Monday, 5 September
Session 1 - 2.45pm-5.50pm
Welcome to Country
Aunty Bilawara Lee, Larrakia Nation
Smoking Ceremony
Trent Lee
Torres Strait Island Prayer
Delegate from the Torres Strait Islands
Official Conference Opening
Hon. Natasha Fyles, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Intrductory Session
ERPATSIEH Address
Jeff Standen, Chair, Expert Reference Panel on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health
Vicki Wade RHDAustralia, NT
Vicki Wade is a senior Noongar woman with over 40 years of experience in health at state and national levels. Vicki is a recipient of multiple national awards including the 2019 AHHA Sidney Sax medal and CSANZ Indigenous Health lifetime award for her contributions to Australian health services policy, delivery and research, particularly in relation to Indigenous heart health. Vicki is well known across Australia and is well respected for the work she has done in helping to close the gap. She sits on the National Close the Gap steering committee and a previous board member of the Congress of Aboriginal Nurses and Midwives.Vicki sits on numerous national research projects providing a critical lens to the socio-cultural context with the aim to reduce research and evidence practice gaps.
Vicki is a strong advocate for her people following her matriarchal lineage, Vicki’s grandmother was a healer and helped with the Noongar women in birthing on country in the mission and later reserves in south west of Perth, her mother was one of the first enrolled nurses in Perth and her daughter is carrying on the tradition as a doctor. Vicki hopes that the work she does will see her grandchildren have better opportunities that she and her family were afforded.
Prof. Anna Ralph, Angela Kelly, Ann-Marie Lee, Segora Badui, Valerina Mungatopi, and Nanda Budhathoki, Charles Darwin University, Christine Fitzgerald, Department of Housing NT, Jessica L. De Dassel, Department of Health NT, Vicki Wade, RHD Australia, Rosemary Wyber, Telethon Kids Institute WA
Primordial prevention of rheumatic fever comprises environmental health and behavioural measures to reduce infection with Streptococcus. There is little evidence on strategies that work to achieve this. We ran a 3-yr community-based project in which Aboriginal community members in the NT shared knowledge about how to prevent rheumatic fever, supported repairs of health-hardware & provided healthcare navigation. There were signals of improvements in outcomes, but these were limited. Primordial prevention is one key piece of the RHD elimination puzzle; this study provides a scalable model.
Associate Prof. Asha Bowen, Glenn Pearson and Lee Bevan, Telethon Kids Institute, WA
The key question of the Stopping Acute Rheumatic Fever Infections to Strengthen Health (STARFISH) program is 'What are the most effective environmental health initiatives to reduce Strep A infections and prevent ARF among communities with the greatest risk?'
STARFISH was conceived and designed from the outset that Indigenous authorities would flow through all levels of program governance; field surveillance and laboratory research projects; and Indigenous community participation.
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Tuesday, 6 September
Session 2 - 8.55am-10.30am
Michellle Dowden, CEO, One Disease
Michelle is the CEO for One Disease. She is a registered Nurse Midwife with over 25 years’ experience conducting health programs, which focus on good clinical outcomes and the social determinants of health. The main focus of Michelle’s work has been with remote Indigenous communities and other large Indigenous health services throughout Australia both in research and service delivery. She lived and worked on Elcho Island for many years.
Michelle has a strong background and understanding of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Indigenous Primary Healthcare, both in research and service delivery. From 2003 until 2008, Michelle was the Project Manager for the Audit and Best Practice in Chronic Disease (ABCD) research project. This project played a pivotal role in the on-going CQI Strategy for the Northern Territory.
In 2006 she completed her Master’s in Public Health at Charles Darwin University. Her treatise topic – “Factors Affecting Uptake of CQI. Exploring how to embed processes for sustainability” clearly reflects the way Michelle works in practice. She continues to be actively involved with research and contributes to peer reviewed publications.
Michelle began working for One Disease in 2016 and was responsible for writing the One Disease Crusted Scabies Elimination Plan. In 2019, she was awarded the Northern Territory Administrator’s Medal (Individual Category) in Primary Health Care.
Jory Stariwart, AMRRIC, NT, Rowena Johnson and Susannah Mosby, Torres Strait Islands Regional Council, QLD
Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) has launched a new biosecurity-focused project collaborating with Indigenous community stakeholders across more than 20 communities in Northern Australia, to improve Indigenous community animal health surveillance capacity, through the collection and reporting of community animal health and biosecurity data via the custom-designed AMRRIC App. The three-year (2021–2024) initiative will enable considerable improvements to current animal biosecurity surveillance activities while concurrently building local biosecurity capacity.
