Thread by @_PHAA_

It's now time for Prof Tom Calma AO, whose roles include Chancellor of the University of Canberra and co-chair of @RecAustralia, who is delivering the Basil Hertzel Oration #AustPH2021

Prof Calma says the pandemic's ongoing lockdowns are causing challenging times. "This is hard", he says. It also shows much of Australia a reality the country has often avoided. Despite this, there are many lessons to be learned, and wins to be celebrated, he says. #AustPH2021

The Public Health sector is at risk of burn out. Lots of pressures over a long time. We still need to take time to reset, re-energise and refine, Prof Calma says. #AustPH2021

Improvements which will become normal now include greater hygiene indoors, not just in health venues. Hand washing has been normalised in our communities, Prof Calma says. Telemedicine and contact tracing has been improved in almost real time. #AustPH2021

Prof Calma joins us from Darwin, where he reports almost 99% of people he sees are using QR codes to check in to venues.
Misinformation, especially via social media, must be grappled with. Public health partners must help counteract this. #AustPH2021.

Prof Calma giving a shout out to public health students and course providers around Australia.
He notes the need for robust, evidence-based policies, timely and reliable information, and the challenges that arise when these are lacking. #AustPH2021

There are many distinct challenges to primary care regarding both the pandemic and other infectious diseases that need to be addressed. COVID19 co-design processes have been exceptional. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people have been at the table with govts. #AustPH2021

Prof Calma says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are "in the tent now", and there they will stay. He notes a study in @anzjph on ongoing health problems among Indigenous peoples which stem from racism and colonisation. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11… #AustPH2021

There is widespread evidence showing the role of racism and disease risk in children and beyond, and it must be addressed, Prof Calma tells #AustPH2021 Legacies of white Australia and colonisation affect all areas, from health to housing to policing.

We must address fundamental courses of inequalities. Racism affects not just children and their families, but others including health care workers. He notes Prof Dudgeon's earlier address on mental health and well-being and a "shadow pandemic." #AustPH2021

All sorts of obstacles such as lockdowns, the lack of social interactions, our children not being able to socialise in person, are all stressors during this pandemic, Prof Calma says. Leads to anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse in some people. #AustPH2021

Govt supports such as JobKeeper have helped, but all sorts of health and wellbeing supports remain limited, with all sorts of barriers make them very hard to access in 2021. Stressors that are personal. #AustPH2021

Our mental health support services are overwhelmed. The pandemic has exposed existing disadvantages, such as under employment, and people with mental health challenges which must be addressed, Prof Calma says. If we don't it will escalate into a significant problem.#AustPH2021

Colonisation has dislocated Indigenous peoples, erosion of social structures and erosion of inter-generational connects has harmed the health of Indigenous peoples. It also introduced tobacco to communities. #AustPH2021

Colonisation entrenched tobacco use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and put them at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. Experts in public health know that SES and low SEO is linked to health outcomes, Prof Calma tells #AustPH2021.

Tackling Indigenous smoking problems need to be strongly supported, esp by mainstream tobacco control efforts, Prof Calma says. 9.8% absolute decline in smoking among Indigenous populations since 2005. Vaping must be addressed. #AustPH2021

Next version of the National Tobacco Strategy must accelerate measures which have worked, and also guard against new challenges like e-cigarettes and vaping. #AustPH2021

Prof Calma urges delegates get involved in the how the Commonwealth uses the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
health.gov.au/initiatives-an…

Final message from Prof Calma: Be kind. To your families, your communities, yourselves.
This pandemic is hard, but we can reset, re-energise and reconnect he tells #AustPH2021