National Symposium On Australian Traditional Medicine
11 - 12th November 2024
NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
Judy Jacka Conference Centre
158 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145
The inaugural National Symposium on Australian Traditional Medicine, in collaboration with The Australian National University and sponsored by the Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies, sparked meaningful discussions on the safeguarding of Indigenous knowledge and Australia's role in advancing its integration into future healthcare.
With 150 attendees over two engaging days, the Symposium created a dynamic platform for in-depth dialogue, exploring the challenges and opportunities in the use of Indigenous medicine.
"The inaugural National Traditional Medicine Symposium achieved amazing feedback from those who presented and those who attended. It was clear to see the genuine interest in elevating the rights and interests of traditional knowledge holders and Indigenous Peoples. I truly look forward to collaborating on future opportunities." - Dr Virginia Marshall, ARC Research Fellow, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University
First Nations peoples, policymakers, regulators, and researchers came together to debate, collaborate, and shape the future of Australian Traditional Medicine, exploring topics covering regulation of traditional medicine products, barriers and pathways in developing Indigenous traditional medicines, functional ingredients from Australian native plants, enduring biopiracy concerns and more.
"The panel discussions, along with rich topics presented in well-organized sessions, were truly eye-opening." - Symposium attendee
Guest Speakers and Titles
| Speaker | Title | Presentation Title |
| Prof Sheryl Lightfoot | Professor, University of British Columbia | Implementing UNDRIP: Strengthening Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Intellectual Property. |
| Prof Ronald Quinn | Emeritus Professor, Griffith University | A Partnership for Commercialisation of Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge: Historical Perspective. |
| Prof Emma Kowal | Cultural & Medical Anthropologist and Deputy Director, Alfred Deakin Institute, Deakin University | Oral evidence of traditional use of Indigenous medicines: towards recognition |
| Dr Deep Bhuyan | Research Support Program Fellow, Western Sydney University | The current research landscape of Australian Traditional Medicine: From preclinical and clinical perspectives |
| Binota Dhamai | Postdoctoral Fellow, Indigenous Governance, Australian National University | The Role of Indigenous Governance in Traditional Medicines, Australia |
| Prof Joanne Jamie | Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemist, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University | Facilitating Opportunity and Inclusion Through Indigenous-Academic Collaborations on Natural Resources |
| Dr Hamish MacDonald | Research Fellow, University of Queensland | Access and Benefit Sharing in Australia |
| Sharon Pok | Therapeutic Goods Administration | Regulation of traditional medicine products by the TGA |
| Dr Virginia Marshall | ARC Research Fellow, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University | Indigenous Australians, Decolonizing regulation: Developing a national approach to Traditional Medicines governance frameworks |
| Prof Gerald Muench | Professor of Pharmacology, Western Sydney University | Discovery of novel anti-inflammatory compounds from the Dharrawal Pharmacopeia |
| Elizabeth Steels | Head of Research and Development, Integria Healthcare | Importance of traditional evidence. pre-clinical and clinical studies for evidence of efficacy in commercialization of traditional medicines |
| Prof Yasmina Sultanbawa | Centre Director, Nutrition & Food Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland | Functional foods and ingredients from Australian native plants |
| Gerry Turpin | Ethnobiologist, Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre, James Cook University | The Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre - saving ancient knowledge to help solve contemporary global problems. |
| Prof Daniel Robinson | Professor, The University of New South Wales | Indigenous Medicinal Knowledges, Patents and Enduring Biopiracy Concerns |
| A/Prof Kamal Dua | Pharmaceutical Sciences (Drug Delivery) expert, Discipline of Pharmacy & Senior Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health University of Technology Sydney | Advancing Bush Medicine in Lung Diseases: Discovery & Roadmap through interdisciplinary research of biological interventions to novel delivery systems |
Organising Committee
- Professor Dennis Chang (Chair) – Director NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
- Dr. Virginia Marshall (Co-Chair) – ARC Research Fellow, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University
- Binota Dhamai – Postdoctoral Fellow, Indigenous Governance, Australian National University
- Professor Aunty Kerrie Doyle – Associate Dean, Indigenous Health, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
- Professor Gerald Muench – Professor of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
- Dr. Deep Bhuyan – Research Support Program Fellow - Healthy Ageing: Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products, Western Sydney University
- Professor Emma Kowal – Cultural & Medical Anthropologist and Deputy Director, Alfred Deakin Institute
- Dr. Mardi Reardon-Smith – Postdoctoral Fellow, Deakin University
- Christopher Oliver – Southern Cross University
- Dr. Sue Evans – Deputy Chair Jacka Foundation
- David Morgan – Board Member, Jacka Foundation
- Professor Ronald Quinn – Emeritus Professor Griffith University
- Gerry Turpin – Ethnobiologist, Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre, James Cook University
- Cassandra Hunt – Founder, Naturally Healthful
- Emma Burchell - Non-Exec Director, External Advisor
- Paul Marshall – Research Officer, Australian National University
- Mitchell Manning – Western Sydney University
- Gemma Deakin – Western Sydney University
- Kayla Jaye – Western Sydney University
- Indeewarie Dissanayake – Western Sydney University
- Kellie Riek – Western Sydney University
- Stephanie Bedo – Western Sydney University
- Emma Burchell - Non-Exec Director, External Advisor
Banner Artwork
'Those Who Came Before Us'
Early last year, Western Sydney University’s Executive team, together with a group of academics and professional staff, participated in a full-day cultural exchange workshop to enhance their understanding of Country and culture.
This was co-facilitated by Allan McKenzie – a proud Wiradjuri Gamilaroi man from Griffith NSW. Allan has painted for over 29 years and promotes Aboriginal culture through optical storytelling, song, and dance. Since then, Allan has facilitated a number of workshops where over 120 individuals, including Western Sydney University staff and students, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, contributed to the painting and engaged in Aboriginal cultural learning.
This artwork provided all the opportunity to yarn and learn. The painting is incredibly detailed and hangs at nearly two and a half metres long by one metre wide. It is entitled 'Those who came before us' and is owned by none, yet owned by all, and is a great example of reconciliation in practice.
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