An elected Dutton Coalition Government will invest $3 million over three years to support Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision (MRV).
MRV is the only organisation in Australia dedicated to driving research, advocacy, and support for Australians with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes and their families.
In Australia, someone is diagnosed with a Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome every three days.
Distressingly, most patients are children and young adults, and 50 per cent will not survive. Thousands more will live with complex and ongoing medical issues and risks to their health, including a significantly higher risk of developing cancer.
This important commitment will:
- Support the continuation and growth of the Maddie’s Vision Centre for Research Excellence in Bone Marrow Biology;
- Expand the reach of MRV’s support and engagement to patients and their families through a tele-support service and peer support program;
- Implement an educational outreach service for bone marrow failure syndrome presentation and management; and
- Support the long-term future of the aplastic anaemia and other bone marrow failure syndromes registry and the Australian bone marrow failure biobank.
The Coalition is proud to be supporting MRV and their work in honouring the legacy of Maddie Riewoldt who tragically lost her life to Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes in 2015.
The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, in a visit to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision headquarters today in Melbourne said the Coalition was proud to invest in the crucial work that MRV does to support and advocate for families and patients.
“Investment in medical research is critical and this investment will help MRV to continue their important research into Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, as well as continue the advocacy and support they offer. I want to pay tribute to Maddie’s amazing family for the advocacy work they do; for bringing their grief and sadness into a lasting legacy for Maddie’s courage. I also pay tribute to MRV for their ongoing efforts in supporting Australians with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes and their families,” Mr Dutton said.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston said that Australians diagnosed with a Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome face a distressing journey, battling symptoms that are complex and highly debilitating, with inadequate treatments and limited resources.
“No Australian patient or their family should have to face this journey alone. We want to support this incredibly important organisation to ensure that Australians diagnosed with these rare syndromes and their families do not experience the fear, confusion and isolation that we know too many face.”
“This commitment also builds on the Coalition’s strong legacy of backing health and medical research in Australia, as well as supporting telehealth which we made universally available to all Australians through Medicare.”
Nick Riewoldt – St Kilda AFL great, Maddie’s brother and co-founder of Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision – shared “When Maddie was diagnosed with the Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome, Aplastic Anaemia, we had no idea what it was. Outside of her haematologist and other allied health support, our family had nowhere to go and no one to talk to. It was frightening.
“When Maddie was losing her fight at only 26, she asked us to promise that no one would go through what she went through. Ten years later, the pain of losing Maddie is still with us, but her spirit and legacy lives on in everything we’ve been able to accomplish.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Coalition for making a funding commitment of $3 million over three years to ensure that no family faces a Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome diagnosis alone, and that we can continue to fund vital research in search of better treatments and a cure.”
Amy Coote, CEO of Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision said “Every 3 days an Australian is diagnosed with a Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome. Distressingly, most of these are children and young people and 5 per cent will not survive. We urgently need new therapeutic and support options to treat these devastating conditions and improve patient outcomes.
“The funding commitment from the Coalition will support new research grants, fund critical infrastructure to accelerate research outcomes and ensure the continuation of our National Support Services for patients and their families. We are extremely thankful for the Coalition’s commitment to patients with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes and their families.”
A Dutton Coalition Government will invest in health and medical research to improve the lives of Australian patients and their families.
1 April 2025
MELBOURNE
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