Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

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This National guide to preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (National Guide) is a collaborative effort of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Both NACCHO and the RACGP endorse the National Guide according to their respective internal processes. The fourth edition of the National Guide respectfully builds on the work of all contributors to previous editions, including direct use of content. Previous authors are not named unless they contributed to this edition.

The NACCHO–RACGP partnership acknowledges the following people for their contribution to and support for this fourth edition of the National guide to preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Project Leads

Ms Belinda Hammond 
Ms Kate Freeman

Clinical and Editorial Lead

Dr Mary Belfrage

Project Executive

Ms Vanessa Harris (2024)	Manager, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Ms Leanne Bird (2022-23)	Manager, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Dr Jason Agostino	NACCHO Senior Medical Advisor
Dr Mary Belfrage	Clinical Lead National Guide and Health Checks
Professor Catherine Chamberlain	Director, Onemda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing; Head, Indigenous Health Equity Unit, University of Melbourne
Professor Peter O’Mara	Chair, NACCHO–RACGP Partnership Project Reference Group
Professor David Peiris	Chief Scientist, The George Institute for Global Health
Dr Timothy Senior	Medical Advisor, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

 

Editorial Committee

Dr Jason Agostino
Dr Mary Belfrage
Dr Timothy Senior
Ms Belinda Hammond 
Ms Kate Freeman

Author(s)

National Guide topic	Author/s
Chapter 1: Health impacts of racism	Dr Bronwyn Wilkes Ms Emily Colonna Dr Katherine Thurber  Prof Raymond Lovett
Chapter 2: Healthy living and health risks
Healthy eating	Mr Ray Kelly
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour
Sleep	Dr Sarah Blunden Dr Stephanie Yiallourou A/Prof Fatima Yaqoot A/Prof Subash Heraganahally
Smoking	Prof David Thomas
Vaping
Alcohol	Dr Marguerite Tracy
Gambling	Dr Nicola Coalter Mr Ashley Gordon
Chapter 3: Immunisation across the life course	Dr Caitlyn White Ms Belinda Hammond
Chapter 4: Child and family safety
Child maltreatment: Supporting families to optimise child health and wellbeing	Dr Kim Jones Dr Mary Belfrage
Family abuse and violence	Dr Elizabeth Hindmarsh Dr Melanie Dorrington
Chapter 5: Preconception and pregnancy care
Preconception care	Dr Danielle Carter
Pregnancy care
Chapter 6: Child health
Childhood growth and development	Dr Kate Armstrong Ms Karrina DeMasi
Childhood anaemia	Mr Luke Ruane
Childhood kidney disease	Prof Hasantha Gunasekera
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder	Dr Robyn Williams
Chapter 7: The health of young people
Introduction	Dr Annapurna Nori
Social and emotional wellbeing in adolescence	Dr Annapurna Nori Dr Talila Milroy
Sexual and reproductive health in adolescence
Substance use in adolescence	Dr Marguerite Tracy
Chapter 8: The health of older people
Introduction	Dr Sylvia Nicholls
Brain health, cognition and dementia
Osteoporosis
Mobility, balance and coordination: Falls prevention
Chapter 9: Eye health and vision
Visual acuity	Dr Natalie Williamson
Trachoma and trichiasis	Dr Mariana Galrao
Chapter 10: Ear health and hearing	Prof Penelope Abbott Dr Mary Belfrage
Chapter 11: Oral and dental health	Prof Julie Satur
Chapter 12: Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease	Dr James Doran Ms Vicky Wade
Chapter 13: Sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses	Dr Lea Merone
Chapter 14: Respiratory health
Asthma	Prof Anne Chang A/Prof Julie Marchant A/Prof Andre Schultz
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Dr Sarah Cush
Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease	Prof Anne Chang Dr Pamela Laird Ms Lesley A Versteegh
Chapter 15: Overweight and obesity	Mr Ray Kelly
Chapter 16: Cardiovascular disease	Dr Rosemary Wyber Ms Vicky Wade
Chapter 17: Type 2 diabetes	Dr Justin Coleman
Chapter 18: Chronic kidney disease	Dr Mary Belfrage Prof William Majoni
Chapter 19: Cancer prevention and early detection
Introduction	NACCHO Cancer Team
Cervical cancer	Prof Lisa Whop A/Prof Megan Smith
Breast cancer	Dr Sarah Cush
Liver (hepatocellular) cancer	Dr Nicole Allard Mr Troy Combo
Bowel cancer	Dr Jonathan Gillies
Prostate cancer
Lung cancer
Chapter 20: Mental health
Introduction	Dr Timothy Senior
Depression
Suicide: Recognising and responding to risk
Chapter 21: Health impacts of climate change	A/Prof Veronica Matthews Prof Sarah Larkins

