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AIDA Conference 2022
AIDA Gala dinner Professor Philip Truskett, Katherine Walsh, Daniel Kisliakov, and Professor Christopher Pyke

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Adam Goodes in conversation

Surgical Skills workshop
A RACS delegation attended the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) conference, which was held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, Yugambeh Country. The first AIDA conference since the pandemic, the theme was Celebrating the Past Challenging the Future. The conference, which took place between 4 and 6 October 2022, started with Welcome to Country, followed by a traditional smoking ceremony, led by a local Aboriginal cultural group. Katherine Walsh, Manager of Fellowship Services, and Daniel Kisliakov, Senior Project Officer Indigenous Health, attended a RACS stand that showcased Surgical Education and Training (SET). Prospective Trainees from different locations and universities, particularly from universities with strong Indigenous support programs—James Cook University, the University of Newcastle, Flinders University and Griffith University asked questions. A range of Indigenous health merchandise was distributed in RACS show bags. Exhibitors from different colleges, universities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations attended the conference. Various training options from diverse medical specialties were showcased, while networking opportunities were available for stakeholders to engage with, collaborate and form synergies to facilitate progress in Indigenous health. A highlight of the conference was the wide range of souvenirs and merchandise offered by participants. These featured work from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from various locations and displayed the diversity of Indigenous culture. Attending the AIDA conference is of critical importance to Indigenous health at RACS. The ongoing development of stakeholder relationships facilitates support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trainees across surgical specialties—serving the RACS objective of equity, including attaining proportionate representation for Indigenous surgeons compared with the general population. On 5 October, RACS hosted a surgical skills workshop with vice president Professor Christopher Pyke and Professor Philip Truskett, past president of RACS attending. We received positive feedback from several participants. A gala dinner was held on 5 October, which was a huge success. Due to the past pandemic restrictions and the inability to host graduation ceremonies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander medical graduates and new specialists from 2019 were presented with AIDA stethoscopes. Dr Anthony Murray, a new RACS Fellow, was acknowledged as the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander orthopaedic surgeon. Australian of the Year in 2014, dual Brownlow medalist and premiership player for the Sydney Swans, Adam Goodes, presented a keynote address on 6 October. Adam shared his experiences, outlined his advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and reminded medical students and junior doctors to pursue their goals in medical careers. Overall, the conference was an outstanding success and beneficial for the betterment of Indigenous health at RACS. The connections that were formed will progress the RACS Reconciliation Action Plan and strategic planning moving forward. Partnerships will also grow to support Indigenous Trainees achieve equity and representation proportionately when compared to the general population.