The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute has officially opened the Lady Primrose Potter Cancer Research Education Centre, a new public space that invites the community to step inside the world of cancer research.
The Centre offers students, families and visitors the opportunity to explore what cancer is, how it is studied and where the science is heading. Through engaging audiovisual content created by FECRI scientists and a series of interactive exhibits, complex research is explained in a way that is clear, accessible and meaningful. It is, to FECRI’s knowledge, the first facility of its kind within a regional, community funded cancer research institute.
Professor George Kannourakis, Director of FECRI, said the Centre reflects a long held ambition to bring the community closer to the work it has supported for decades.
“This is about opening the lab door. It is about taking what happens inside the Institute and making it visible and understandable to the people who make this work possible.”
The Centre is named in honour of FECRI Patron, Lady Primrose Potter AC, in recognition of her enduring support of medical research and her deep commitment to community impact.
Lady Potter said she was honoured to lend her name to a space that connects people with the work of cancer research and encourages curiosity and learning.
The Centre will welcome school groups and community visitors through guided tours, offering the chance to hear directly from scientists and gain a deeper understanding of the research taking place in Ballarat.
For many, it will be the first time they see this work up close. And once seen, it becomes something they can understand, connect with and feel part of.
