make a tangible difference to the lives of thousands of regional Victorians.