Aged Care Insite Issue 92 | December 2015 - January 2016 | Page 7

news

Seeds of a cure
Research into Australian plants as treatments
for golden staph, wounds, Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s gains $1 million funding boost.

A

ustralian plants may soon play a role in the way
healthcare professionals combat golden staph infections,
heal wounds, and even treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s
and Parkinson’s.
Queensland University of Technology research into the use
of plants in treating these conditions has been bolstered by $1
million in funding from Australian biotech company Health Focus
Products Australia (HFPA) and the Commonwealth Government.
Dr Trudi Collet, from the Indigenous Medicines Group in the
Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and
Biomedical Innovation, said the research would draw upon
Australia’s biodiversity because it’s “unique and its application for the

treatment of global infections and diseases has incredible potential”.
Collet said native plants have a rich history with the Indigenous
population and have been used for a wide variety of conditions,
including wounds.
“Irrespective of where traditional accounts of the use of
medicinal plants have come from … they haven’t been scientifically
validated for their various uses,” she said. “That’s where my
research actually comes in.”
The new arrangement will provide $1,035,614 over three years
to support three areas of research.
“Project one uses an Australian plant to treat methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus aureus (known as golden staph), a common
infection often acquired in hospital, which not only delays wound
healing but is on the rise worldwide,” Collet said. “We have some
preliminary data with regards to this particular plant, and it is shown
to have exceptional antimicrobial activity against golden staph.”
Collet said a second project is set to explore the use of three
different Australian plants for the treatment of chronic wounds.
With more than 7 million people globally suffering from a chronic
wound – and about 433,000 diagnosed with such each year in
Australia alone – Collet said the associated treatment costs were
estimated to be in excess of $2.6 billion.
“Having a novel antibiotic that is able to successfully treat and
clear a golden staph infection will have an enormous impact, not
just within Australia but on a global scale as well,” she said.
The focus on treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s will
make up the third project. ■

Why women need to boost their super
Women haven’t always enjoyed the same super rights as men. In fact, until the
1970s, some women were even excluded from super when they got married.
While super rights for women have thankfully improved, many continue to miss out
on valuable super benefits.
On average, women are still paid less than their male
counterparts. Plus, the amount of super women generate
during their working lives is often impacted by career
breaks to care for family and a greater tendency to work
part time.
Coupled with the late introduction of compulsory super
in 1992, these factors have left many working women at
a disadvantage when it comes to their super savings.
That’s why it’s so important for women to take a proactive
approach to managing their super. By keeping track of your
account balance, choosing investment options that meet
your needs, and contributing a little extra, you can keep
your super on track for the retirement you want.
At HESTA, we’re here to help our members every step
of the way.

In fact, most of our 800,000 members are women, so our
Superannuation Advisers, Member Education Managers
and Financial Planners understand the challenges women
face in building their super.
Take your first steps to a better tomorrow today –
to start changing your future.
Visit hesta.com.au/boostmysuper for ideas on how you
can boost your super or call 1800 813 327 to speak to a
HESTA adviser.

With more than 25 years of experience
and $32 billion in assets, more people in
health and community services choose
HESTA for their super.

Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL No. 235249, the Trustee of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749 321. This information is of a general nature. It
does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or specific needs so you should look at your own financial position and requirements before making a decision. You may wish to consult an adviser when
doing this. For more informa [ۋ