Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet gives keynote address at the national Aboriginal Health Information Symposium in Ottawa, Canada

Professor Neil Thomson, Director, and Bronwyn Gee, Manager presented a keynote address on ‘a model of knowledge management for Aboriginal health’ at the national Aboriginal Health Information Symposium held in Ottawa, Canada on 11-13 February.

The topic was of particular relevance to the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), as effective knowledge management has been recognised as critically important in addressing its mandate of improving and promoting the health of Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples and communities.

The presentation included a demonstration on how the HealthInfoNet attempts to address the needs of the variety of potential users of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Indigenous health knowledge and information.

Neil outlined how the HealthInfoNet researches and develops introductory material and detailed overviews of specific health conditions and topics, regularly updated summaries of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, and brief answers to frequently asked questions. He stressed that:

‘It is important that knowledge and other information provided to users is both authoritative and current. Dissemination of knowledge and other information via the Internet provides the potential to be totally up-to-date.’

Bronwyn and Neil also conducted a HealthInternet café on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the symposium. This provided delegates with an opportunity of getting some hands-on guidance on specific topics. The café also demonstrated how the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet could be used as a model for a comprehensive site for Canadian Aboriginal health.

The opportunity to participate at this symposium was an enlightening experience, with Bronwyn and Neil attending many thought-provoking and challenging sessions including ‘Don’t be on the other side of the digital divide: an overview of current health information initiatives impacting Aboriginal Peoples’ by Ms Ceal Tournier, First Nations Centre Governing Committee, NAHO.

They were able also to consider similarities and differences between the HealthInfoNet and Canadian initiatives, and explore various ways to use health knowledge and information to inform and strengthen the health care system for Indigenous people, and thus contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing.

Acknowledgment to NAHO for their permission to use these photos