Australian Indigenous

This section contains information on recent conferences. If you are aware of any conferences that would be appropriate for inclusion in this section please contact us.

• Building Effective Indigenous Governance Conference added 25 November 2003
• Communicable Diseases Control Conference 2003: communicable diseases - a fight we can win? added 1 October 2003
• Ethics in Human Research Conference added 1 October 2003
• People, Place, Partnerships 2: Strengthening Communities Conference added 3 November 2003
• 28th International Congress on Law and Mental Health added 13 November 2003
  

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Communicable Diseases Control Conference 2003: communicable diseases - a fight we can win?
March 31 - April 1 2003, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

The Communicable Disease Control Conference was held by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) in conjunction with the Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN). Presentations were aimed at delivering recommendations for improving communicable disease control in Australia and New Zealand. Presentations addressed one or more of the following aspects of the topic: surveillance; epidemiology; laboratory services; prevention and control; and public health policy.

Conference abstracts (PDF- 332KB) are available on the Communicable Diseases Australia website. Abstracts of particular relevance to Indigenous health include:

• Hanna J, Hills S, Murphy D. Invasive pneumoccocal disease in North Queensland one year after the introduction of the National Childhood Pneumoccocal Vaccination Program.
• Speare R, Durrheim D. A rational approach to the use of Strongyloides serology.
  Heron L, O'Connor B, Jalaludin B, Chant K. Hepatitis B vaccination status of pre-adolescent children in South Western Sydney.
• Giele C, Pearson J. Gonococcal resistance in Western Australia - are the current treatment guidelines appropriate?
• Armstrong P, Krause V, Cameron S, Hampson A. A comparison of the seroresponse to the influenza vaccine in an Aboriginal and a non-Aboriginal adult population.

Ethics in Human Research Conference
April 2 - April 4 2003, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) held the inaugural national Ethics in Human Research Conference to provide a forum for discussing issues in the ethical conduct of research involving humans.

Conference documents, including the program and abstract book are available on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

A number of abstracts relate to Indigenous ethical issues:

• Dunlop M. An online learning and accreditation module for responsible conduct in research
• Brinjen J, Brewster D, Ritchie B. Informed consent for clinical research in Aboriginal children in the Top End
• Kopusar P. Aboriginal health research - redressing the balance
• Doyle K. Indigenous patients: ethical care includes cultural safety

People, Place, Partnerships 2: Strengthening Communities Conference
April 29 - April 30 2003, Sydney, New South Wales

This conference was an initiative of the NSW Premier's Department and was supported by a wide range of government and non-government sponsors. The conference facilitated the exchange of information on key initiatives for working in partnership with communities, strengthening communities and community capacity building. There was a strong emphasis on 'sustainability' in the sense of balancing and integrating social, environmental and economic concerns in communities. Innovation and networking were encouraged at the conference to assist the development of community policies, programs and projects.

Conference papers are available on the Communitybuilders.nsw website. Abstracts of particular relevance to Indigenous health include:

• Mcleod I. Shoalhaven Aboriginal Safe Community Partnership view presentation (PDF - 941 KB)
• Munro H. Who plans for the community? Planning & delivery in community building view paper (PDF - 44KB)

28th International Congress on Law and Mental Health
September 28 - October 3 2003, Sydney, New South Wales

The International Academy of Law and Mental Health holds an annual international congress. The Academy was founded on the belief that issues arising from the interaction of law and mental health can best be addressed through multidisciplinary and cross-national approaches drawing on law, the health professions, the social sciences, and the humanities. This conference brought together international researchers, academics, practitioners and professionals to provide a comprehensive view of law and mental health issues.

Conference abstracts are available on the International Academy of Law and Mental Health website.

On Wednesday October 1, there were presentations on Indigenous Justice and Mental Health. Abstracts (PDF - 27KB) available online include:

• Charles C. Petrol sniffing in the north west of South Australia: the Sate Coroner finds a crisis in Anangu Pitjantjatjara communities.
• Kanowski L, Brideson T. Equivalence is a right for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health.
• Jones C, Jones B. Indigenous self-determination, self-esteem and their relation to the legal rights and therapeutic capacity associated with the industry of bioprospecting.
• Tatz C. Paths to youth suicide: Aboriginal, Maori and Inuit perspectives.
• Boersig J. Restorative justice and Indigenous people.

Building Effective Indigenous Governance Conference
November 4 - November 7 2003, Jabiru, Northern Territory

This conference aimed to assist the development of agreements, capacities, powers and real partnerships that are urgently needed to build effective and legitimate forms of Indigenous governance in the Northern Territory.

Participants included people involved in Indigenous governance, nationally and internationally. Presentations included practical cases studies from Wadeye, Tiwi and Miwatj communities.

A range of conference papers on Indigenous governance and related issues such as historical and community contexts are available on the Building Effective Indigenous Governance website.

Last updated: 19 December, 2003