Deadly Sex Congress
Join our annual forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health workers from across Queensland to update knowledge, build workforce capacity, and share stories.
The Deadly Sex Congress includes updates on current and emerging issues in blood-borne viruses (BBVs) and Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with a focus on hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis, harm reduction, contact tracing, men’s and women’s health, healthy relationships, sexuality and gender diversity, and resource development.
It is free to attend, and accommodation will be provided to delegates for up to 2 nights.
Where: Townsville (Rydges SouthBank)
When: Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th October, 2023.
Attendee information and Program
The Deadly Sex Congress is an annual forum designed to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, community workers in relevant sectors, and those transitioning into sexual health or BBV service delivery. It offers attendees an opportunity to update their knowledge, build their workforce capacity, share stories and learn about emerging issues in BBVs and STIs.
As an attendee, you will have up to 2 nights accommodation, breakfast, morning/afternoon tea and lunch provided for two days. You will also have dinner on the Tuesday night provided at the Deadly Sex Congress Awards dinner. Please note that travel is not included for delegates.
Poster Show and Tell
We’d love to hear about the work you’ve been doing! We have a poster show and tell session on day 1 where everyone at the congress will get into small groups and have a yarn with peers about their work in community. As part of this, we’d like you to put together an informal poster that explains a project/program/case study /community story from your work. CLICK HERE to find out more about how to prepare a poster.
Please CLICK HERE to see the Program.
The History of Deadly Sex
The Deadly Sex Congress was first held in 2003 and has alternated locations between North and South East Queensland. Deadly Sex is organised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health workers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers through an Organising Committee Structure. Deadly Sex Congress Organising Committee
Jaucintha Iles
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 6th year attending the Deadly Sex Congress and I am very proud to be on the committee board with a deadly team.
Neil Kaigey
My mob are the Meriam People from Mer Island Torres Strait. I was born and grew up in Townsville. My role is Indigenous Health Worker Practitioner in the Sexual Health Team at Townsville Aboriginal Islander Health Services (TAIHS). I firstly started my career at Townsville Aboriginal Islander Health Services (TAIHS) for 2 years (2014-2016) as Health Worker then had the opportunity to gain new experience at Apunipima Cape York Health Council (ACYHC) for 5 years (2016-2022). Within the 5 years I have gained a lot of experience and developed new skills. I worked in the space of Tackling Indigenous Smoking Team, Care Coordination and Health Promotion. With the experience I have gained at ACYHC, I have completed a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service Practice and a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion. These qualifications have helped me with fundamentals skills to help get the message out to community about Safe Sex and general health and wellbeing. Something that connects me to Deadly Sex is the atmosphere, the vibe and passion that everyone brings together and in-hope to share and create a model suited for their community, from a simple resource/education idea to how to discuss the importance of Safe Sex in general.
Mario Assan
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.
Emily Buster
I have worked in sexual health for several years across the tertiary, NGO and public sector. As a Senior Public Health Officer in the STI Team in Queensland Health’s Communicable Disease Branch, my recent work focuses on social determinants impacting sexual health care access and the intersectionality of sexual health, mental health and alcohol and substance use. This will be my third Deadly Sex Congress and I am honoured to be an observer in the Deadly Sex Organising Committee.
Colin Mickelo
Proud LGBTQIA+ Gay First Nations Jarowair man Colin Mickelo, who has strong connections to the Wakka Wakka and Gubbi Gubbi peoples.
I have 21+ years in community services which has lead me to The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Quality and Innovation Social Health Team Transition Support Services as a Care Coordinator providing psychosocial support. I have a passion for Harm Reduction, Harm Minimisation and Blood Borne Viruses with a lived experience. I have worked on National projects “It’s your right” campaign over five years with the EC Australia, Burnnet Institute, UQ and Harm Reduction Organisations across Australia strategy to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030. I’m currently working on the strategy for the elimination of HEP C by 2023 with NACCHO, Deadly Sex Committee for the 2nd Year, Way Back Support Service, Inner City Referral Service and Transition Support for positive health outcomes for our deadly strong and vibrant First Nations Communities.
Edan Campbell-O’Brien
I am a proud Yulluna man from North-West QLD, and Kuki Airani man with ancestral ties to Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Mangaia, living in Bowen. I currently work at ASHM as the Indigenous Health Engagement Advisor and have been in the role a tick over 12 months. Prior to ASHM, I worked at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation – or NACCHO – where I was a part of the Communicable Diseases team, and going back further have had extensive experience within the Australian Public Service including time spent at both the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Commonwealth Department of Health. This will be my second time attending Deadly Sex and I always enjoy the knowledge sharing and connection with health workers right across QLD and the Straits.
Morgan Dempsey
Calvin Wu (Secretariat)
I was born on the Musqueam’s territory, currently known as Vancouver in Canada. Residing now on Gadigal land, I’m grateful for the similarities and beauty that this land has to offer. With a passion for community, my earlier role volunteering in the legal sector with pro bono work cemented my values in advocating for equal access to social resources. With a formal background in business leadership, my mission is to support small organizations on projects that provide improvements to community well-being.
Sophia Kloosterman (Secretariat)
I grew up on the lands of the Wiradjuri people on a small farm, and now reside on Gadigal land. I am relatively new to the sexual health space, having started my career working in the environmental science sector helping to facilitate projects in biodiversity and waste management. I had a strong passion for health justice, particularly in the sexual and reproductive health space, and feel very fortunate to be working on projects such as Deadly Sex. This will be my second year helping to coordinate the event and I feel very fortunate to have such a lovely committee to work with.
The Deadly Sex Congress is endorsed by the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) for 15 hours of CPD.
For any questions, contact:
Phone: 0412 931 432
Email: sophia.kloosterman@ashm.org.au