 

Other contributors

Author support	Topic
Dr Emma Carlin	Preconception care Pregnancy care
Prof Stuart Dashper Prof Michael McCullough	Oral and dental health
Dr Megan Campbell	Sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses
Prof Dina LoGiudice	Brain health, cognition and dementia Osteoporosis Mobility, balance and coordination: Falls prevention

 

Advisory group: Health impacts of racism

Advisory group member	Affiliation
Dr Lorraine Anderson	Medical Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services
Dr Leisa McCarthy	CEO, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation
Ms Donnella Mills	Chair, NACCHO
Dr Karen Nicholls	Chair, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Ms Vicki O’Donnell	CEO, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Ltd
Prof Peter O’Mara	Assistant Dean and Director, Thurru Indigenous Health Unit, University of Newcastle
Mr Nathan Rigney	Associate Director, Aboriginal Health Promotion, Prevention and Population Health, Wellbeing SA

Reviewers

Expert reviewers

National Guide topic	Expert reviewer/s
Chapter 1: Health Impacts of racism	Advisory Group (as listed above)
Chapter 2: Healthy living and health risks
Healthy eating	Adj/Prof Nicole Turner
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour	Prof David Dunstan Prof Jo Salmon
Sleep	Prof Ching Li Chai-Coetzer
Smoking	A/Prof Rowena Ivers
Vaping
Alcohol	Prof Kate Conigrave Ms Nicole Hewitt
Gambling	Prof Nerilee Hing
Chapter 3: Immunisation across the life course	Dr Katrina Clark
Chapter 4: Child and family safety
Child maltreatment: Supporting families to optimise child health and wellbeing	Prof Catherine Chamberlain
Family abuse and violence	Ms Ashleigh Markstone Dr Renee Fiolet
Chapter 5: Preconception and pregnancy care
Preconception care	A/Prof Sandy Campbell Prof Jacqui Boyle
Pregnancy care	Dr Marilyn Clarke
Chapter 6: Child health
Childhood growth and development	Dr Andrew MacDonald
Anaemia	Prof David Atkinson
Childhood kidney disease	Prof Jonathan Craig
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder	Prof Elizabeth Elliott
Chapter 7: The health of young people
Social and emotional wellbeing in adolescence	Dr Mick Creati
Sexual and reproductive health in adolescence
Substance use in adolescence	A/Prof Rachel Reilly
Chapter 8: The health of older people
Brain health, cognition and dementia	Prof Leon Flicker
Osteoporosis
Mobility, balance and coordination: Falls prevention
Chapter 9: Eye health and vision
Visual acuity	A/Prof Kristopher Rallah-Baker
Trachoma and trichiasis	Dr Lorraine Anderson Dr Caitlyn White
Chapter 10: Ear health and hearing	Prof Kelvin Kong Prof Amanda Leach
Chapter 11: Oral and dental health	Dr Chris Bourke
Chapter 12: Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease	Dr Ben Reeves
Chapter 13: Sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses	Prof Darren Russell
Chapter 14: Respiratory health
Asthma	Prof Paul Torzillo
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Dr Anna McLean
Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease	Prof Paul Torzillo
Chapter 15: Overweight and obesity	Prof Anna Peeters Mr Troy Walker
Chapter 16: Cardiovascular disease	Prof Alex Brown
Chapter 17: Type 2 diabetes	Dr Matthew Hare
Chapter 18: Chronic kidney disease	Prof Mark Thomas
Chapter 19: Cancer prevention and early detection
Cervical cancer	Prof Julia Brotherton
Breast cancer	Prof Jenny Reath
Liver (hepatocellular) cancer	Prof Ben Cowie
Bowel cancer	Mr James Keck
Prostate cancer	Prof Mark Morgan
Lung cancer	A/Prof Lisa Whop
Chapter 20: Mental health
Depression	Dr Molly Shorthouse Dr Karen Nicholls Prof Peter O’Mara Dr Kirsty Jennings
Suicide: Recognising and responding to risk
Chapter 21: Health impacts of climate change	Dr Simon Quilty