Courtney King, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, WA
In this presentation participants will be introduced to the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (HealthInfoNet) and the Environmental Health Portal. The HealthInfoNet’s contributes to strong cultural identity through its digital strategy and culturally responsive website and Yarning Places. The HealthInfoNet enhances Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connections to Country and community by sharing key resources and workforce information to Indigenous Environmental Health Practitioners (IEHPs) and the environmental health sector.
Session 3 - 11.00am-12.40pm
Nancy Bird, Department of Health. NT
An overview of the Evolution of Environmental Health COVID-19 Response in the NT starting in February 2020 with the evacuees of Australian Citizens from the Diamond Princess in Japan to Howard Springs to isolation and quarantine checks with NT Police and the ADF, to setting up the Boarder Control Unit at Darwin International Airport, Marrara and Nebo Road Testing Facilities and deployments with the Rapid Response and Rapid Assessment Team including: Pirlangimpi, Robertson River, Beswick, Barunga, Binjari, Lajamanu, Katherine, Galiwinku, Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt, Ramingining, Gapawiyak, Wadeye
Toby Hannan, South Eastern Sydney Local Health - Public Health Unit, NSW
The role of the ASO is vital in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team of Aboriginal Healthcare Workers have been able to help cases and close contacts with cultural specific support including; clarifying testing requirements and other diagnosis, delivery of Rapid Antigen Tests or at home testing, providing them with isolation packs and taxi vouchers, and supporting them with additional needs they or their families may have. The team are available and happy to answer any questions from 8:30am to 8:30pm, 7 days a week.
Abbey Eggins, Richmond Valley Council / NSW Health Aboriginal PHU, NSW
A detailing of events which took place over the February-March 2022 flood disaster in the Northern Rivers, NSW. The presentation highlights causing factors, disaster impacts, community resilience and the response and recovery undertakings of emergency disaster management.
Brando Yambalpal and Jeffrey Dhurrkay, Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, NT
The Environmental Health program at Miwatj includes a number of different activities led by Community Workers, Brando Yambalpal in Galiwin’ku and Jeffrey Dhurrkay in Milingimbi. The dhawu (program) includes healthy homes, Gerry the Germ, hygiene and hand-washing education, and other health promotion activities. The team have also supported on community education during outbreaks of Acute Rheumatic Fever and COVID-19, and provide support to households affected by scabies.
Jen Savenake and Emily McDonald, National Health and Medical Research Council, VIC
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is updating the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (2008). NHMRC is exploring ways in which traditional knowledge can be incorporated into the updated guidelines so that our national advice can be more useful for people who look after Country and communities. An overview of how the NHMRC Water Team is consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the challenges and learnings that have been encountered will be provided.
Session 4 - 1.40pm-3.20pm
Nicola Slavin and Tony Boland, Trop Water Pty Ltd, NT
Louie Bin Maarus and Madeline Lawford, Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services, WA
This presentation showcases how ACCO’s responds to an emerging crisis situation like the Covid pandemic, in an innovative and responsive manner due to organisational autonomy whilst maximizing resources.
You will hear about our activities commencing 2020 highlighting some key areas of working with our stakeholders and communities to respond to the COVID pandemic in the Kimberley.
The response has included disseminating information and resources. Utilising the experience of our environmental health team to undertake community awareness activities and extensive use of media, COVID Vaxathons, provision of home and self-care packs to households and individuals, Wastewater Surveillance, provision of staff to undertake Triage, RAT and PCR Testing, Animal Welfare activities.
Our approach to the emerging situation Kimberley wide has been possible due to Nirrumbuk’s footprint, our profile as a successful ACCO established in 1993, trust and acceptance in communities that enabled our response to be rapid and effective, especially during lockdown.
Robert Barnett, NSW Health and Stephen Neale, Community Housing Ltd, NSW
The Clean Country Project was an initiative of the Aboriginal Environmental Health Unit (AEHU) in 2017 in response to the waste issues in Social housing in Kempsey. The project’s strength is its focus on collaboration with a large range of stakeholders and establishment of a working group. The working group have gathered evidence of local waste issues, taken the time to understand the reasons behind the waste issues and developed local solutions. Various waste activities have been piloted with some successes. From years of learnings a “Guide for Community Housing Providers Managing Waste Issues has been developed.
