The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) has proudly hosted our 2025 Conference from 27 – 29 November on Gadigal Country, where we welcomed a record-breaking number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors, medical students, and health sector allies.
514 First Nations health professionals came together for three days of culture, learning and connection, with the theme for this year’s event focusing on: Evoking Sovereignty, Honouring Country, Nurturing Community.
Acting President, Dr Olivia O’Donoghue, said: “The coming together of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and medical students and our partners at conference is essential to the relational ways in which we make meaningful and enduring connections with each other. Those connections culturally and professionally sustain us in our advocacy and leadership.”
A packed program featured panel discussions, cultural activities and keynote speakers including Dr Daniel Hunt, the 2024 AIDA Doctor of the Year and current NAIDOC Person of the Year.
Dr Hunt reflected on the significance of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association bringing First Nations doctors together.
“We could easily sit in our little kingdoms and be isolated, but we do need this collective sharing of thoughts and ideas. Everything from the science of medicine to leadership in our area, academia needs to come together so we can share these ideas. If we don’t share these ideas, we can’t benefit our patients and our Community.”
The conference’s Gala Dinner celebrated First Nations medical excellence, with Dr Bekkie Lee being honoured with the Indigenous Doctor of the Year award for her outstanding contribution to improving health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The proud Noongar woman is a General Practitioner, rural generalist, and addiction specialist, and has left an indelible mark on both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities through her unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes in Australia’s Northern Territory.
Also recognised at the conference was Brianna Ozies, who won the Indigenous Medical Student of the Year award. Brianna is a proud Djugan woman from Derby and a fourth-year medical student at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.
AIDA has already started to plan our 2026 conference on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar / Perth from 3-5 September. More information to come early in 2026.