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

Conference Overview

Conference Program

HEAL 2024 Conference Day 1 Recordings

Note: Please view the videos on Vimeo to jump to chapters/specific sections within the videos.

Welcome & Opening Plenary

Speaking Indigenous Research For/With/On Country Plenary

Breakout Session -Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Breakout Session -Urban Health and Built Environment

Breakout Session - Data & Decision Support Systems

Breakout Session -Rural & Remote Health

Breakout Session -Food, Soil & Water Security

Breakout Session - Biosecurity & Emerging Infections

HEAL 2024 Conference Day 2 Recordings

Welcome & Opening Session, Extreme Heat & Health Plenary

Building Researcher Capacity for the Triple Planetary Crisis Plenary

Breakout Session - Health Systems Resilience & Sustainability

Breakout Session - Climate Change & Mental Health & Wellbeing

Breakout Session - Science Communication & Risk Perception

Breakout Session - Clean Energy Solutions for HEAL

Breakout Session - At-Risk Populations & Early Life Effects

Breakout Session - Bushfires, Air Pollution & Extreme Weather Events

Conference Awards & Way Forward

Themes for HEAL 2024

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

Barbara

Drigo

Senior Research Fellow, University of South Australia

Professor

Peng

School of Public Health, University of Adelaide

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

Vanessa

Prescott

Head of the Prevention and Environmental Health Unit, AIHW

Stefanie

Carino

Sustainable Healthcare Manager, Climate Health Alliance

Professor

Geoffrey

Morgan

School of Public Health, and University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney

Alice

McGushin

Assistant Director, National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit

Michelle

Moscova

Director, Health ANSWERS

Kisani

Upward

Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research and Education

Professor

Naomi

Sunderland

Director, Creative Arts Institute, Griffith University

Vicki

Saunders

Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research, First Nations Academy, Central Queensland University

McFarlane

HEAL Global Research Centre, University of Canberra

Emeritus Professor

Carmen

Lawrence

University of Western Australia

Professor

Alistair

Woodward

University of Auckland

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.

Disclaimer

Privacy

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).