Ian James, Office of the Chief Psychiatrist, SA Health
Mental ill-health and Suicide Prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face more social and emotional wellbeing challenges, impacted by many factors since colonisation.
So, should mental health awareness and suicide prevention be everyone’s responsibility?
Yes - Mental health and suicide prevention awareness and training give us the skill and the knowledge to greater understanding key signs or red flags when someone is in distress, it also allows us to have a holistic view of mental health and wellbeing.
By understanding and or promoting good mental-health practices, it helps us to be more resilient, deters stigma, encourages us to talk about mental health and suicide in a safe way to friends, family, and the communities. It also allows us to provide support when needed to many who suffer mental ill-health in our communities.
Our social, community and cultural connection are key factors that we can draw on to promote and support good mental health for ourselves and others.
If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact emergency services on 000 or visit Get support now page for other services – Beyondblue.
Session 5 - 3.50pm-5.00pmInteractive Session
Chicky Clements and Jeanette Ward, Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services, WA
In 2021, Nirrumbuk Environmental Health & Services conducted a community-based research project about Aboriginal peoples’ experience of overcrowding, what it means, how it is managed and its consequences for COVID isolation and quarantine.
This topic interested us because the Commonwealth Government’s Management Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations recognised substandard public housing and overcrowding as critical social determinants increasing morbidity and mortality risks of the COVID-19 pandemic for Aboriginal people. While this Management Plan was informed by the clinical expertise of the COVID-19 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group co-chaired by NACCHO and the Commonwealth Department of Health, it contained no specific guidance about how to assess and address housing quality and overcrowding within COVID-19 response preparedness. In the first COVID-19 wave in 2020, there were no guidelines or tools to anticipate, measure or manage overcrowding.
Community capacity to organise isolation and quarantine options meeting endorsed World Health Organisation public health standards were uninformed by contemporary data. Through a research opportunity restricted exclusively to Aboriginal-led projects, Nirrumbuk was successful in obtaining a grant from the Ramsay Foundation. Backfill funded by this grant meant that 14 Nirrumbuk staff conducted semi-structured interviews generating both qualitative and quantitative insights with 217 householders across the entire Kimberley region.
Our presentation will cover key findings from these 217 interviews. When participants were asked what they noticed when they thought their house was overcrowded, common answers included ‘strain on toilet and shower’ including toilet and drain blockages, ‘fighting’, ‘rubbish’ ‘when food goes down’, ‘sickness’ ‘messy, noisy, conflicts’ and ‘unsettled moods’. Later in the interview, 64.8% agreed the Canadian National Overcrowding Standards (CNOS) is a good basis to determine acceptable and healthy housing occupancy in Aboriginal households.
Overcrowding as a term reflects situations when tensions or problems are experienced rather than times when the number of people in one home exceeds the CNOS. More than 80% (n=177) agreed to medical record access to examine COVID-comparable conditions retrospectively in the previous 12 months with two-thirds attending community-controlled clinics. At that time, there had been no cases of COVID-19 among Aboriginal people in the Kimberley.
Data extraction showed that 33.1% had presented at least once in the previous 12 months for a COVID-comparable condition. Nirrumbuk is an essential service, always present and part of the fabric of community control in the Kimberley. Any research or evaluation we undertake produces findings that are applied seamlessly into service provision.
As a result of this research, Nirrumbuk has a unique culturally specific overcrowding guideline in draft form that we wi
Robert Mullane, Department of Health, WA
Referrals to Aboriginal EH Services by Hospital and Primary Health Care clinicians has and continues to be a challenge. This presentation describes the journey so far for WA's AEH and Primary and Secondary Health Care sector - the challenges around implementation in multiple regions and the ongoing support required to ensure that this policy initiative delivers the expected outcomes for households experiencing conditions and sicknesses that may be attributable to conditions in or around their homes and communities.
Adam McEwen and Nina Kingon, Health Protection NSW, Amanda Mills and Jillian Hogan, San Remo Neighbourhood Centre, Leanne Andrew, Central Coast Local Health District and Stephen Ella, Nunyara, Aboriginal Health Service, NSW
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Wednesday, 7 September
Site Visits and Cultural Activities - 8.00pm-12.30pm
Coaches will depart from the DoubleTree by Hilton from 8.15am based on the following schedule. Please be ready waiting outside the hotel entrance, 15 minutes before departure. Please note: coaches are on a strict timetable and will not be able to wait for late passengers. Please wait for the tour leader to escort you to the relevant coach.
