PRIDoC stands for Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Conference, and is a biannual meeting of the Indigenous Doctors from 8 nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Taiwan, Canada, and USA. This includes AIDA , the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association. Last year’s conference in December 2024, was the first time in 12 years that Australia had the privilege of hosting PRIDoC, and the meeting served also as the annual meeting and graduants celebration for AIDA.
The conference theme was “Together”. We delved into the theme: Ngadluku Warra, Ngadluku Tapa Purruna, Ngadluku Purruna (Our Language, Our Culture, Our Health). “. Dr Lydia Pitcher and I attended this 5 day conference held on Kaurna Country (Adelaide) last December 2-6 2024. As a non-Indigenous doctor, much of the material was confronting and challenging, but for me the highlights were meeting and listening to personal stories from Indigenous Doctors from around the Pacific Rim.
There were the tragic stories of loss of language, and loss of connection to land and family at large, as well as opportunities to participate in cultural immersion. The unique opportunity to experience first hand, the history, story and the songs of Murli la, the Tiwi Islands Ngarukuruwala Strong Women’s Choir accompanied by Genevieve Campbell, was particularly moving.
A tour of 10 plants of the Adelaide Botanical Gardens by a local Indigenous guide highlighted the multiple uses of each plant, such as Eucalypts ( E camaldulensis, and grass trees Xanthorrhea australis. The colleges offered their policies to better include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors undertaking their post graduate training, including RANZCO and RACS.
Several of the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Recipients used their bursaries to attend this conference with their families, and provided leading roles in the meeting, chairing sessions, speaking and receiving awards.
Before attending PRIDoC, I undertook a one day AIDA Cultural training event, and since then I have undertaken a day of immersion training at Truganina Explosives Reserve in Naahm Melbourne, exploring the impact of Assimilation and Stolen Generation policies through sharing ideas prompted by videos and discussion.
Overall we felt challenged, humbled and excited to experience this transformative PRIDOC 2024 conference and would recommend future such events to AFMW members. In fact, we would like to encourage a group AFMW presence at the conference, with a stand for the Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Program at the Market Day.
The Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursaries facilitate attendance a conferences like PRIDoC (and AIDA), and the very important cultural immersion, advocacy, critical reflection and networking opportunities that these meetings can provide.
With an Alumnae of now 12 Purple Bush Medicine Leaves Bursary Recipients, there is a growing potential for leadership and a Voice for Indigenous Medical Women within AFMW, particularly for issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children and their health.
See also Post-PRIDoC conference material.
