COVID vaccine Q&A for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health consumers from across Queensland are invited to attend another Q&A session on COVID-19 vaccinations. Health Consumers Queensland is hosting a panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leaders to answer questions from the community.

Where: By Zoom videoconference and “watch parties”. We hope that groups of people may come together to join the on-line session so those without internet access and those who would prefer to be in a group, can come together for a “watch party” .

Q&A Panel includes:

Ms Haylene Grogan, Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer, Deputy Director-General Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Queensland Health. Haylene is a very proud Kuku Yalanji and Tagalaka woman with Italian heritage. Haylene has extensive experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy development, having held executive positions in the Queensland, New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments.

Dr Mark Wenitong is from the Kabi Kabi tribal group of South Queensland, and has worked in government, peak bodies and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector both in clinical roles on the ground and leadership roles in the sector, for many years.

Associate Professor James Ward is a Pitjantjatjara and Narungga man, and a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. He is currently the Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Professor within the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, and also has a key role in providing advice to the Commonwealth Minister for Health on the immunisation program for COVID-19 vaccines as they become available in Australia as a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) COVID-19 Working Group.

Associate Professor Margie Danchin is an immunisation expert with over ten years experience in vaccine research and clinical work, both in Australia and in resource poor settings. Her research program is focused on improving vaccine confidence, demand and uptake of licensed vaccines in different settings and populations

This is the second conversation we have held on the COVID vaccine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You can view a recording of the first session on our website.