Join us for the inaugural Deadly Sex NSW Forum, a two-day event in Bidjigal and Gadigal Lands (Sydney), 17 & 18 March 2026. This event offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners in NSW the opportunities to update their knowledge, build workforce skills, share stories, and explore emerging issues in BBVs and STIs. Participants will also have the chance to connect with peers and experts, strengthening their professional networks and community impact.
When: Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 18th March 2026
Venue: AH&MRC – 35 Harvey Street, Little Bay, Bidjigal and Gadigal Lands (Sydney) NSW.
The Deadly Sex NSW is free to attend. Complimentary accommodation is available and subject to committee approval upon registration. Priority will be given to delegates traveling from outside Gadigal/Sydney. Please contact [email protected] for enquiries.
The Deadly Sex NSW Dinner is a free, NSW Health-supported event that celebrates and promotes the incredible work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners. It is an opportunity to recognise contributions and achievements within the sector in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Have a story, project, or initiative related to BBVs, STIs, or community health? Submit your expression of interest to present at the forum and inspire your peers. Call for submissions will open soon.
The Deadly Sex NSW Forum builds on the success of the Deadly Sex Congress in Queensland, which has empowered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers/Practitioners and community professionals for several years.
The logo reflects hard conversations, inclusivity, sexual health, meeting places and connection.
The forum is organised by a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, health experts, and community representatives. Their goal is to strengthen workforce capacity, promote culturally safe practice, and amplify Indigenous voices in BBV and STI health.
Hi! I’m Jaucintha Harbin Iles and I’m a proud Yiman and South Sea Island woman from Rockhampton, in Central Queensland. I have worked with Queensland Health for 7 years.
During the past 4 years as the Indigenous Health Liaison Officer at Capricorn Coast Hospital. In this position the majority of work I do is with women and youth. I help to educate them through promoting safe sex and contraception. We also talk about the services that are available for antenatal and postnatal care. Another job within the community here is that I assist with education around injecting drugs and other drug use throughout Central Queensland.
One of my greatest achievements to date is working collaboratively with the Sexual Health team to implement the very first Sexual Health Clinic at Capricorn Coast Hospital. This clinic will assist me to spread the word in preventing STI’s and blood borne viruses that are affecting our mob here. I have found with every year attending this congress, I come home with increased knowledge and additional information and tools for me to bring back to my hospital staff and community. This knowledge assists me to spread the awareness to improve engagement, and definitely helps in closing the gaps and barriers. This is my 7th year attending the Deadly Sex Congress and I am very proud to be on the committee board with a deadly team.
Mario Assan is a health professional with 25 years of experience working in indigenous health across the Torres and cape region. His current role since 2013 is a Senior Public Health Officer – Indigenous Sexual Health with the Cairns Public Health Unit and now based on Thursday Island with the Torres and Cape Hospital Health Service.
Community engagement and awareness is his passion, working with indigenous communities to ensure community consultation and engagement processes are established and maintained to provide guidance and local approval on all decision making and service planning in relation to STI services, both clinical and health promotion.
I’m Emily – a proud descendant of the Yamatji people from the Murchison region in Western Australia. I’m a Sexual Health Officer at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and a 3rd year PhD student at University of Queensland’s School of Public Health.
I have strong passion for harm reduction in the context of substance use and injecting drug use, BBV/STI related work, and making healthcare and harm reduction more holistic, equitable and safe for mob. This my first time attending Deadly Sex Congress and I’m so honoured to be part of the Organising Committee.
I am a proud Darumbal Man working as a First Nations Health Worker, operating out of the Ipswich Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Clinic. I am an appointed contact tracing officer and hold a Diploma in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care.
I am also a qualified and practicing health worker immuniser. I have a passion for ensuring the community from which I both live and work receives the support, guidance, and empowerment it needs to grow and develop and that equitable services are being provided.
I am a young Aboriginal woman with family connections in the northern territory.
I am a qualified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker with seven years of industry experience, most recently serving as an ATSI health worker at my local AMS. My role has provided me with the opportunity to build meaningful connections with families, elders, and other community members in the Logan region. Over the years, I have developed expertise in a variety of programs, including healthy hearing, smoking cessation, school health checks, sexual health education, mental health support, and case management.
I am particularly passionate about working with community around sexual health and education and am dedicated to delivering culturally safe and responsive care. I am committed to continuous learning to ensure that I uphold cultural protocols and contribute meaningfully to the health and well-being of my people.
I have worked in research, digital health, aged care, and chronic disease across non-government organisations for nearly 15 years. As a new Senior Public Health Officer in the STI Team in Queensland Health’s Communicable Diseases Branch, I hope my years in health education and prevention across the lifespan support the excellent work delivered in sexual health programs.
This will be my first Deadly Sex Congress, and I am honoured to be an observer in the Deadly Sex Organising Committee.
From growing up on beautiful Bundjalung country to now living on the land of the Yuggera and Turrbal people, I have had the privilege to call many places across Southeast Queensland home. I started working in the sexual health and BBV sector three years ago and have absolutely loved working on projects that support the healthcare workforce.
I have a background in community development and previously have been involved with non-profit’s focused on community engagement and gender justice. I am exciting to be supporting the incredible members of the organising committee and look forward to meeting you all at Deadly Sex Congress!
I was born and raised on the land of the Bidjigal people. As someone who is passionate about public health and would like to raise awareness on health prevention for both communities and health care workers, I am excited to be part of the Deadly Sex team and to visit Gimuy.
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