14-15 AUGUST 2026
DARWIN

COMPASS 2026 EVENT PROGRAM

CHANGING TERRITORY - Sustainable, Smart and Responsive Primary Care

Please note: the program is subject to change, some sessions and key themes are still under development and will be updated as the conference details and inclusions develop. 

Stream topics:

Stream 1

Clinical Practice and Patient Care Across the Lifespan

Stream 2

Providing Care for Diverse Populations in Primary Care

Stream 3

Workforce, Leadership and Models of Care in Primary Care

Stream 4

Data, Digital Health and Future Practice

Key themes:

🟠 = Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Further themes to come!

8:00 AM
Registration and exhibition open
📍Registration desk

Plenary sessions

8:30 AM
Compass 2026 official opening
Joel McKerrow, Master Of Ceremonies
Joel McKerrow
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
9:00 AM
Keynote speaker: Donna Ah Chee
Donna Ah Chee, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT)
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
9:45 AM
Keynote speaker: David Hansen
David Hansen, Australian E-Health Research Centre, CSIRO Health And Biosecurity
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2

10:30am   |   Morning tea in the Exhibition
Lightning talks will run during morning tea on the Expo stage 

10:40 AM
Creating habitual hygiene behaviour in school children
Pirrawayingi Puruntatmeri, Guardians Of Earth Project, Auspice By Malpa Youn Doctors
📍Expo stage, Hall 1

We're splitting!
Pick a stream and location

11:00 AM
End of Life care
Dr Eswaran Waran, NT Health
📍Damibila 1
11:20 AM
Healthy ageing, presented by Beatriz & Groote Community Elders
📍Damibila 1
🟠
11:40 AM
Aged care, presented by Leanne Chapman and team Kalano Community Association
Leanne Chapman, Kalano Community Association Inc
📍Damibila 1
🟠
12:00 PM
Talk-Teach-Treat
Anson Joseph, Cancer Council NT
📍Damibila 1
12:20 PM
Walking the journey together: learning from First Nations young people living with type 2 diabetes
Renee Tasman, Menzies School Of Health Research
📍Damibila 1
🟠
11:00 AM
Working to top of scope
📍Bundirrik 4
11:20 AM
Title to be finalised
Natasha Franklin, Charles Darwin University
📍Bundirrik 4
11:40 AM
Title to be finalised
📍Bundirrik 4
12:00 PM
Branches - a clinical supervision model developed for RANs by RANs
Fiona Hildebrand, NT Health
📍Bundirrik 4
12:20 PM
Future nursing workforce panel discussion
Fiona Hildebrand, NT Health
Natasha Franklin, Charles Darwin University
📍Bundirrik 4
11:00 AM
Virtual care models in remote
Tim Shaw, University Of Sydney
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
11:20 AM
Title to be finalised
Tom Marwick, Baker Heart And Diabetes Institute
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
11:40 AM
HOTspots AMR
Teresa Wozniak, Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
12:00 PM
Facilitators and barriers of a successful hybrid outpatient telehealth model in Central Australia
Deborah Russell, Remote Health Systems And Climate Change Centre, Menzies School Of Health Research
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
12:20 PM
Title to be finalised
Sam Heard, RACGP
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2

12:40pm   |   Lunch in the Exhibition
Lightning talks will run during lunch on the Expo stage

Plenary sessions

1:40 PM
Keynote speaker: Dr Zoran Bolevich
Dr Zoran Bolevich, Australian Institute Of Health And Welfare (AIHW)
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
2:20 PM
Featured speaker: Dr Rina Bruinsma
Dr Rina Bruinsma, TeamHEALTH
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2