Please be ready, waiting, 15 minutes before the departure time
8.15am Departure - Baramundi Fishing and Berry Springs Fishing
8.15am Departure - Pukadul Cultural Experience
9.15am Departure - Military Museum and Museum of NT & Art Gallery (one coach is going to both museums)
9.15am Departure - Crocodylus Park
9.15am Departure - RSPCA centre for animal management workshop
Session 6 - 1.15pm-2.40pm
Kabay Tamu, Torres Strait 8
Kabay Tamu is a sixth-generation Warraberalgal Traditional Owner, living on Warraber Island in the Torres Strait. He is one of the claimants from the Torres Strait 8 case, where eight Traditional Owners from the Torres Strait have made a landmark human rights complaint to the United Nations over climate change.
Kabay attracted international headlines when he asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison to visit Warraber during the 2019 UN climate summit in New York. The Prime Minister declined Kabay’s invitation to see climate impacts in the Torres Strait. Kabay is an advocate for Torres Strait’s fight for climate justice through the ‘Our Islands Our Home’ campaign.
Robert Bonney, Bega Garnbirringu Health Service, Dr Mel Stoneham and Scott Mackenzie, #endingtrachoma project
As part of the environmental health program run by WA Health, Bega Garnbirringu Health Service and many other Environmental Health Workers across WA have been working alongside the #endingtrachoma team to identify and where possible, reduce risk factors for trachoma within homes located in remote communities. As Australia is the only developed country to have endemic trachoma, and because it can cause harm and blindness in our people, we were keen to get more involved in this area.
The risk factors for trachoma are generally linked with the bathroom and laundry as this is where people wash. Over the past few years, we have been mentored and trained in conducting bathroom and laundry audits, to fix minor plumbing issues, provide resources such as soap, towels, mirrors, towel hooks, light bulbs and shower heads to allow people to wash, and more recently, have been having yarns with tenants about the importance of washing their face and hands to prevent disease.
This paper, presented with the #endingtrachoma team, will showcase through film, how this program has grown, and will highlight the skills we have learnt and how we have embedded them within our environmental health program.
Dr Angela Pitts and Jessica Spencer, Health Protection, NSW
One of the most important COVID-19 messages has been to Wash your hands often. However evidence from 20 years of Housing for Health program data shows that less than half of houses in Aboriginal housing adequately supported handwashing.
The Aboriginal Environmental Health Unit designed a COVID Focused Plumbing project with a Sydney-based Aboriginal housing provider to survey and fix health hardware related to handwashing. The project was run in Sydney and in remote NSW Aboriginal communities. The outcome enabled tenants to access functioning health hardware and to successfully isolate at home.
Session 7 - 3.00pm-4.15pm
Facilitator Monica Barolits-McCabe, Executive Director, NACCHO
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Thursday, 8 September
Session 8 - 9.25am-10.45am
Paris O’Rouke, Jessica Hoopes, Katrina Doody and Tida Nou, AMRRIC, NT
Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) have observed an increase in pet cats in remote Indigenous communities. High-density cat populations may negatively affect the health and welfare of community members through cat-dependant disease and nuance behaviours. To effectively mitigate adverse health outcomes from cat overpopulation, we propose a One Health approach to cat management that is tailored to the needs and values of the local community. In this presentation we discuss the findings of Territory NRM’s community engagement activities, and how these data may I
Nick Wilson, Indigenous Eye Health - The University of Melbourne, VIC
This presentation will provide an overview of some of the Environmental Improvement activities that the Indigenous Eye Health Unit are involved in, which include the Central Australian Environmental Health Working Group, the Healthy Housing Project and the ‘Milpa’s Six Steps to Stop Germs’ suite of hygiene and health promotion resources.
Dr Lauren Clark and Tineka Turner, East Arnhem Regional Council, NT
Animals in indigenous communities bear cultural significance with a myriad of physical and emotional benefits to people, in turn, issues with overpopulation and poor health impact on human health and wellbeing. Historically, veterinary interventions in indigenous communities are delivered by contracted services, often infrequently due the remote locations. In contrast, East Arnhem Regional Council delivers a “One Health” approach whereby animal health is addressed holistically by also considering community concerns, fostering relationships, and providing education on health and welfare.
