Alice Springs to host rural health symposium

National Rural Health Alliance

Leading rural health researchers from across Australia will gather in Alice Springs on 25-26 May 2020 for the 7th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium.

This year, the biennial Symposium (see full program) has the theme “shaping the future” – bringing together researchers, policymakers and the not-for-profit sector to help shape the future of rural health research.

“The Symposium is an important event on the calendar of many people in the rural health sector,” said National Rural Health Alliance CEO Dr Gabrielle O’Kane. “That’s why we’re excited to release the program for this year’s Symposium, which will tackle some of the most important health policy issues facing rural Australia.

“This year’s Symposium features not only some excellent and engaging keynote speakers, but will also highlight research on important topics such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, mental health, workforce issues, and children’s health.

“We’re also excited to be bringing the Symposium to Alice Springs for the first time. It’s a great location, but it also means we’re able to highlight in our program some Territorians who are at the forefront of rural health research and policy.”

The Symposium’s keynote speakers are:

Dr Laura Weyrich – Associate Professor of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University

Dr David Abbott – Principal Research Scientist, Medical Research Future Fund, Health and Medical Research Office, Australian Government Department of Health

Professor Anthony Capon – Director, Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University

Professor Harriet Hiscock – Associate Director of Research, Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Professor Pierre Horwitz – Professor of Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University

Associate Professor Jaquelyne Hughes – Principal Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research

Professor Louise Maple-Brown – Senior Principal Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research

Mr John Paterson – Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territroy

Dr Danny Tsai – Infectious Diseases Pharmacist, Alice Springs Hospital; Centre for Remote Health, Flinders University

The National Rural Health Alliance runs the 7th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium in conjunction with the Australian Rural Health Education Network, the Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators and the Lowitja Institute. Click here for the program as well as the list of keynote speakers, concurrent speakers and poster presenters. Registration is open. The Alliance can

/Public Release.