Researchers from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia have shared their expertise with the community in Cockburn, covering topics ranging from respiratory disease in babies to recurring ear infections in kids.
The community consultation at the Cockburn Health and Community facility gave locals the chance to hear about the latest cutting-edge research happening in their community.
The session also gave researchers a chance to ask the Cockburn community what child health research issues were important to them.
Led by Professor Chris Blyth, Director of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, the session included presentations on key research areas, with the audience asked to give instant feedback.
Professor Blyth said the session highlighted the importance of community collaboration in addressing infectious diseases, improving vaccine acceptance, and enhancing public health outcomes.
“It’s really important for us to hear from the community living in the areas we’re working in,” Professor Blyth said.
“Community consultation is a fundamental part of shaping public health initiatives and research projects, and we are so grateful to have an engaged and involved community in Cockburn who are willing to engage with us.”
Associate Professor Chris Brennan-Jones, who leads the innovative Djaalinj Waakinj program in Cockburn, spoke about providing early intervention to Aboriginal children with recurring ear infections.
Middle-ear infections, or otitis media, disproportionately affect Aboriginal kids and if left untreated can cause irreversible hearing loss which severely limits a child’s learning and development.
“Some children spend over two years on waiting lists for treatment of ear infections. That’s too long for children who are in crucial stages of language, behavioural and educational development,” Associate Professor Brennan-Jones said.
“Working with the local Aboriginal community, the Djaalinj Waakinj (listening and talking) Ear Portal Program was established to address this gap. It ensures access to early diagnosis and intervention – within days instead of years – by reducing unnecessary travel and waiting times.”
Associate Professor Hannah Moore, Program Head of Infections and Vaccines at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and Paige Wood-Kenney, a Noongar Yamatji Research Assistant, presented their ongoing research on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is one of the most common causes of hospitalisation for babies in Australia and has been linked to ongoing health problems.
Associate Professor Moore outlined her team’s efforts to raise community knowledge of RSV, including plans to conduct yarning groups with Aboriginal mums to find out what they know about the virus and what educational materials might be needed to help with decision making for immunisations.
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is another key area of research focus at WCVID. The Healthy Skin and Acute Rheumatic Fever Prevention team is working towards reducing the burden of skin infections across the state from Perth to very remote communities in the Kimberley.
Skin infections are dangerous because they allow bacteria like Strep A to enter the blood stream, leading to potentially deadly infections and long-term health problems like RHD.
The forum heard from Dr Bernadette Ricciardo, Dermatologist and PhD candidate, on the importance of skin health via a recorded presentation. Project Officers Jacinta Walton and Ainslie Poore shared the work being achieved with leadership from Aboriginal Elders and community members, as part of the Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin project.
This project is focusing on understanding the skin health of urban-living koolungar (children), and developing culturally appropriate health promotion messages to keep kids’ skin moorditj (strong).
Carla Puca, Project Officer Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, discussed Moort Vax Waangkiny (‘Family Vaccination Yarn’ in Noongar). The project aims to understand the barriers to routine vaccine uptake among Aboriginal children aged under 5 years in the Perth metropolitan region.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Western Australia face lower rates of standard schedule vaccine uptake. The team is actively working with the community to understand why, and to co-design approaches aimed at increasing vaccination rates.
Special thanks to Associate Professor Valerie Swift, Aboriginal Co-Director for the Djaalinj Waakinj Centre for Ear and Hearing Health and the Aboriginal Cultural Governance Advisor, and Jacqui Hume, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Community Involvement Coordinator, for organising and hosting the event.