2021 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference
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)
Registration
Registrations have now closed, please email Nick Wilson (nick.wilson@unimelb.edu.au) or Rachael Ferguson (rlf@unimelb.edu.au) for any assistance.
We have over 230 delegates joining us across the 3 days.
We are pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the 2021 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC): The Gap and Beyond. The 2021 conference will take place online from Tuesday 20 April – Thursday 22 April 2021.
Due to the ongoing challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic – in particular with regards to interstate travel – we have made the decision to host the conference fully online. To do this, we are utilising a virtual conference platform called ‘EventsAir’. Online conferences are a new thing for most of us, so we will be hosting a series of sessions in the lead-up to the conference where delegates will be able to experience and explore the online conference platform. Speakers and presenters will also be offered 1-on-1 sessions with IEH staff to familiarise themselves with the platform prior to the conference.
Dates and times:
- Tuesday 20 April 2021 11am – 5pm (AEST)
- Wednesday 21 April 2021 11am – 5pm (AEST)
- Thursday 22 April 2021 11am – 5pm (AEST)
The conference times have been selected to allow people across the different Australian time zones to attend/participate. We also anticipate arranging additional and more social events between the hours of 5pm and 6pm (AEST).
Who should attend the conference?
The conference is designed to bring people together and connect people involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye care from local communities, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, health services, non-government organisations, professional bodies and government departments from across the country. We would like to invite everyone who is working on or interested in improving eye health and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Content
The conference will feature keynote speakers, plenary sessions, tabletop presentations, workshops, posters, sector awards, an exhibition of eye health promotional materials, cultural experiences and social functions.
PriceDue to the 2021 conference being held fully online, we are able to offer significantly lower registration costs. There are two registration types
* For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates and delegates employed or on the board of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation For Aboriginal community controlled organisations, after the first two conference registrations at $50, we will be pleased to provide complimentary registration for additional staff of that organisation also wishing to attend the conference. The additional registrations can submitted at the time of the initial purchase of registrations (this is preferred), but can also be added at a later date by contacting either Rachael Ferguson (rlf@unimelb.edu.au) or Nick Wilson (nick.wilson@unimelb.edu). PaymentAll delegates will be invoiced by The University of Melbourne for payment of registration costs. This invoice can be paid via bank transfer, BPAY and via credit card over the phone. Please allow 2 weeks once you register for your invoice to be created and sent to you. Registrations have now closed, please email Nick Wilson (nick.wilson@unimelb.edu.au) or Rachael Ferguson (rlf@unimelb.edu.au) for any assistance.
|
Questions
Please feel free to contact Nick Wilson (nick.wilson@unimelb.edu.au), Guy Gillor (guy.gillor@unimelb.edu.au) or Rachael Ferguson (rlf@unimelb.edu.au) if you have any questions about the conference.
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. | ![]() |
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!” | ![]() |
Awards
2021 Awards
In previous years, The Leaky Pipe Awards have been presented at the conference to recognize achievements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health. The selection criteria for the awards have been broadened this year to include successes beyond the framework of the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision and towards sector initiatives to end avoidable vision loss and blindness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
We are pleased to open nominations for the awards – which include four new categories:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in eye health (new)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions to eye health (new)
- Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) contributions to eye health (new)
- Health Promotion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health (new)
Nominations for the categories of previous awards will also be gratefully accepted in
- Community Engagement
- Service Delivery
- Regional Collaborations & Partnerships
- Unsung Hero
Work in cataract, refractive error, diabetic eye care and trachoma care at a systems, clinic, community or patient level will all be considered. We are also particularly interested in identifying and acknowledging the many ‘unsung heroes’ in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health.
Award Nominations Have Now Closed
Nominations for New Name Have Now Closed
Selection
As the 2020 national conference was cancelled, we will also be presenting the last Leaky Pipe awards from 2020 at the 2021 conference. The selection committee for the 2021 awards will include representatives of the Roadmap Evaluation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group (ATSIRG).
-
Nominations
The nomination form will require contact details of the person making the nomination in addition to information regarding the individual, group or organisation that is being nominated. A 300-word maximum statement in support the individual, group or organisation that is being nominated is requested, plus the name and contact details of a supporting referee.
-
Selection criteria
Selection criteria for the awards include a significant contribution and demonstrable outcomes to improve eye health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Achievements will be measured against a broad range of criteria, including supporting implementation of the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision, Strong Eyes, Strong Communities and contributions to other programs and initiatives within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health sector
-
New name for awards
We are also excited to open nominations for the new name of the awards. You can submit your nomination for the new name of the awards below. A top 4 will be selected and delegates will vote on the final name at the 2021 conference.