An Indigenous health symposium, hosted by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) this week will bring together some of the foremost national and international experts to share ideas on improving the health and wellbeing of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
QUT Associate Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, who will be speaking about Indigenous women's health issues, said the Indigenous Studies Research Network and Faculty of Health's symposium was vital to improving the health of the Indigenous population.
"There are numerous key Indigenous researchers speaking about their work and Indigenous health in Australia and overseas," Professor Fredericks from the Faculty of Health said.
"The calibre of speakers is outstanding. The coming together of such a group of highly qualified, highly regarded Indigenous people at such an event has not happened previously."
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Among the speakers attending the symposium is QUT's Dr Mick Adams, also from the Faculty of Health, who will speak about the previously ignored area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men's reproductive health.
"To date, no data has been published on Aboriginal men's symptoms of prostate disease or erectile dysfunction, nor has the clinical screening and treatment of these disorders among these men been assessed," said Dr Adams, the 2010 QUT Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus winner.
"One reason for our scant knowledge is that such research mainly relies on self-reporting of sensitive information. This is best gathered by Aboriginal males who are inside the culture of middle-aged and older Indigenous men, but until now this has not been attempted."
The key-note address at the event will be given by Dr John Lowe, a Cherokee Native American Indian tribal member and one of only 15 doctoral-prepared Native American Indian nurses in the United States.
Fellow key-note speaker, Dr Noel Hayman, who was one of the first Aboriginal students to complete the medical curriculum at the University of Queensland, will be outlining the progress of The Inala Indigenous Health Service.
"Having access to such informed Indigenous people was one of the outcomes that the organisers were trying to achieve," Professor Fredericks said.
"In the past, policy, research and program decisions were often made in the absence of any Indigenous people. It is a bit different today, with more and more Indigenous people gaining health and medical qualifications and moving into high level positions where decision-making occurs.
"What will be showcased is why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be involved in the development of policy and in the planning, delivery, management and evaluation of health programs and health research.
"It is the only way towards enabling policies and programs to effectively respond to the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
The Symposium, which is a free, public event, will be held at L101 at QUT's Kelvin Grove campus from 9am-5pm on Thursday, September 29.
**Associate Professor Bronwyn Fredericks and Dr Mick Adams are available to talk to the media.
Media contact: Alita Pashley, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 or alita.pashley@qut.edu.au
