The vision of the Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) Network hopes to catalyse research, knowledge exchange and translation into policy and practice that will bring measurable improvements to our health, the Australian health system, and the environment.
H.E.A.L has co ordinated a gathering of western climate scientists and indigenous voices in Mparntwe Alice Springs.
One of the speakers at the event, Associate professor Veronica Matthews, a proud Quandamooka woman says Aboriginal Knowledge has a key role to play in combating climate change. Professor Mathews says that Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people will be disproportionally affected by climate change compared to the rest of the Australian population, due to geographical location, pre existing health problems and housing issues.
Another speaker at the event, Associate Professor Linda Ford who is a proud Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu woman from Kurrindju, says that Aboriginal people have valuable knowledge of their land dating over thousands of years.