2021 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference
Welcome
Indigenous Eye Health (IEH) at the University of Melbourne are pleased to announce the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC) 2021: The Gap and Beyond will be held virtually on 20 – 22 April 2021.
The 2021 conference, previously known as the ‘Close the Gap for Vision by 2020 National Conference’, is being designed for virtual attendance and the online conference platform will support a range of exchange and interaction opportunities including supporting online social and cultural exchanges.
The 2021 conference will include speakers who were to present their work at the ‘Close the Gap for Vision National Conference 2020’, originally scheduled for March 2020 in Adelaide, and other postponed elements from the 2020 conference, together with new speakers and other additions.
Since 2017, the National Conferences have developed into a key annual gathering of the Indigenous eye health sector. The annual conference provides an opportunity for a wide variety of voices to discuss and share success stories and challenges in eye health from across Australia.
The conference aims to advance the collective work of the Indigenous eye health sector towards the shared goal of improving eye health access and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Delegates will include representatives from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and other primary care service providers, eye care clinicians, policy makers, researchers, non-government organisations, hospitals, professional peak bodies and government departments from across the country.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related uncertainty over travel means that a physical gathering or gatherings could only be organised for participants to connect together if circumstances permit. Our conference bookings have been retained at the Adelaide Convention Centre on the dates announced and we will announce physical gathering opportunities closer to the time of the conference.
Please join us in April 2021. Further details will follow.
Please contact Guy Gillor at guy.gillor@unimelb.edu or on (03) 9035 8831 or Nick Wilson at nick.wilson@unimelb.edu.au or on (03) 8344 8675 with any questions.
Conference Program & Abstracts
Draft Conference Program Outline
Download Program Outline draft
Download Program Agenda and Abstracts (draft as of 15/4/21)
Snapshot Conference Program (draft)
Keynote and Speakers
We are excited to announce our Keynote speakers
Professor Marcia Langton AO is a descendant of the Iman (Yiman) people of Queensland. She is anthropologist and geographer, and since 2000 has held the Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne, and is the Associate Provost. She has published in the fields of political and legal anthropology, Indigenous agreements and engagement with the minerals industry, and Indigenous culture and art. Marcia has contributed to policy development, and been a public intellectual and advocate for Aboriginal rights. | 
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Professor Alex Brown Professor Alex Brown (BMed, MPH, PhD, FRACP (hon.), FCSANZ, FAAHMS) is the Aboriginal Health Equity Theme Leader at SAHMRI, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Adelaide. Alex is an internationally leading Aboriginal clinician/researcher who has worked his entire career in Aboriginal health in the provision of public health services, infectious diseases and chronic disease care, health care policy and research. He has established three highly regarded research groups over the last 15 years, and currently leads a large research group (50% of whom identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander Australians). Much of his work has been at the difficult interface of geographical isolation, complex cultural context, severe socioeconomic disadvantage, inequitable access to and receipt of care and profound health disparities. |  |
Ricky Miller-Segura "My name is Ricky Miller-Segura. I'm a 42 old Wirangu/Kokatha man from South Australia. I have a genetic condition called Usher Syndrome, which encompasses hearing and vision loss. I'm currently semi-retired from working in the state and federal government for the past 17 years or so. I've had the opportunity to represent the state and country in blind cricket and blind tennis. I'm currently focussing on long distance running. Where I'm aspiring to (well hopefully by the time I do this talk) to complete my first marathon on April 11. Hopefully I make it!” |  |