Five Telethon Kids Institute researchers and a popular Institute-led science festival for kids have been named as finalists in the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards.
Premier Roger Cook and Science Minister Stephen Dawson today announced 34 finalists across eight categories, with the winners to be revealed at the Premier’s Science Awards ceremony on 19 August.
The Premier’s Science Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding scientific research and engagement taking place in Western Australia and are a keystone in the WA Government’s efforts to raise the profile of science.
For the first time this year the WA community has been invited to get involved and vote for their favourite finalist across all the categories. The finalist with the most votes will be awarded a People's Choice award at the ceremony.
Professor Aleksandra Filipovska – who is the inaugural Louis Landau Chair in Child Health Research at Telethon Kids Institute and The University of Western Australia (UWA) and Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology – is a finalist for 2024 Scientist of the Year. Professor Filipovska, who is internationally renowned for her pioneering work in mitochondrial disease and synthetic biology, has developed paradigm-shifting new technologies that have led to new treatments and improved diagnosis for patients with genetic disorders. She has pioneered the new field of medicinal synthetic biology through the development of gene-editing tools, which she has licensed and which are currently in development for use internationally in clinical trials focused on neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr Pamela Laird – a senior clinician research fellow at Telethon Kids Institute and paediatric respiratory physiotherapist at Perth Children’s Hospital – is a finalist for Early Career Researcher of the Year in recognition of her work focused on reducing the chronic respiratory disease burden in Aboriginal children. Dr Laird, who works within the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre – a powerhouse partnership between Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children’s Hospital and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation – has provided world-first data on the prevalence of the life-shortening ‘orphan disease’ of bronchiectasis and its precursor, chronic wet cough. Working closely with Aboriginal medical services and communities, she has contributed to national guidelines and created accessible resources that, with her research, have already helped save more than 1000 little lungs.
Stephanie Enkel – a PhD student with Telethon Kids Institute and UWA – is a finalist for Student Scientist of the Year for her research focused on understanding and finding acceptable and effective ways to prevent the spread of Strep A in Aboriginal communities. Stopping Strep A infections is key to preventing serious downstream consequences including rheumatic heart disease (RHD). As part of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at Telethon Kids Institute, Ms Enkel works closely with remote communities and teams across the state, country and world to achieve outcomes benefiting Aboriginal kids, families and communities.
Tamara Veselinović – a PhD student with the Ear Health team at Telethon Kids Institute and UWA, clinical audiologist with the Djaalinj Waakinj Centre of Ear and Hearing Health, and paediatric audiologist at Perth Children’s Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital – is also a finalist for Student Scientist of the Year. As part of her PhD Ms Veselinović has developed a highly impactful program of research to improve Aboriginal ear health. In partnership with local Aboriginal community members, she has led Australia-first research showing the need for better ear healthcare in metropolitan areas and is developing novel ways to improve the identification of ear disease to improve future treatment for Aboriginal families.
Young Noongar woman Jaida Penny – a research assistant with the Early Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health team at Telethon Kids Institute and a second-year student studying anatomy and human biology at UWA – is a finalist for Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year. Miss Penny has a passion for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive in their early years. Driven to foreground Aboriginal worldviews in the early years space and to advocate for her community, she ensures the voices of Aboriginal peoples are highlighted in research. As part of her work she has coordinated an Aboriginal advisory group, formed principles for culturally safe developmental measures, and challenged societal beliefs around racism.
The inaugural Telethon Kids Institute Broome Festival of STEM, run as part of the Institute’s education and outreach program, is a finalist for Science Engagement Initiative of the Year. Held in August 2023, the festival took National Science Week to two groups historically under-represented in science – regional Western Australians and remote-living Aboriginal communities. Staffed by Telethon Kids scientists in collaboration with local partners and our Broome-based team, the two-day festival highlighted science and research happening in the Kimberley and showcased exciting STEM career opportunities. The festival was attended by almost every school in Broome, with bus transport provided to ensure children from Aboriginal communities up to 200km away could participate. The festival will run again this year, at the Broome Civic Centre from August 7-8.
For more information on this year’s Premier’s Science Awards finalists, see the WA Government media release here. To vote for the People’s Choice award, head to the voting page here.