LKC Website and LibGuides: CHHHS Research & Innovation Symposium: Home

Who should attend the Symposium?

This Symposium is for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service and partner organisations.

Abstracts

Abstract submission form Abstracts close 30th June 2025

Abstract format (maximum 350 words):

Title
Background and rationale
Methods
Results
Evaluation/implications for practice
Key message

Abstract instructions

Invited speakers

Keynote Speaker 2025

Prof. Zoltan Sarnyai
Professor Sarnyai is a medically trained neuroscientist with an internationally recognised expertise in the neurobiology of stress and mental health disorders.
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Prof Sarnyai discovered the efficacy of ketogenic metabolic therapy in preclinical models of schizophrenia and is currently conducting the world’s first randomised controlled clinical trial to investigate this clinical population. He is the Director of the newly established Margaret Roderick Centre for Mental Health Research at James Cook University.

Invited Speakers 2025

Assoc. Prof. Greg Pratt
Associate Professor Greg Pratt is a Quandamooka man of the Noonucal tribe of Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), and Principal Research Fellow for the Jingay Research Cluster of Central Queensland University.
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He works part-time for Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council as Principal Research Advisor. For over 20 years, he has collaborated nationally, and internationally to translate research for a clinical benefit. He has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, community consultation, and co-design, and a track record leading policy development and research for a First Nations health benefit. His research focuses on realising equitable access to health research; focusing most recently on mental health and genomics.
Assoc. Prof. Sandy Campbell
Associate Professor Sandy Campbell is an Aboriginal public health researcher with a Master’s degree from the Australian National University and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of South Australia.
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Her Aboriginal heritage is through her father’s family from Mandandanji Country in southern Queensland. Sandy has a professional background in nursing and midwifery, and her quantitative and qualitative research skills are grounded in providing clinical care and health promotion in Aboriginal communities across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Victoria. She is currently based at James Cook University, where her primary role is project management. Her research interests include First Nations maternal and child health, tobacco control, chronic disease, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.

Previous Program

Book of Abstracts

CHHHS Research & Innovation Symposium Book of Abstracts 2024

CHHHS Research & Innovation Symposium Book of Abstracts 2023

CHHHS Research & Innovation Symposium Book of Abstracts 2022

CHHHS Research & Innovation Symposium Book of Abstracts 2021

Abstracts now open!

The 2025 CHHHS Research and Innovation Symposium will be held on Friday 12th September 2025.

This is a great opportunity for health staff to share their research and quality improvement outcomes to staff and partners working in Far North Queensland.

Important dates 2025

Abstracts close: 30th June
Registrations open and draft program released: Monday 11th August
Research and Innovation Symposium: Friday 12th September, Cairns Hospital Auditorium and online

Travel bursary for First Nations researchers

We are pleased to support and promote the work of First Nations Researchers who may need travel assistance to present their research or quality improvement activity at the Symposium. For further details and eligibility requirements refer to the attachment.

First Nations Researcher travel bursary

Symposium Virtual Escape Room

Getting excited about the Research and Innovation Symposium? Enjoy this fun virtual escape room, where you can dip your toe into research. The Virtual Escape Room was designed for people who are inquisitive about understanding research but daunted by the methodology section of research journal articles.

To find out more:

Short: https://youtu.be/pH4iBTIJzf8
Long: https://youtu.be/suJAHXZ13gc?si=KhslDwUcgB1vRFSy

OR

Just get started https://forms.gle/4BZQYGSxZaS5tMq8A

Research & Innovation Symposium
Working Group

Working group
Website

Contact details

Tel. 07 4226 9706
Email Research & Innovation Symposium

This guide is managed by the Library & Knowledge Centre team, with Champion Kathryn McFarlane PhD, Research Fellow & HP Research Capacity Building & Chair of the Symposium Working Group, CHHHS.

For all program enquires, contact

Kathryn McFarlane