Session 9 - 11.15am-12.30pm
Rowena Johnson and Susannah Mosby, Torres Strait Islands Regional Council, QLD
Presentation about the statistics around vaccination prior to COVID entering the community and if there were any difference in statistics after COVID entered the Torres Strait. What role did TSIRC (specifically Environmental Health Workers) have during the pandemic and what we could have done differently. What were some of the disadvantages and advantages of being in a remote community during the pandemic and living with COVID/the “new norm”, how do we move on with the pandemic.
Skye-Ann Anderson, Lake Macquarie City Council, NSW
Awaba is the largest saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Its widespread use and significance to the Lake Macquarie local government area means it is imperative that regular water sampling monitoring is undertaken to ensure it is in healthy condition. The 2021/2022 water sampling season saw Lake Macquarie local government area receive more than 1300mm of rainfall. The significant increase in rainfall had an extreme impact on the water quality in Awaba, resulting in varied bacteriological results.
Jo-Anne Kelly and Aunty Ruth Dunn, Thunggutti Local Aboriginal Land Council, NSW
Nulla community located in NSW was greatly concerned about a decline in essential health outreach services being provided; particularly after covid public health orders were announced.
In response, a Thunggutti Service Support Group (TSSG) was established with a focus on incorporating health and social emotional wellbeing priorities into the local Community, Land and Business Plan.
TSSG is community lead through the Thunggutti Local Aboriginal Land Council and its members consist of multiple agencies.
Through collaboration and joint service planning the community has benefited significant
Session 10 - 1.30pm-3.45pm
Catherine Feeney, Shire of Derby West Kimberley, WA
Mosquito management is an increasing challenge to public health. Climate change with wetter winters and drier summers means mosquito borne diseases are likely to increase. The Shires’ Aboriginal Environmental Health Unit (AEHU) and Senior Environmental Health Officer have an integrated approach to manage this risk, combining various management strategies (chemical, physical, cultural and biological) with an aim to minimise the interaction between mosquitoes and the public. This presentation highlights some of the practical and hands on strategies the AEHU put in place.
Jessyca Herrera, Department of Health, NT
Remote community outbreak in Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island) - East Arnhem.
First surge workforce deployment/response from 13 January 2022.
Main discussion points:
- Surge workforce role in the community
- Community response
- Challenges
Dr Melissa Stoneham, Stoneham and Associates, Clayton Abreu, Assoc Prof Nikki Percival, UTS, QLD
This paper will showcase the Healthy Ears Storybook, which includes seven prevention and strengths-based stories showing local initiatives to prevent otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Two of the stories will be particularly showcased in this presentation and focus on reducing risks factors in the home to prevent otitis media (Clayton Abreu’s story) and another focusing on the importance of the six steps to stopping germs in the home message to promote healthy ears.
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Jeff Standen and Jessica Spencer, Health Protection NSW
The predicted changes to climate have been modelled extensively and the health impacts of more extreme climate events are widely recognised. The impact of these changes may affect populations differently depending on a range of factors, including geography, socioeconomics and culture.
In partnership with a number of NSW Aboriginal government and non-government agencies we reviewed current evidence on the health risks of climate change for Aboriginal populations in Australia. We linked Aboriginal population data to current and projected climate data for NSW to determine the predicted climate exposures for Aboriginal compared to non-Aboriginal populations in New South Wales (NSW). Aboriginal populations in NSW are already disproportionately exposed to a range of climate extremes in heat, rainfall and drought, and this disproportionate exposure is predicted to increase with climate change over coming decades. Higher rates of climate-sensitive health conditions (such as heart disease) in the Aboriginal community will put people at greater risk from these changes in climate. Socioeconomic disadvantage will also impact communities’ capacity to adapt to climate changes and may adversely affect cultural practices.
Together these factors will likely impact the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in NSW and inhibit measures to close the gap in health between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. Climate change, health and equity need to be key considerations in all policies at all levels of government. Effective Aboriginal community engagement is urgently needed to develop and implement climate adaptation responses to improve health and social service preparedness, and secure environmental health infrastructure such as drinking water supplies and suitably managed social housing. Further Aboriginal led research is required to identify the cultural impacts of climate change on health including adaptive responses based on Aboriginal knowledges.
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Jeff Standen, Chair, Expert Reference Panel on Aboriginal and eff Standen, Chair, Expert Reference Panel on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health
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