3:05pm   |   Afternoon tea in the Exhibition

We're splitting!
Pick a stream and location

3:25 PM
Title to be finalised
📍Damibila 1
3:45 PM
Ampe mape akarparte iterrke ‘kids strong minds’: a bicultural model of care for the Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub in Mparntwe/Alice Springs
Ashley Brooking, Head To Health Kids - Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
Jackie Liddle, Head To Health Kids - Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
Fiona Haddon, Head To Health Kids - Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
📍Damibila 1
🟠
4:05 PM
Building perinatal mental health services in the Northern Territory: workforce survey findings and future directions
Louise Collins, NT Health
📍Damibila 1
4:25 PM
Community-led & culturally safe: Danila Dilba’s two years of integrated aftercare
Tracey Castine, Danila Dilba Health Service
Jessica Pocock, Danila Dilba Health Service
📍Damibila 1
3:25 PM
Syphilis action plan and call to action
📍Betbiyan 3
3:45 PM
Communication
Anna Ralph, Menzies
📍Betbiyan 3
🟠
4:05 PM
LGBTQIA+ informed care
Grayson Javins, Northern Territory AIDS And Hepatitis Council
Kaitlyn Gillelan, Northern Territory AIDS And Hepatitis Council
📍Betbiyan 3
4:25 PM
Healing our mob: family, domestic and sexual violence trauma-informed care in practice
📍Betbiyan 3
🟠
3:25 PM
Title to be finalised
📍Auditorium 2
3:45 PM
Title to be finalised
Andrew Hugman, ASQHC
📍Auditorium 2
4:05 PM
Title to be finalised
Andrew Hugman, ASQHC
📍Auditorium 2
4:25 PM
From silos to safety: how linked data supports future practice in primary care
Gillian Gorham, Menzies School Of Health Research
📍Auditorium 2

4:45pm   |   Conference concludes

8:00 AM
Registration and exhibition open
📍Registration desk

Plenary sessions

8:30 AM
Compass welcome remarks
Joel McKerrow, Master Of Ceremonies
Joel McKerrow
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
8:40 AM
Keynote speaker: Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM
Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, Gold Coast University Hospital
Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
9:30 AM
Featured speaker: Jane Vadiveloo
Jane Vadiveloo, Children's Ground
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
10:00 AM
Featured speaker: Rashida Khan
Rashida Khan, Remote Australians Matter
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2

10:40am   |   Morning tea in the Exhibition
Lightning talks will run during morning tea on the Expo stage

We're splitting!
Pick a stream and location

11:10 AM
A tale of four men: rethinking engagement in primary healthcare
Stephen Svercheck, Movemeber
📍Damibila 1
11:30 AM
How remote housing is failing health & what our profession can do about it
Simon Quilty, Wilya Janta
📍Damibila 1
🟠
11:50 AM
Tropical Health Orintation Manual
Prof Bart Currie, Menzies
📍Damibila 1
12:10 PM
Health in a warming climate: impacts and inequities in remote Australia
📍Damibila 1
🟠
12:30 PM
Title to be finalised
Deb Frost, SARC
📍Damibila 1
11:10 AM
Shared Medical Appointments approaches in NT ACCHOs
📍Betbiyan 3
🟠
11:50 AM
Scripts, stimulants and safeguards: an S8 deep dive
Samuel Keitaanpaa, NT Health
📍Betbiyan 3
11:10 AM
Title to be finalised
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
11:50 AM
Title to be finalised
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
12:10 PM
Title to be finalised
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
12:30 PM
National Healthcare Interoperability Plan and implications for primary care
Andrew Bell, NT Health
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2

12:50pm   |   Lunch in the Exhibition
Lightning talks will run during lunch on the Expo stage

Plenary sessions

1:35 PM
Hypothetical discussion on AI
Joel McKerrow, Master Of Ceremonies
Kelly Banz, NT Health & NT PHN
Melba Ridd, Flinders Rural And Remote Health NT
Prof Bart Currie, Menzies
Dr Zoran Bolevich, Australian Institute Of Health And Welfare (AIHW)
Joel McKerrow Kelly Banz
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2
2:20 PM
Closing remarks
Paul Connolly, NT PHN
Paul Connolly
📍Plenary stage, Hall 2

2:40pm   |   Afternoon tea in the Exhibition
Compass concludes post afternoon tea

2:45pm   |   Post-conference workshop
Explore the workshop tab for more information and to register