Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (09:55): Recently I had the privilege of joining the Premier and the Minister for Health at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Service at the Royal Children’s Hospital. They were able to stand behind and beside a very truly marvellous and significant milestone: the expansion of our newborn bloodspot screening program to include sickle cell disease. Commonly known as the heel prick test, this program has been the cornerstone of the Victorian public health system since the 1960s. Last year alone more than 74,000 newborns in our state were screened under the program. By adding sickle cell disease Victoria becomes the first state in Australia to offer this screening for free, bringing our total number of screen conditions to 35. Sickle cell disease is a serious inherited disorder that affects how red blood cells carry oxygen. While it currently affects a small percentage of our population, its prevalence is increasing. If left undiagnosed it can lead to severe pain, strokes and permanent organ damage. By identifying it within the first 72 hours of life, we can start treatment early. I particularly want to acknowledge Agnes Nsofwa from Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy Inc, whose tireless advocacy has been instrumental in this progress. This expansion is testament to the Allan Labor government’s commitment to providing a fairer healthcare system that delivers peace of mind for parents in the north and right across our state.