Morning tea was served with a side of inspiration last week, as researchers, clinicians, and community members gathered to celebrate the latest recipients of the Pure Land Learning College research grants.

For 24 years, the Pure Land Learning College Association has partnered with the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation to support health research across the Darling Downs. What began as a shared vision for compassion and lifelong learning has grown into a long-standing collaboration that continues to improve care for patients across our hospitals and health services.

Celebrating local innovation

The annual morning tea is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate local researchers whose work is changing the way care is delivered throughout the region. This year’s grant recipients are exploring topics ranging from cancer care and dental health to nerve conduction studies and joint replacement outcomes — all with one goal in mind: to improve the health and wellbeing of people in our communities.

Dr Sally Havers and her team are trialling a new way to secure PICC lines so they’re less likely to come loose — helping make treatment safer and more comfortable. Their work could reduce complications for people needing long-term treatment, especially those receiving cancer care in our rural and remote communities.

Another project, led by novice researcher Kesa Seledi, is exploring how parents in rural communities understand and manage their children’s oral health. The study will help shape more effective education and prevention programs for families across the Darling Downs.

From improving patient safety to empowering parents, each research project represents a step forward in local innovation and care.

A partnership built on shared values

The partnership between Pure Land and the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is grounded in shared values — compassion, community, and the belief that learning can transform lives.

Over more than two decades, the Pure Land Learning College has provided funding to help Darling Downs Health clinicians and researchers undertake studies that might otherwise go unfunded. These projects not only strengthen clinical practice but also provide local staff the opportunity to develop research skills and contribute to the global body of medical knowledge.

Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Jude Wills said the collaboration is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

“The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is proud of the important partnership with Pure Land Learning College, which has existed for more than two decades,” Jude said. “These grants are helping local researchers ask big questions and find practical solutions that improve care for patients right here in our region.”

Research that starts local, but reaches far beyond

Every study funded through the Pure Land Learning College partnership adds to a growing foundation of knowledge — knowledge that benefits not just the Darling Downs, but the wider medical community.

Research like Dr Parvati Dadwal’s study into patient perceptions of risk factors before joint replacement, Associate Professor Devang Desai's clinical trial focused on prostate health, or Ashleigh Smith’s work exploring how pharmacist-led education supports cancer patients, demonstrates the power of local insight to drive meaningful change.

These are studies designed and led by people who live and work in the Darling Downs, for the people of the Darling Downs.

Looking to the future

As healthcare continues to evolve, research remains one of the most powerful tools for building a stronger, more resilient health system. Through the ongoing support of the Pure Land Learning College, the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation can continue to invest in projects that strengthen care, empower clinicians, and deliver lasting benefits to patients and families.

“It’s incredible to see how this partnership has grown and the impact it continues to have,” Jude said. “Together, we’re building knowledge that improves care today and shapes better health outcomes for generations to come.”

After 24 years, the relationship between Pure Land Learning College and the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation remains one built on trust, shared purpose, and community spirit — proof that when compassion meets curiosity, our region can lead the way in better healthcare for all.