 

Organisational review

Organisation	Topic
Asthma Australia	Asthma
Australasian Society for HIV Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)	Sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses
Australian Association of Gerontology – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing Advisory Group	Brain health, cognition and dementia Osteoporosis Mobility, balance and coordination: Falls prevention
Australian Dental Association	Oral and dental health
Cancer Council	Cervical cancer Breast cancer Liver (hepatocellular) cancer Bowel cancer Prostate cancer Lung cancer
Headspace	The health of young people: Social emotional wellbeing
HEAL network	Health impacts of climate change
Heart Foundation Australia	Physical activity and sedentary behaviour Overweight and obesity Cardiovascular disease
CARI Guidelines	Chronic kidney disease
Lung Foundation	Asthma Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease Lung cancer
National Stroke Foundation	Overweight and obesity
NOFASD Australia	Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Vision 2020	Visual acuity Trachoma and trichiasis
Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS)	Substance use in adolescence

 

Project reference group

Member	Affiliation/representation
Prof Peter O’Mara (Chair)	Chair, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council
Dr Dawn Casey	Deputy CEO, NACCHO
Ms Leanne Bird (2022-2023)	Manager, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Ms Vanessa Harris (2024)	Manager, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Mr Karl Briscoe	CEO, National Association for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP)
Dr Karen Nicholls	GP, NACCHO nominee
Dr Wendy Page	GP, NACCHO nominee
Ms Lyn Byers	Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association (CARPA) nominee
A/Prof Rowena Ivers	RACGP Red Book nominee
Ms Liz Gould	Clinical software expert
Ms Leeona West	Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) nominee
Dr Jason Agostino	Medical Advisor, NACCHO
Dr Mary Belfrage	Clinical and Editorial Lead, NACCHO–RACGP Partnership Project, 4th edition author
Prof Catherine Chamberlain	Guidelines and implementation expert
Prof David Peiris	Previous Clinical and Editorial Lead and author (2nd and 3rd editions)
Dr Timothy Senior	Medical Advisor, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, 4th edition author

Peak body endorsement

Organisation	Topic
Australasian Society for HIV Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)	Sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses
Cancer Council	Cervical cancer Breast cancer Liver (hepatocellular) cancer Bowel cancer Prostate cancer Lung cancer
HEAL Network	Health impacts of climate change
Heart Foundation	Physical activity Cardiovascular Overweight and obesity
NOFASD	Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Stroke Foundation	Cardiovascular disease
Vision 2020 Australia	Visual acuity Trachoma & Trichiasis

Publishing team

Dr Natalie Korszniak, Copyeditor
Beverly Jongue, Graphic Designer, RACGP
Patrick Leong, Senior Graphic Designer, RACGP
Morgan Liotta, Staff Writer/Proofreader, RACGP
Andrew Riggio, Brand and Creative Production Lead, RACGP
Auriol Clarke, Senior Brand and Creative Services Manager, RACGP
Kim Smith,Team Leader, Web services, RACGP
Tim Bortoli, Web Content Administrator, RACGP
Shahz Warakhwala,  Web Content Assistant, RACGP
Neha Bhargava, UI/UX Designer, RACGP
Verity Leach, Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, NACCHO
Heidi Sagerud, Branding and Graphic Design Manager, NACCHO
 

Others

A/Prof Michelle Kennedy and Lowitja Institute, for advising on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers as potential authors
Dr Marianne Wood, for author and editorial support
Ms Jules Ciaccia, for referencing and prrofreading support
A/Prof Jill Benson, for referencing support
RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care and Red Book team, for collegiality and review of the National Guide