Port Hedland welcomes health experts from around Australia

Port Hedland is hosting some of Australia’s most respected health researchers this week as they join forces with local health professionals to improve the health of people living in the tropical north of the country.

Held in collaboration with the Telethon Kids Institute and the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Forum, the HOT NORTH workshop is taking place on 25-26 June.

The workshop features local, regional and national issues critical to addressing the disparity of health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people in northern Australia.

Speaking on workforce development in the Pilbara, June Councillor, CEO of the Wirraka May Health Service said events such as these were a great opportunity to share the successes of the Pilbara and allow the next generation of leaders to build important networks with respected researchers and colleagues in their field.

“Having the HOT NORTH workshop in South Hedland creates a valuable opportunity for us to showcase the important work we do in the Pilbara, especially through dedicated partnerships and research.”

“It allows us to promote our home-grown talent and for our young up and coming leaders to share their success stories at this very exciting event,” said Ms Councillor.

Latest research and best practice in topics such as rheumatic heart disease, diabetes, skin health, and mental health are being explored, as well as discussing new strategies aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of families and children living in the Pilbara.

Professor Jonathan Carapetis, Director of Telethon Kids Institute, said the HOT NORTH workshop was a unique opportunity to bring together a range of health care professionals all dedicated to improving health outcomes in the region.

“Everyone involved brings a wealth of knowledge about the specific challenges being faced, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Islander people, so working together and sharing personal experiences has the potential to transform health practices across Australia,” said Professor Carapetis.

Professor Bart Currie, Director of HOT NORTH said that the Pilbara workshop gives HOT NORTH researchers and Pilbara health professionals the opportunity to strengthen relationships and facilitate learning experiences that develop and transform health practices across northern Australia.

“A major focus of this workshop is to give researchers, clinicians and other health professionals an opportunity to network, collaborate and share research.

“By developing a community of health researchers and clinicians, HOT NORTH is connecting a wide range of experts to address the current and future aspirations and challenges facing the tropical north.

“With HOT NORTH we aim to support health staff already in the north to feel connected and want to stay, while also attracting high quality colleagues to move to the north and join with us,” said Professor Currie.

HOT NORTH (Improving Health Outcomes in the Tropical North) is a four-year National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded research program led by Menzies School of Health Research and has, to date, funded 78 researchers and projects.

HOT NORTH draws on the expertise of research professionals from eight of Australia’s leading research organisations:

• Menzies School of Health Research

• Telethon Kids Institute

• James Cook University

• Marie Bashir Institute

• Doherty Institute

• South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

• QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

• Burnet Institute

To read more about HOT NORTH visit www.hotnorth.org.au