The HEAL Network is hosting its annual conference from 26-28 November 2024, building on the resounding success of its first three conferences in 2021, 2022, and 2023. HEAL 2024, with the theme of "Healing with Country for a Sustainable Future for Everyone," will provide a dynamic, inclusive, and decentralized platform for diverse research, policy, and practice communities within the network to come together to share knowledge, evidence, and ideas.
Over three days, HEAL 2024 will offer opportunities to discuss the leading health, climate, and environmental challenges faced in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, and internationally. The conference will explore how the HEAL Network is addressing these challenges, shaping innovative research to support Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy, and helping to implement new practices such as more sustainable healthcare and climate-resilient communities.
In line with HEAL’s core commitment to supporting and elevating Australian First Nations leadership and knowledges of Healing with Country, the conference will highlight inspiring case studies from communities on the frontlines of climate and environmental change. The hybrid conference will be delivered online nationally and internationally, and in-person at eight regional nodes across Australia, providing multiple avenues for delegates to participate and connect with each other.
Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis & Associate Professor Veronica Matthews
HEAL 2024 Conference Co-Chairs
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and knowledge translation for building resilience to environmental change
- Health system resilience to climate change and sustainability
- Bushfires, air pollution, and their impact on physical, mental, and community health
- Extreme heat, health impacts, and adaptation measures
- Food, soil and water safety and security in a changing environment
- Clean energy, energy security and household air pollution
- Biosecurity, and emerging infections in the context of environmental change
- Urban health, built environment and nature based solutions
- Rural and remote health and climate-related disasters
- At-risk populations, early life effects and life-course solutions
- Data and decision support systems for environmental health applications
- Science communication, citizen science, and risk perception
- Climate change and mental health and wellbeing
- Clean energy solutions for healthy environments and lives
Speakers
Hon
Ged
Kearney MP
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care & Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
Honorary Professor
Lisa
Paul AO PSM
Chancellor of the University of Canberra
Professor
Sotiris
Vardoulakis
Director of the Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) National Research Network & University of Canberra
Conference Co-Chair
Associate Professor
Veronica
Matthews
University Centre for Rural Health, The University of Sydney
Conference Co-Chair
Associate Professor
Linda
Payi Ford
Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University
Julie
Tongs OAM
Chief Executive Officer of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services
Professor
Stewart
Sutherland
Associate Dean, First Nations and Senior Lecturer in Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health ANU
Professor
Pat
Dudgeon
Professor, School of Indigenous Studies, University of Western Australia
Professor
Alan
Rosen, AO
The University of Sydney, The University of Wollongong & Far West LHD Mental Health Services
Professor
Mat
Santamouris
Anita Lawrence
Professor of High
Performance
Architecture,
University of New
South Wales
Associate Professor
Carmel
Williams
Health Translation SA, SAHMRI, & School of Public Health, University of Adelaide
Professor
Ollie
Jay
Heat and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Associate Professor
Supriya
Mathew
Menzies School of Medical Research
Dr
Barbara
Drigo
Senior Research Fellow, University of South Australia
Professor
Peng
Bi
School of Public Health, University of Adelaide
Dr
Luise
Kazda
HEAL Global Research Centre, University of Canberra
Professor
Erica
Donner
Research Director CRC SAAFE, University of South Australia
Professor
Mark
Howden
Director, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, ANU
Dr
Vanessa
Prescott
Head of the Prevention and Environmental Health Unit, AIHW
Dr
Stefanie
Carino
Sustainable Healthcare Manager,
Climate Health Alliance
Professor
Geoffrey
Morgan
School of Public Health, and
University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney
Dr
Alice
McGushin
Assistant Director, National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit
Dr
Michelle
Moscova
Director, Health ANSWERS
Dr
Kisani
Upward
Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research and Education
Professor
Naomi
Sunderland
Director, Creative Arts Institute, Griffith University
Dr
Vicki
Saunders
Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research, First Nations Academy, Central Queensland University
Dr
Ro
McFarlane
HEAL Global Research Centre, University of Canberra
Emeritus Professor
Carmen
Lawrence
University of Western Australia
Professor
Alistair
Woodward
University of Auckland
Dr
Tia
Whyman
University of Western Australia
Sustainability
HEAL strives to increase sustainability and reduce our carbon footprint as part of our commitment to improving the health of all people and the environment, and the HEAL 2024 Conference has been designed to reflect this ethos. The hybrid format of the conference, with full online coverage and regional in-person sessions in all Australian states and territories, aims to stimulate interaction and minimise travel, energy use and waste. Information and tips on how to reduce the carbon footprint of your participation in the conference can be found in the HEAL 2024 Sustainability Statement.
We acknowledge the HEAL (Healthy Environments And Lives) National Research Network, which receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council Special Initiative in Human Health and Environmental Change (Grant No. 2008937).
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