2016 Conference Report
2016 national conference report
DRS National Conference 22-23 October 2016
The National DRS Conference was held in Perth, in late October. Saturday featured two excellent presentations on issues of enormous public health significance.
Firstly, Dr Alice McGushin (intern, Royal Perth Hospital, WA) outlined the challenges around Climate Change and Health, in particular highlighting the health implications of the Paris Agreement (which has recently been officially internationally ratified) and assessing actions and programmes organised by various Doctor and Medical Student groups. She discussed her own involvement in many of these organisations, in which she has been a leader over many years.
Secondly, Dr Raewyn Mutch (Consultant Paediatrician, Princess Margaret Hospital, WA) discussed the factors that lead to people seeking asylum, and the downstream impact of these factors (including war, conflict and discrimination) on health. She also shared her first-hand experiences in working in a Refugee Health clinic, and her experience of the impact of Australian Government policies on individuals and communities.
These presentations were followed by vigorous discussion regarding national DRS policy, including the adoption of new and/or expanded policies on Dental Health, Refugee Health, Climate Change and the Private Health system in Australia. The full suite of DRS policy can be viewed at our policy page.
Finally, Sunday saw the DRS National Annual General Meeting, in which the National Committee for 2017 was elected. Those elected were:
- President: Dr Tim Woodruff
- Secretary/Treasurer: Dr Peter Davoren
- Vice President: Dr Con Costa
- Vice-President: Dr Andrew Gunn
An enormous debt of gratitude is extended to the Perth team who organised the 2016 National DRS Conference, in particular Dr Alison Creagh, President of the DRS WA branch.