Context and aim
Education is a critical determinant of health, as educational attainment has strong associations to life expectancy, morbidity, and health behaviours [1]. This systematic review assesses evidence for causal links between education attainment – quality, enrolment, participation – and health in OECD countries, with a focus on rural and Indigenous communities. It addresses the research gap on the influence of educational intervention on Indigenous health [2, 3].

Methods and analysis/research findings
Original studies on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples relationship between education and health published from 2000 to 2024 were included in the review. Relevant full text databases, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Informit, and Google Scholar were searched to identify all relevant academic and grey literature. Following PRISMA Guidelines for systematic reviews, the MMAT will be used to critically appraise documents [4, 5]. Qualitative meta-study and meta-aggregation methods will be used for data synthesis [6]

Translational outcomes
It is anticipated that the findings will have broader implications across health policy and advocacy for health equity. Findings will be directly applied to the Northern Territory, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up almost 30% of the population, to support high school completions and the uptake of higher education in health, biomedical and medical courses. It supports the development of more comprehensive evaluation tools in education and reinforces the need for a place-based approach to economic development in rural areas [7].

Future actions
The relationship between education and health must be independently examined by the effects that school enrolment, grade attainment and learning have on health. In doing so it considers the socio-cultural patterns within these contexts contributing to comparable patterns and responses on a global level. This facilitates discussion on the mechanisms underlying each of these effects that may reduce education and health inequalities in the long-term.

References
[1] The Lancet. Education: a neglected social determinant of health. Lancet Public Health 2020; 5(7): e361.
[2] Hart MB, Moore MJ, Laverty M. Improving Indigenous health through education. MJA 2017; 207(1): 11 – 12.
[3] Zajacova A, Lawrence EM. The relationship between education and health: reducing disparities through a contextual approach. Annu Rev Public Health [online]. 2018. [Accessed 29 May 2024] Available from: .
[4] Beller EM et al. PRISMA for Abstracts: Reporting Systematic Reviews in Journal and Conference Abstracts. PLOS Medicine 2013; 10(4).
[5] Hong QN et al. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool: User Guide, McGill University: Montreal, Canada; 2018 Aug [Accessed 29 May 2024] Available from: .
[6] Lockwood C et al. Qualitative research synthesis: methodological guidance for systematic reviewers utilising meta-aggregation. Int J Evid Based Healthc 2015; 13: 179 – 187.
[7] OECD. Linking Indigenous Communities with Regional Development in Australia. OECD Rural Studies. 2020.

Tobacco use is a leading cause of death amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) Program, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care since 2010, aims to reduce smoking (and now e-cigarette) use and uptake across these communities. TIS is:
• an evidence-based public health program
• designed for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• supported by a National Coordinator and National Best Practice Unit (NBPU)

This presentation will discuss implementation outcomes from a 2018-22 evaluation of TIS and implications for public health practice.

An implementation objective of TIS is that it be culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and accessible to a diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To assess whether the 2018-22 TIS round met this objective, we used a mixed-methods approach, which included:
• site visits and interviews with TIS-funded organisations
• surveys with TIS team staff
• interviews with National Coordinator and NBPU
• analysis of TIS-funded organisations’ Activity Work Plans and Performance Reports

Our evaluation found:
• The delivery of the TIS program was culturally appropriate, and there was Aboriginal community control and ownership.
• The activities in the program were largely evidence-based; however, the nature and quality of evidence used varied considerably across TIS teams.
• TIS teams reached a wide range of people through social media and social marketing, distribution of resources and partnerships with organisations and community leaders. TIS team reports indicated more guidance is needed in measuring reach, however.

The evidence supported continued funding for the program, with some improvements, including:
• Improving TIS teams’ access to evidence-based resources
• Facilitating peer learning opportunities
• Strengthening support for TIS teams to monitor reach and gather local data

TIS is an example of how a public health program, designed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, can be delivered in a culturally safe manner, grounded in evidence, and reach a diverse audience. Lessons from TIS can guide future implementation and evaluation of public health programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, especially to address the increasing use of e-cigarettes.

**Please note: All of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled organisations that were part of this evaluation have given permission for these findings to be published. We sought this permission at the start of the evaluation and have letters of consent from them.

Background: Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is an immune mediated condition that occurs as a results of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections. 75% of APSGN is caused directly by environmental conditions and on occasion result in outbreaks in Aboriginal Communities. Since 2017 APSGN is a notifiable disease in Western Australia.

Case: The Metropolitan ACCHO was contacted by the Metropolitan Centre for Disease Control and requested to manage exposure investigation and contact management of an Aboriginal family of 12 with suspected GAS infection outbreak. This was as the result of the admission of one of the children to a tertiary hospital with APSGN. Medical and environmental intervention were directed by the ACCHO to control the spread of the GAS outbreak and reduce the risk of additional family members suffering the consequences of GAS infections.

Conclusion: This case outlines this Aboriginal family’s journey into receiving appropriate GAS exposure investigation and contact management, additionally exemplify the holistic and environmental care needed for appropriate GAS outbreak management. This case provides an occasion to examine the strengths and weakness observed in address in GAS outbreak.

