Month: August 2003

The following summary has been adapted from the 23 June 2003 Ministerial media release.

Two prominent Indigenous researchers, Dr Sandra Eades of the Menzies School of Health Research and Associate Professor Jacinta Elston, of James Cook University, have been recently appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Research Committee.

The NHMRC’s Research Committee is responsible for the allocation of funds from the Government’s Medical Research Endowment Account, to facilitate health and medical research and training in Australia.

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, announced the appointments of Dr Eades and Associate Professor Elston. She commented that:

‘Their knowledge of Indigenous health issues and their experience in research will be invaluable as the NHMRC implements the outcomes of the Research Agenda Working Group’s Road Map for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research.’

Dr Eades has been a member of Project Grants Committee, Chair of the previous Research Committee’s Indigenous Health Research Panel (Projects) and member of the joint OATSIH/SRDC Research Agenda Working Group (RAWG). Dr Eades is a well-established Indigenous researcher with links throughout Australia. Dr Eades is currently a member of the reference group for ‘Mapping Australian Science and Innovation System’. Based at the Menzies School in Darwin she is a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee of the Northern Territory.

Associate Professor Elston is based at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Queensland. Her research interests include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce education and development, health priorities for Indigenous peoples and breast cancer in Indigenous women for which she currently holds grants from the Kathleen Cunningham Foundation. She has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC and a member of the joint OATSIH/SRDC Research Agenda Working Group (RAWG).

For further information:

View Ministerial media release

The following summary has been adapted from the 24 June 2003 Ministerial media release.

Two prominent Indigenous doctors, Dr Noel Hayman of QEII Hospital Health Service District and Dr Mark Wenitong of Wu Chopperen Medical Service, have been recently appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Health Advisory Committee.

The Committee, Australia’s leading public health advisory body, provides broad-ranging information on matters such as drinking water quality, the effect of poverty on health and conserving Australia’s blood supply.

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, announced the appointments of Dr Hayman and Dr Wenitong. She commented that:

‘Their expertise and knowledge in Aboriginal health will be invaluable in assisting the Health Advisory Committee address health inequalities for these Australians.’

Dr Noel Hayman is currently the Manager of the Indigenous Health Service at QEII Hospital Health Service District in Brisbane. He holds a Master of Public Health and has gained a Fellowship to the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine. His interests include improving the access of Indigenous people to mainstream health services and medical education. He received the 2003 Centenary Medal for his long service to primary health care in Aboriginal communities.

Dr Mark Wenitong is a General Practitioner at Wu Chopperen Medical Service in West Cairns. He is a member of the National Aboriginal Health Council. His main areas of interest are Indigenous men’s health, chronic and infectious diseases, health promotion and community development.

For further information:

View Ministerial media release