National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference 2022
“Our Vision Our Hands”(NATSIEHC22)
Date: 24th-26th May 2022
Location: Double Tree Esplanade Darwin
Hosted by: University of Melbourne & Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
Attended by & prepared by: Shelley Du & Mafi Kailahi
AH&MRC supported 2 staff from the Public Health Intelligence unit to attend the NATSIEHC 2022 conference.
Day 1 – First Nations Delegates Only
Visions For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health in 2030
- WORKFORCE “Radical change in eye health education led by Aboriginal people”
- “Every child in Australia by age 5 has an eye health assessment”
- “Equitable access to eye health services regardless of location”
- “Patient led technology driven eye health”
- “Better health outcomes through ATSI co-developed pathways”
- (Challenging concepts such as “remote”, “overcrowding” and “capacity building”)
- “Software and algorithmic diagnosis process to revolutionise the eye care service deliver”
In 2022 the conference is being overseen by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership group, chaired by Shaun Tatipata (Pic below with Mafi Kailahi Programs Officer Ear health/Eye Health AHMRC)
The Program Advisory Group (PAG) and Conference Organising Group will report to the leadership group. Members of the PAG include representatives from AMSANT, OA, RANZCO, Vision 2020 Australia, The Fred Hollows Foundation and The Brien Holden Foundation.
The conference aims to advance the collective work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health sector towards the shared goal of improving eye health access and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Key note speakers:
- Thomas Mayor
Thomas is a lead campaigner for the Uluru Statement from the Heart proposal for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice and the author of Dear Son – Letters and Reflections from First Nations Fathers and Sons.
- Nicole Turner
Nicole’s passion is nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. She believes we need to give knowledge to our people about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic diseases.
- Summer May Finlay
This announcement completes the keynote speaker line up for the conference and we are proud and delighted that Summer May Finlay, Thomas Mayor, Nicole Turner and Jaki Adams will be joining us and sharing their knowledge and wisdom.
- Jaki Adams – Inaugural Jilpia Nappaljari Jones Memorial Oration
IEH is honoured to announce that the family of the late Jilpia Nappaljari Jones AM have provided their blessing for an annual invited, keynote presentation in memory of Jilpia by a female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leader in eye health.
The conference brought together the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander eye health care workers and showcased how eye care clinicians, policy makers, researchers and non-government organisations are working with community to improve eye health access and outcomes.
Thomas Mayor made a moving speech about racism in politics and the Uluru Statement From the Heart. There were several presentations about how culturally safe projects have been carried out and different methods of community involvement to promote eye care and a focus on the environmental issues that affect health.
The conference was overseen by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership group and its strengths lie not only in bringing a diverse group of eye health workers together but also in its cultural messaging. Delegates had the pleasure of witnessing a welcome reception with cultural performances (see photos) and Non-First Nations delegates were taught about kinship systems while the First Nations delegates convened to discuss their visions for the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health.
Although I work in the chronic care space, I found the methods of co-designing and community involvement creative and useful for our team to adapt in future and the presentations on diabetic retinopathy particularly valuable.
Awards Night:
- Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) received an Award for their Eye Care Model & AH&MRC were mentioned during the presentation of the award – OAMS were not present. Nikki Turner presented the Award to OAMS at the AH&MRC CQI event.
Day 2
Concurrent Workshop and Oral Presentation Session – Break out sessions
Workshop 2: Retinal Cameras in Primary Care. Neville Turner, Kristin Bell
Non-mydriatic retinal camera
Learning how to use the retinal camera and read and detect any eye health issues.
(Break to take group pic of all delegates attended the conference – Melbourne Uni)
Closing Session with Chairs: Shaun Tatipata and Anne-Marie Banfield
Included:
- A Presentation from Kristopher Rallah-Baker
- Report back from Visions 2030 – Potentially forming a First Nations Eye Health Alliance
- Report back from Campfire Session Topics:
- National peak body for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander eye health
- Inreach eye care- a group of private practices keen to deliver cultural safe care
- Diabetic retinopathy treatment and cost
- Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) for eye care organisations: advice & lessons
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander optometry student recruitment and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Student experiences
- Department of Health
- Tasmanian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye care
- Transitioning funding to Aboriginal-led solution
- RTO delivering the full eye health elective in the AHW/P qualifications
- Linking reform – primary care, NRHA?MBS, Indigenous health
- Indigenous optometry students recruitment
