Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Immunisation Leadership Committee meet to shape priorities for the year ahead

Last month, NCIRS hosted the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Immunisation Leadership Committee for their second face-to-face meeting to address key issues, opportunities and learnings that will shape the work of the committee for the next 12 months.

The Committee discussed research and surveillance priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to communicate the importance of immunisation to improve health outcomes. 

They noted the need to improve adolescent vaccination rates, with renewed focus on improving human papillomavirus and meningococcal ACWY vaccine coverage, which have steadily declined among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents over the past 6 years.

Members also reflected on culturally effective approaches to communicate complex immunisation schedule changes and provided important insights on maternal immunisation programs during consultation sessions.

The face-to-face meeting forms a part of a broader approach to inform key priorities outlined in the National Immunisation Strategy for Australia 2025 to 2030. One area identified in the strategy is improving equitable access to immunisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other priority populations. 

Through partnering with trusted and knowledgeable voices that shape the Committee, NCIRS hopes to contribute positively to this goal by elevating their voices to ensure our work is community-led, community-driven and embodies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, doing and learning.

Representatives from the Australian Government Department of Health, Australian Centre for Disease Control and National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation (NACCHO) also attended the meeting, contributing valued perspectives and engaging with the Committee. 

‘We had a fantastic two days and were lucky to gather and hear about the work our committee members are doing in their own communities,’ noted Kelly Trudgen, National Indigenous Immunisation Lead at NCIRS, reflecting on the meeting.

‘We were very well represented at this year’s meeting, with our members hailing from diverse backgrounds and professions representing rural, remote and urban areas across the country.’

NCIRS established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Immunisation Leadership Committee in 2025 as a commitment to honour ‘walking together’ to achieve high vaccination coverage and improve outcomes for all people. The Committee provides cultural and technical expertise, advice and advocacy to inform current and future immunisation research, policy, programs and evaluation relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

The Committee will continue to meet every 2 months to translate the discussions from the meetings into action and progress key priorities.