Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) Indigenous Health Workshop

Convened by Professor Kelvin Kong AM, the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) Indigenous Health Workshop was held recently at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney as part of the 2025 ASOHNS Annual Scientific Meeting.  

Senior Coordinator – Health Access Services at Rural Doctors Network (RDN), Sally Brugger, attended the Workshop alongside a number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous medical and health professionals who engaged with presentations on topics including: 

• Exploring regional capacity 
• A spotlight on ear health delivery difficulties 
• Enhancing ENT care for future generations 
• Addressing myringoplasty 
• Indigenous status and adverse outcomes in deep neck space infections – analysis of risk factors and health disparities 
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) for otoscopic image classification; Improving middle ear diagnosis in remote Indigenous communities and 
• Climate change impact on Indigenous health. 

Presenters shared both Indigenous and non-Indigenous realities of delivering outreach services and panel discussions brought diverse perspectives to the forefront - sharing experiences and challenges, actionable solutions and emphasising the need for systemic change management. 

Dr Guy Cameron, a proud Wailwan man, is a post-doctoral researcher with the Aboriginal Ear and Immune Health research program at Hunter Medical Research Institute and a final-year medical student at the University of Newcastle. His work bridges microbiology, immunology, and Indigenous health, focusing on better understanding and treating otitis media in Aboriginal children. Dr Cameron shared his reflections as a participant, and as part of the panel discussion Enhancing ENT care for future generations.  

“Otitis media remains far too common in our kids,” Dr Cameron said.  

“Limited access to specialists, underfunded programs, and a lack of culturally safe care, all drive poor outcomes. Colonisation’s legacy is still embedded in ENT care, from systemic racism to exclusion from research. But we also shared solutions: Aboriginal-led ENT clinics, community-controlled research, and workforce pathways that retain mob in ENT, audiology, and speech. 

“As a researcher, I spoke about the microbiology behind ear infections, and the need to centre Aboriginal perspectives. That means community-led projects and clinical trials that don’t exclude our mob. It’s baffling we still don’t have good alternatives to surgery. 

Dr Cameron said it was “such a deadly workshop to be part of” and praised “…everyone who listened, asked questions, and leaned into the hard stuff. Let’s keep doing the work!” 

“The key takeaway?”, Dr Cameron asked. 

“Aboriginal communities aren’t passive recipients of care. We are knowledge holders, innovators, and leaders. ENT, and all of healthcare, needs to meet us with respect, partnership, and a willingness to change.” 

The workshop finished with a cultural tour on the Tribal Warrior sailing Sydney Harbour where guests heard stories of the Cadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal, and Wallumedegal people, the original custodians of the lands surrounding Sydney.  

The additional surgeries have been supported through the Healthy Ears Better Hearing Better Listening program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

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Further information:

For further information on the involvement of ASOHNS members in Outreach initiatives delivering specialist consulting and surgical services to patients throughout regional and rural New South Wales or to enquire about the annual ASOHNS Indigenous Health Workshop, please contact us via email: info@asohns.org.au.

To connect with Dr Guy Cameron, visit: https://www.guycameron.me

To express interest in delivering or receiving ENT services in NSW please complete RDN's Expression of Interest form.