St Lukes

How do we tackle type 2 diabetes in Tasmania? This was the question at the centre of a Think Tank event at our Launceston wellness hub yesterday. Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia. Around five per cent of Australians live with diagnosed diabetes. In Tasmania, that figure is even higher at 6.1 per cent - or around 34,000 people. As St Lukes Chief Health Officer Luke Cameron put it: "Type 2 diabetes can be prevented in up to 58 per cent of cases, or effectively managed through good diet and regular exercise – so what’s stopping us?" We were proud to bring together health, advocacy and community groups, as well as lived experienced advocates. The outcomes of the think tank will inform our own chronic disease strategy, to identify how private health insurers can step up to fill gaps in services and models of care. Watch our coverage on WIN Tasmania News here: https://lnkd.in/gSHfFK7C Learn more, and have your say via our online survey here: https://lnkd.in/gDv_Myns Paul Lupo, Diabetes Tasmania, Minke Hoekstra, Katy Cooper, Peter Gutwein, Emma Fry, Chloe Baker, Nicole Grose, Jessica Willard, Darren Mathewson, Claire Bennett CPM FAMI, Peter Brukner, Michael Behrakis, Josh Miller, Julie Williams Elizabeth Mahnken

The St Lukes Symphony on the Waterfront event on Saturday was magical! We were proud to be the major sponsor of the event with over 5,000 people experiencing the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) in a uniquely Tasmanian setting. Thanks to Devonport City Council for putting on a great event.

A federal election will soon be upon us, and it is crucial we see big-picture commitments from our political leaders. For St Lukes part, we're focussed on investment in prevention, early intervention, and keeping our members healthy and out of the hospital system. In Saturday's Examiner newspaper, our CEO Paul Lupo speaks to the two policies we are seeking federal support for, aimed at addressing some of the most pressing health issues facing regional communities. They include: 1. $1 million in federal funding to establish a wellness hub in Tasmania’s North-West 2. $2.5 million to pilot a bold new model of care, providing home-based acute treatment for patients who would normally be admitted to hospital. Read more below.

We know Tasmanians face significant challenges when it comes to good oral health. We have fewer dentists per capita, adult Tasmanians are missing the most teeth of any state and are waiting almost four years for non-urgent public dental care. With St Lukes dental practices now open in Howrah and Launceston, we're working to drive generational improvements and make preventative dental accessible to every Tasmanian. It's all part of our vision to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet. Read more about this initiative in today's Mercury. Photo: Caroline Tan, story by Eleanor de Jong.

After a successful trial last year, Tasmania’s Taste of Summer will once again be smoke and vape-free.  This is the second year St Lukes has partnered with the festival to encourage a healthy environment that’s smoke-free, vape-free and family friendly. Yesterday our CEO Paul Lupo joined with Taste of Summer’s Katharine Dean and Health Minister Hon Jacquie Petrusma MP to celebrate the commitment. The Tasmanian Government has taken some big steps toward reducing the vaping rates in Tasmania this year, and it’s fantastic that major events like the Taste of Summer are now taking the lead in the community. We must continue to work together to make positive changes happen. 

Last week we were honoured to support the RHH Research Foundation's 'Toast to Tassie Research' end of year celebration event. St Lukes has been proudly supporting the work of the Foundation for more than 10 years now. Speaking at the event, our CEO Paul Lupo shared how medical research into understanding and solving the challenges we face here in Tasmania is essential to targeting our efforts for the greatest impact. It takes a collective public, private and community movement to keep improving Tasmania’s health system and outcomes. Congratulations to Stephanie Furler, the entire RHHRF team and research community for all your work in 2024. Photos: Caroline Tan of CT Creatives.  Luke Cameron, Emma Fry, Jessica Willard, Sam Simpson

Empowering the community to create delicious and nutritious meals goes a long way in fulfilling our vision of making Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet. This week, ahead of Taste of Summer, we were thrilled to host chef Massimo Mele at our Hobart wellness hub for a free cooking demonstration focused on seasonal, fresh produce. Massimo shared insights on some of the most commonly wasted food products and showed us how to make fresh produce go as far as possible. Read more via Pulse Tasmania here: https://lnkd.in/gnxnXF78 Photo: Josh Agnew

Our CEO Paul Lupo sat down with Leon Compton on ABC Radio this morning, to talk about Tasmania's vaping legislation and St Lukes ongoing advocacy efforts in this space. The state government's Vaping Bill is expected to be brought to the upper house in March next year, and we'll be working right up until the debate to encourage MLCs to do the right thing for young Tasmanians and the next generation. You can listen to Paul's interview with Leon here (at 22:00): https://lnkd.in/g4-Yamws Quit Tasmania, Helen O'Byrne, Joseph O'Malley, Home Base, Dianne Underwood, Cancer Council Tasmania, Alison Lai, JCP Youth

It's game day for the Tasmania JackJumpers. If you're heading along to MyState Bank Arena tonight, we're super proud to be introducing sensory packs at all home games, offering support to fans with sensory challenges. We know the game-day atmosphere can be overwhelming. Those with sensory challenges shouldn’t have to miss out on the excitement and the community connection that comes from supporting their beloved JackJumpers. Lifting everyone’s participation, connection and wellbeing is all part of our vision to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet. Packs will be available from the box office at MyState Bank Arena starting tonight. They are free to borrow, with ID required and must be returned after the game. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gmDkxBWP You can also watch our coverage on 7 Tasmania news here: https://lnkd.in/g-ghXq25 Nikki Long, Paul Lupo, Christine Finnegan

It was a milestone moment for St Lukes on Friday, as we officially opened our Launceston building and welcomed six tenants. We're thrilled to be sharing this transformative space with suite of blue-chip Tasmanian and international businesses including Allianz, Salveo Healthcare, Newton & Henry, ReadyTech, Sweetbrew and now Bank of us, who will be moving its corporate office.  There is no better demonstration of our ability to collaborate than this space, which has brought together Tasmanian architects, builders, manufacturers, craftspeople and designers to create this spectacular new addition to the Launceston skyline. Thank you to everyone involved including Premier of Tasmania, the honourable Jeremy Rockliff, for officially opening the largest mass timber construction ever completed in Tasmania, and Australia's third tallest timber office tower. Paul Lupo, Martin Rees, Jerome Muir Wilson, Michael Ferguson, Archana B., Paul Ranson.