AMA conference on Indigenous Health
Chair of the AMA Indigenous Health Taskforce, Dr Paul Bauert, announced today that the AMA (Northern Territory) will host an international conference on Indigenous Health in September.
Doctor Bauert said the Darwin conference - Indigenous Health Initiatives Across Northern Australia - will feature Australian and international experts who will discuss overseas progress on indigenous health outcomes, the links between health and education, and ways to better fund indigenous health programs.
"We will also be looking at international research collaboration," Dr Bauert said.
"It is vital that we pool international research to share policies that work in overcoming the health disadvantages of Indigenous peoples."
Dr Bauert said the AMA welcomes the recent announcement by the National Health and Medical Research Council of a five-year collaborative agreement on Indigenous Health Research with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
Dr Bauert said that the Indigenous peoples of all three countries would gain from this collaborative approach to research.
"There are real advantages also in developing a common ethical conduct of research with the full involvement of Indigenous communities," Dr Bauert said.
"To develop workable evidence-based Indigenous health policies and programs, we need quality research.
"Good research with input from communities will contribute to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," Dr Bauert said.
CONTACT: Dr Paul Bauert 0418 277 004
Liz McMaugh 02 6270 5440