An infectious disease testing program developed by the Kirby Institute which has reduced the spread of sexually-transmitted infections and COVID-19 in remote communities, has won the Community Champion award at the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards.
Announced by Universities Australia on Tuesday night, the awards honour university-led innovations in research, teaching and community service.
First Nations communities living in remote areas experience some of the highest rates of infections in Australia, including sexually transmitted infections. Access to timely healthcare is a challenge in remote areas and can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment for infections.
“There are a range of complex factors that impact sexual health in remote communities, including health service capacity, population mobility, and social and cultural factors around shame and stigma,” Robert Monaghan, Manager of Yandamanjang, First Nations Health Research program at the Kirby Institute said.
POC team members at the Kirby Institute. L to R: Dr Louise Causer, Associate Professor Tanya Applegate, Stacey Foster-Rampant, Glen Duncan, Robert Monaghan. Credit: Bec Lewis, BL Imaging.
“A big contributing factor is the often-huge geographical distances between health services and laboratories, which can mean that when someone does attend a clinic for a test, it can take days or weeks for a result to be returned to the patient and if needed, treatment provided.”
In partnership with Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing, Aboriginal health services and other stakeholders, a team led by the Kirby Institute’s Professor Rebecca Guy, developed the highly accurate First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care (POC) Testing Program to provide same day results.
Since its 2013 launch, the program is estimated from modelling to have led to reductions in both the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and in preterm births among First Nations women.
The program operates in over 100 remote communities and helps prevent serious complications from untreated STIs, like infertility. More than 60,000 tests have been conducted, and 9,000 infections treated.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs congratulated the researchers behind the program.
“I’m truly inspired by the dedication of the researchers who have developed this program,” he said.
“Tens of thousands of tests have been conducted since this program was launched more than a decade ago, leading to better treatment and health outcomes for people in remote communities suffering from infectious diseases.
“It’s undeniable that the POC Testing Program has changed thousands of lives for the better, and I’m very proud of our researchers at UNSW’s Kirby Institute who are helping to make this positive impact.”
A Medicare rebate was recently approved for the tests, marking a historic policy achievement and ensuring sustainable funding and accessibility for remote health services.
In addition to providing a direct service, the POC testing network has also enabled remote First Nations communities to increase their self-determination, by reducing their reliance on external and distant laboratories. It’s also created new opportunities for community members to be trained in the POC technology in their own clinics.
Dr Louise Causer is a medical epidemiologist and one of the lead researchers implementing the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program at the Kirby Institute.
“The team working on the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program are incredibly committed to community empowerment, and have forged strong and effective partnerships with First Nations health services to deliver this transformative program,” Director of the Kirby Institute, Scientia Professor Tony Kelleher said.
Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM, chair of the Shaping Australia Awards judging panel, congratulated the winners and finalists for driving such important and inspiring initiatives.
“The judging panel had the privilege to learn about and fully appreciate the ways Australia’s universities are shaping our country’s future,” Ms Paul said.
All six winning projects, including the Problem Solver and Future Builder award can be found at the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards.