Inaugural Integrative Healthcare Symposium: A Resounding Success
The Integrative Healthcare Symposium was held on 10 September, drawing nearly 100 attendees from diverse backgrounds, including academics, clinicians, members of the public and interstate guests, for a day of enlightening discussions and collaborative learning.
Symposium Organising Committee: Left to right: Jo Hughson (Department of Medicine), Daniela Ramirez Duran (DGPPC), Katja Boysen (MCRI), Rachel Canaway DGPPC, Dylan McCarthy (DGPPC), Julieta Galante (Contemplative Studies Centre).
Highlights of the Day
The symposium marked the official launch of the interdisciplinary Integrative Healthcare Special Interest Group (SIG). Attendees were treated to a variety of engaging activities, including:
- Lightning talks
- A community panel discussion
- Mini yoga and mindfulness breaks
- Insights from respected herbalist, Dr Sue Evans (University of Tasmania), on plant medicine knowledge
One of the most notable aspects was the high-level of engagement among participants with a constant stream of questions and insights shared throughout the day.
Distinguished Guests and Panel
The event featured a distinguished panel, including:
- GP, Dr Tamara Nation, chair of the RACGP Integrative Healthcare specific interest group
- Spiritual Carer, Rhett Hughes
- Naturopath and Nutritionist, Gabrielle Covino
- Consumer Representative, Grace Ewers
Dr Nation expressed her enthusiasm for supporting the SIG at the University of Melbourne and fostering connections with the 2,000-strong RACGP integrative medicine interest group.
Participant Feedback
The symposium received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. Many expressed gratitude for the rare opportunity to openly discuss Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). One participant noted:
"Thank you for organising an event like this as it is rare to meet people who want to openly discuss the benefits of TCIM."
Others highlighted the value of the diverse perspectives shared:
"Hearing many different perspectives and seeing communication and discussion between this community of people"
The community panel was particularly well-received, with one attendee commenting:
"The community panel conversation was really interesting and I like that the audience was fully a part of it."
Key Takeaways and Future Directions
The symposium generated numerous research suggestions, emphasising:
- Systems thinking for a transdisciplinary, co-designed approach
- Consideration of planetary health in the wider ecosystem
To continue these conversations, participants established the Integrative Healthcare Research Collective of Australia—a new LinkedIn community designed to facilitate ongoing dialogue around the development of traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare in Australia. If this interests you, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
Event Atmosphere
The atmosphere throughout the day was described as joyful and inclusive with many attendees appreciating the creation of a safe space for discussion. Several noted their surprise that The University of Melbourne had hosted such a forward-looking event.
“Thank you for the launch – it was wonderful! I look forward to gathering again, and hope for more in-depth and experiential sharing and learning from one another.”
The event closed with warm thanks to the Jacka Foundation for their continued support and for generously providing the delicious lunch and snacks that kept conversations flowing.