MDHS Indigenous Staff Conference
The Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences Indigenous Conference 2024 theme is 'Blak, Loud and Proud - Sharing our Successes'.
The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) proudly hosted the 2024 MDHS Indigenous Staff Conference on 24–25 September 2024 at the Treetops Room, Melbourne Museum.
With the theme “Blak, Loud and Proud – Sharing our Successes,” this year’s conference celebrated the achievements, leadership, and cultural strength of Indigenous staff, researchers, and students across the faculty.
Over two days, participants engaged in a diverse program of presentations and discussions led by MDHS Indigenous staff, project leaders, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers. The event provided a platform to highlight the impact of Indigenous scholarship and to strengthen networks of collaboration and support across disciplines.
Importantly, the conference also offered a supportive environment for early- and mid-career researchers to develop their abstract writing and presentation skills, thanks to the guidance and resources provided by the Faculty’s Research Portfolio. This initiative reflected MDHS’s ongoing commitment to fostering professional growth and research excellence among emerging Indigenous academics.
The conference featured three keynote presentations that explored culture, wellbeing, and community-led practice:
- Ngangkari Members: Norma Baker, Jennifer Mitchell, and Rene Kulitja
- Yolanda Finette: “Mulana Alchemy: Weaving Radical Self-Care with First Nations Wisdom”
- Aunty Lorraine Parsons: Department of Social Work, MDHS
In addition to the academic program, the Celebrating Our Successes Awards Dinner was held on 24 September at St Andrews Conservatory, hosted by Professor Sandra Eades. The dinner brought together Indigenous staff and PhD students to recognise excellence and celebrate achievements across the faculty.
The MDHS Indigenous Awards honoured outstanding contributions in the following categories:
- Excellence in Early Career Research
- Excellence in Research
- Professional Staff Excellence
- Excellence in Knowledge Translation
- Excellence in Teaching and Learning
- Excellence in Community Engagement and Partnerships
Award recipients each received $1,000 in professional development funding to support their continued growth and leadership.
Reflecting on the success of the event, participants noted the sense of pride, connection, and momentum generated across the MDHS Indigenous community. The conference reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices, supporting career development, and celebrating the diverse contributions that strengthen both the University and the communities it serves.