Background : Despite growth of economic evaluations in public health literature, economic evidence estimating the impact of obesity prevention measures in Indigenous populations is lacking. This research aimed to modify a well-established economic model for the Australian population (ACE-Obesity Policy) using epidemiological inputs that better reflect the prevalence of risk factors and disease outcomes experienced by Indigenous Australians living in both remote and non-remote settings. It estimates the potential lifetime health benefits of improving nutrition in the Australian Indigenous population.

Methods: The IndigenACE model simulates the 2019 Indigenous population and estimates the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of nine diet-related diseases (type 2 diabetes, stroke, ischemic heart disease, osteoarthritis, endometrial, breast, kidney, and colorectal cancer). Key modifications to the model inputs included mean body mass index in the Indigenous population from the Australian National Health Survey 2017-2018 and healthcare cost data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2015) , adjusted for the Indigenous population. Scenario analyses estimated the potential change in disease incidence resulting from changes in sugary drink, and fruit and vegetable consumption. This, results in improvements in long-term health outcomes (Health-adjusted life years (HALYs)) and healthcare cost-savings.

Results: If policies were implemented that enabled all Indigenous adults to consume fruit and vegetables at recommended levels, approximately 520 HALYs would be gained with healthcare cost savings of approximately $12 million for the remote population, and 1,830 HALYs and $41 million cost savings for the non-remote population. If policy change produced a 10% reduction in sugary drinks consumption, approximately 849 HALYs would be gained with healthcare cost savings of approximately $19 million for the remote population and 7,212 HALYs gained with $156 million in cost savings for the non-remote population.

Conclusions: Policies to improve nutrition would result in significant health benefits for the Indigenous population, both in remote and non-remote areas. These estimates can aid decision-makers in prioritizing and investing in preventative public health policies and health promotion initiatives.

Context and Aim
Ear infections, and the associated hearing loss, disproportionately impact Aboriginal children and can have lifelong impact on health and wellbeing. Early detection is crucial for timely treatment, but persistent high rates suggest service access continues to be inadequate. We described the first phase of developing a Community-wide strategy to improve access to ear and hearing health services for Aboriginal children living in the Far West of South Australia.
Methods and Analysis
Working at the interface of Indigenous Knowledges and Western methods, we gather Community experiences using yarning (interviews) with key populations across the region, including families with young children who a history of ear disease; young people with lived experience of ear disease; healthcare providers and policy makers; and teachers. Aboriginal researchers, who are Community members, will lead the data collection and analysis. This project is guided by senior Community Elders who give advice on the direction of the study.
Translational Outcomes
Community wide yarning will underpin the development of a deep understanding of the ear and hearing health journey experienced by children and young people. These findings will be used to drive Community consultation and stakeholder workshops to develop potential strategies to address the identified gaps in ear and hearing health service delivery across the Far West region of South Australia.
What actions should we take in the future?
A deep understanding of the lived experiences of the Far West Community where child’s ear and hearing health has been identified as a key concern is crucial for strategy design and implementation. Working in partnership with Far West Community Partnerships, we will use the findings to underpin the development of a Community-specific, co-created implementation strategy. Once developed, the resultant strategy will be implemented and evaluated to determine the impact on the child’s referral pathway.

Aboriginal Partnership
This project is being undertaken in partnership with Far West Community Partnerships, together with input from Yadu Health and Tullawon Health Services, and with ongoing guidance from the Ceduna Nanas Group on the research direction. Data collection for the project is being undertaken in a capacity building partnership by Community-based staff and Flinders University researchers, with leadership and facilitation supported by Far West Community Partnerships. The authorship team includes Aboriginal Community Leaders who have input into the study design and dissemination plan.

Context and Aim
Access to women’s health services across the Far West Coast of South Australia was identified by local Community Leaders as complex. In partnership and guided by Aboriginal women’s holistic relational views of health, we conducted the first strengths-based qualitative study of the experiences of Aboriginal women living across the Far West Coast of South Australia in navigating and conceptualising their health and wellbeing.
Methods and Analysis
Eight Indigenous yarning and Dadirri sessions were held across Yalata, Maralinga, Oak Valley, and Ceduna between August 2022 and August 2023. Twentynine Aboriginal women exchanged knowledge as co-researchers; with each session audio-recorded, transcribed and deidentified. An iterative thematic analysis was underpinned by an Indigenous Knowledge framework of Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.
Translational Outcomes
The lived experiences of navigating women’s health and healthcare by Aboriginal women across the Far West has been translated by a local Aboriginal female artist into an artwork in a culturally appropriate and translational form. These lived experiences can be described in a Western academic approach as three multifaceted themes. Firstly, Healthcare Access issues were logistical and physical access issues, and access to appropriate care. Second, self-determination at the individual, community, and systemic level was required. Finally, Far West Aboriginal women’s conceptualisation of health and wellbeing was not aligned to the clinical Western medical model, instead being holistic and focused on family, the socio-cultural determinants of health, and mental health.
What actions should we take in the future?
Aboriginal women across the Far West of South Australia have clear, strong understandings of their own health and that of their families and Community. Better access options and incorporation of Aboriginal women’s ways of knowing, being and doing women’s health business must be prioritised across the Far West Region.

Aboriginal Partnership
This project has been undertaken in partnership with Far West Community Partnerships, with ongoing guidance from the Ceduna Nanas Group on the research direction and outcomes. The findings have been shared with health organisations across the region. The authorship team includes Aboriginal women, including those who are Community Leaders.