33rd Public Health Association of Australia Annual Conference

The 33rd Public Health Association of Australia Annual Conference was held in Sydney from the 23-26 September. Titled 2001: A Public Health Odyssey – Popular Culture, Science and Politics, the conference explored the influence of community preferences, scientific evidence and political realities in addressing various health issues, and highlighted the need to properly engage the community and consumers in the development of our health system.

The conference theme has particular relevance to the health of Indigenous Australians, and a number of papers presented at the conference addressed Indigenous health issues in Australia and New Zealand. Other events of relevance to Indigenous health included the Annual General Meeting of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Special Interest Group, and the Gordon Oration by HealthInfoNet Consultant Associate Professor Ian Anderson.

The conference also provided the HealthInfoNet with an opportunity to share its work with public health professionals from around Australia. A mini Internet Café, along the lines of those conducted at earlier conferences, introduced conference delegates to the HealthInfoNet’s online services and technology, and its role in empowering Indigenous people by providing them with access to relevant, high-quality information and knowledge translation on Indigenous health.

The café, conducted by Sam Burrow from the HealthInfoNet and Donna Daly from the Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, offered delegates the opportunity to explore the HealthInfoNet site. New users were guided through its major sections and offered assistance to seek out material pertaining to their specific health interests. Digital photos captured the conference participants at work and play and were displayed at the HealthInfoNet stall.

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet would like to thank the Public Health Association of Australia and the Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal for providing the financial support and manpower, respectively, to conduct the Internet café. Finally, a special thank you to Donna for her capable assistance and good company.