Comments from the 2024 AMS Academy participants
The NACCHO Antimicrobial Stewardship Academy is a free six-month program aimed at health workers or health professionals working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector who are interested in upskilling in antibiotic use, audit, stewardship, surveillance, and resistance.
The program aims to enhance knowledge, develop skills, and implement changes within the participant’s organization. Equipping colleagues with these skills is vital for safe prescribing, improved antibiotic stewardship and advocacy to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are included in national efforts to address antimicrobial use and resistance.
Candidates are required to obtain approval from their managers to attend the online lectures during work hours. This support is crucial for candidates to fully participate in the Academy program.
The Antimicrobial Academy provides a valuable opportunity to convey essential skills and knowledge about AMS and AMR to health professionals in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector. This initiative aims to create a group of antimicrobial stewards, advocates, and spokespeople who can collaborate to enhance healthcare delivery, research platforms, and advocacy efforts within the sector.
Skills transfer for health care workers and health professionals to lead and advocate on safe prescribing of antimicrobials, improved stewardship and advocacy to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are included in national efforts to address antimicrobial use and resistance.
The NACCHO Antimicrobial Stewardship Academy is a six-month program starting in mid-February 2025, and ending in August 2025.
The fortnightly hour-long sessions are held online during the working day, as best fits in with the academy team, advisory group and external lecturers. The days and times for the 2025 Academy are yet to be confirmed, but will alternate each fortnight.
Applications will open from 2 December 2024, and will close at 6:00pm AEDT on 12 January 2025.
Please complete the AMS Academy Application form here.
Successful applicants will be notified at the end of January 2025.
The National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2020 and beyond
Capacity building to address antimicrobial resistance in remote Australia: The inaugural HOT NORTH Antimicrobial Academy – 2024, Inf Dis Health
National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS)
Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia Surveillance System: AURA
Antibiotic resistance is an even greater challenge in remote Indigenous communities – 2019, The Conversation
An urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship in Indigenous rural and remote primary health care – 2019, MJA
Antimicrobial stewardship in remote primary healthcare across northern Australia – 2020, PeerJ
Any health worker or health professional working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.
Candidates are required to obtain approval from their managers or organisations to attend the online lectures during work hours.
Upskilling in antibiotic use, audit, stewardship, surveillance, and resistance.
Sessions will be delivered fortnightly online via Microsoft Teams, during work hours with organisational support, at no cost.
Benefits of participating in the Academy are: attainment of CPD points, mentoring, and networking with experts in the field, along with learning how to implement change and Quality Improvement strategies in your organisation.
Candidates are required to obtain approval from their managers to attend the online lectures during work hours. This support is crucial for candidates to be able to participate fully in the Academy program.
A copy of the program can be downloaded here.
Professor Asha Bowen OAM, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Perth Children’s Hospital and Team Lead, Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention at The Kids Institute
Dr Lorraine Kaye Anderson, Medical Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Broome
Dr Trent Yarwood, Senior Staff Specialist Infectious Diseases Physician, Cairns Hospital & Cairns Sexual Health
Professor Steven Tong, Infectious Diseases Physician and Clinician Scientist, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital
James Harris, Executive Director Professional Development, National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP)
Dr Thomas Mylne, BPharm MD MPH, Ophthalmology Registrar, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
A/ Prof Teresa Wozniak, Principal Research Scientist, Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO
Hannah Mann, Founder and Director, Kimberley Pharmacy Services Group, SPIRA Services
Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines Policy and Programs, NACCHO
Claire Callaghan, Senior Project Officer, Medicines Policy and Programs, NACCHO
Thomas Ewin, Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist, Top End Health Service, Department of Health
Dr Sophie Moustaka, Public Health Registrar, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services
Topics which will be covered in the 2025 AMS Academy Program
*Note that the topics might change depending on availability
If you have any questions, please contact: claire.callaghan@naccho.org.au
