6C. ASRH Abstract Session: Social, political & cultural aspects
Tracks
| Tuesday, September 15, 2026 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
Speaker
Mrs Jackie Thomas
Aboriginal Research Officer
The Kirby Institute
Return on investment to health services from The Check it Out, Check it Off (COCO) study - a codesigned initiative integrating STI and BBV screening within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 715 health checks.
Biography
Jackie Thomas is a proud Kamilaroi woman and Research Officer with the Yandamanjang First Nations Health Research and Surveillance and Evaluation programs at the Kirby Institute. She works alongside Aboriginal communities to strengthen STI and BBV prevention, service delivery, and culturally responsive systems change.
Dr Shelly Makleff
Research Fellow
The University Of Melbourne
Shifting Dynamics: Building Solidarity, Trust and Knowledge Sharing between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and their non-Indigenous Clinician Colleagues in Far North Queensland
Biography
The Pregnancy Options and Culture Program at Cairns Sexual Health was founded by three team members: Natasha Chong (Senior Aboriginal Health Worker), Morgan Dempsey (Indigenous Health Worker Coordinator) and Erin McBride (Clinical Nurse Consultant). Elisha Maher is an Indigenous Health Worker in Innisfail and Safe Person on the project.
Mrs Jana Ventura
Culturally Responsive Health Lead
True Relationships and Reproductive Health
Co-designing a Health Literacy Framework: A Multiphase, Youth-Led Research Study to Support Health Providers Meet the Sexual Health Needs of CALD Youth
Biography
Jana Ventura is the Culturally Responsive Health Lead at True Relationships and Reproductive Health. She is an experienced Bicultural Peer Researcher having contributed to multiple peer-led health literacy projects. Her research interests include multicultural health and sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly with women and young people.
Miss Sisilia Fakalata
Operations Manager
Village Collective
Grounded in the Village: Applying the Kau Tu‘ulafale Framework to Sexual and Reproductive Health Engagement with Pacific Youth
Biography
Sisilia is Operations Manager at Village Collective in South Auckland, leading Pacific youth health and wellbeing initiatives. She oversees culturally grounded programmes in sexual and reproductive health, workforce development, and outreach. Her work centres Pacific values, youth leadership, and community-led approaches to improve access, engagement, and equity for young people.
Ms Renee Grosso
Public Health Unit Manager
Gurriny Yealamucka
Public Health Where the People Are: A Community-Based, Creative Model of Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Biography
Renee Grosso is a Public Health Specialist working in community-led, creative prevention. With a foundation in performing-arts, she develops programs that integrate creative expression and embodied learning to reduce shame and build agency. Her work in Yarrabah has gained national recognition and contributes to evolving public health practice across Australia.
Ms Zoe Sullivan
Sexual Health And Blood Borne Virus Program Coordinator
Aboriginal Health Council Of Western Australia
Health Heroes: Fighting Syphilis Through Edutainment For Aboriginal Youth
Biography
Zoe Sullivan is a proud Bindal and Wulgurukaba Murri. She began her career in sexual health in 2022 after studying a Masters in Sexology. With experience in health promotion, youth work and NSPs, Zoe currently works as the Sexual Health and BBV Coordinator at the Aboriginal Health Council of WA.
