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Symposiums

Symposiums are being held on Monday 20 and Wednesday 22 June. The workshop information will continue to update as information is confirmed.

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Symposium #1 - Expanding Protection: Improving vaccine coverage in Australia and worldwide 

Date: Monday 20 June 2022

Start Time: 11:00am

Finish Time: 12:30pm

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Hosted by: VACSIG

Facilitated by: Prof Margie Danchin and TBA 

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Speakers/ Panelists: TBA

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Overview:

4 speakers, each will talk for 12 mins with 5 mins of questions - the remaining ~20mins of the session will be all speakers on a panel for discussion.

Speaker 1: Vaccine coverage in Australia, the Asia-pacific region and worldwide

Speaker 2: Current status of vaccine-preventable diseases in our region- a focus on measles and polio.

Speaker 3: An overview of reasons for poor vaccine coverage- may focus on the National Vaccination Insights project.

Speaker 4: Practical and achievable solutions at the international, national, local and clinic levels.

Panel discussion: All 4 speakers, interactive with audience.

 

Target Audience: Vaccine providers; Nurse immunisers, paediatricians, physicians, GPs

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Learning Outcomes:

​Poor vaccine coverage is of great concern worldwide, with the recent pandemic, socioecomonic barriers, policitical issues, as well as the spread of disinformation all being cited as contributors. The consequences, in terms of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, are now on our doorstep. This session aims to outline the issues and discuss how we can all realistically contribute to expanding protection. Update on vaccine coverage locally, in the Asia-Pacific region, and world-wide, potential consequences of poor vaccine coverage, drivers of vaccine hesitancy and potential, achievable, solutions.

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Symposium #2 - Increasing vaccination demand and uptake: The critical role for behavioural and social science 

Date: Monday 15th June 2026

Start Time: 1:30pm

Finish Time: 3:00pm

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Hosted by: Collaboration on Social Science and Immunisation (COSSI)

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Facilitated by: Prof. Holly Seale

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Speakers:

  • Professor Holly Seale

  • International perspective: Lisa Menning  

  • Domestic perspective: Julie Leask  

  • Professor Kristine Macartney, Director NCIRS or delegate (10 minutes)  

Panelists:

  • Lisa Menning, WHO

  • Prof Julie Leask, University of Sydney

  • Prof Allen Cheng, Monash

  • Dr Stephanie Williams (Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases)

  • Prof Katie Flanagan, ATAGI Co Chair

  • Prof Kristine Macartney, Director NCIRS

 

Overview:

Immunisation coverage in Australia has declined over the past five years, with reductions observed across the lifespan, including children, high risk adults and older populations. Vaccine uptake is increasingly shaped by cost of living pressures, reduced access to primary care, declining trust in health institutions and government, and growing political polarisation. Reported challenges include loss of trust, vaccine fatigue, communication barriers, and concerns about access and affordability. Understanding these drivers is essential to inform effective strategies to close immunisation gaps in Australia, the Pacific, and globally.

 

A decade ago, the Collaboration on Social Science and Immunisation network was established to bring together researchers and practitioners committed to strengthening vaccine acceptance and uptake through better understanding of social and behavioural influences. This symposium will examine key national and international trends affecting coverage, address the impact of global political dynamics, and explore practical approaches to embedding behavioural and social insights into immunisation program design and delivery.

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Target Audience: Healthcare and immunisation professionals, those working across all levels of government, academics, industry

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Symposium #3 - ​​Australian Centre for Disease Control: Communicable Disease Surveillance Strategy - Stakeholder Workshop

 

Date: Tuesday 16th June 2026

Start Time: 10:45am

Finish Time: 12:45pm

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Hosted by: Australian Centre for Disease Control 

Facilitated by: TBA

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Speakers/Panelists: TBA

 

Overview:  

This workshop will support national consultation on Australia’s first Communicable Disease Surveillance Strategy to be developed and released by the Australian CDC. This foundational document will guide the development and continued enhancement of the CDC’s surveillance and data capabilities, identify priority areas, and highlight where investment, integration and innovation are needed to build a more connected and effective national surveillance network. In line with the CDIC 2026 theme, Public Health at Risk – Collective Solutions to New Challenges, this proposed workshop provides a timely forum for collective problem‑solving at a moment of significant system reform.

 

Following release of the discussion paper, participants from across public health, community health and academic sectors will examine key themes, test options and share insights informed by operational experience, jurisdictional perspectives and community contexts. As an open consultation forum, the session offers a critical opportunity for stakeholders to directly shape the Strategy’s direction. Input gathered will inform decisions on priority areas, system improvements and governance approaches to strengthen Australia’s communicable disease surveillance capabilities.

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Target Audience: Public health professionals/practitioners involed in communicable disease surveillance and management, state and territory health departments, laboratories and diagnostic sector, One Health specialists, data sovereignty principles experts, stakeholders who rely on surveillance outputs (e.g. immunisation program staff, outbreak response teams, policymakers, modellers, Non Government Organisations (NGOs), and community organisations), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), researchers and academics.

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Learning Outcomes:

•  Understand the key themes, gaps and priorities shaping the national surveillance strategy.

•  Build shared insight across jurisdictions, sectors and communities on surveillance needs.

•  Explore practical options for improving surveillance design, governance and coordination.

•  Contribute ideas that directly shape the strategy’s priority areas and future direction.

•  Gain clarity on how stakeholder input will inform the next stage of strategy development

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Symposium #4 - ​​Digital innovations in Public Health

 

Date: Tuesday 16th June 2026

Start Time: 1:30pm

Finish Time: 3:00pm

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Hosted by: North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU)

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Facilitated by: Dr Katherine Ong

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Speakers/Panelists:

  • Dr Claire Gordon

  • Dr Bart Willems and Dr Rebecca Hogbin

  • Dr Charles Alpren

  • Dr Ben Scalley

 

Overview:

Harnessing digital innovation initiatives in the public health management of communicable diseases has the potential to improve data collection, improve public health reach and improve operational efficiency, thereby improving public health data and outcomes. With resrouce contstraints, local public health units are well placed to identify operational needs and develop and trial digital innovations in an agile and repsonsive manner. Currently there are many such inititives being developed, trialed and implemented across the country, and therefore many ideas and lessons that can be shared.

This symposium is an opportunity to bring together public health agencies nationally to share their digital innovation experiences, initiatives and barriers that have been overcome. Sharing of information could promote uptake of similar initiatives in other areas which could reduce duplication of efforts and increase reach, thereby improving Australia’s ability to effectively respond to communicable disease threats.

The symposium will also explore options to create an Digital Innovations Community of Practice, to be able to continue national discussions and collaborations in an ongoing manner.

 

Target Audience: Public health professionals and policy makers who work within communicable diease health protection units, at local, state and national level

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Learning Outcomes:

•  Understanding of how digital innovations are being used in communicable disease management across Australia

•  Barriers and facilitators of digital innovation uptake

•  How public health units across Australia can share ideas and information to improve uptake and efficiency of the public health response

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