After the COVID-19 pandemic – the good, the bad and the ugly
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been warning about possible pandemics for many years, especially after the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. The Covid-19 pandemic lead to many changes at all levels of society – with many opportunities to learn and adapt.
The recent pandemic has had lasting impact. Some good, and some not-so-good. It is now 5 years on, and the question is, “What have we learned?” In 2023, the QAAS, in conjunction with Liveris Scholars, produced a report, “Voices from the pandemic: what have we learned and how should we manage the next pandemic?” (available here: https://www.qldacademy.org.au/db_uploads/Voices_from_the_Pandemic_(Pages)__ISBN.pdf)
The themes that emerged from listening to those in front line services were around planning and governance, data, communication, and social/economic impacts.
This webinar explored the very positive outcome of the boost to vaccine development, the unexpected long term health issues, and how communication was an issue that needs further attention. It asks: what have we learned, and how can we be better prepared for the inevitable next pandemic.
The speakers:
- A/Prof Seth Cheetham, UQ,
- Emeritus Prof Robert Tindle, UQ
- Emeritus Prof Roland Sussex OAM, UQ and Fellow, QAAS
- Moderator: Emeritus Prof. Sandra Capra AM, UQ and Fellow, QAAS
Watch the Webinar:
Our panel:
A/Prof Seth Cheetham, UQ: mRNA vaccines: how covid has accelerated their development
A/Prof Cheetham is a NHMRC Early Career Fellow and group leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. He specialises in mRNA sciences to develop the next generation of RNA vaccines and therapeutics. After his Bachelor of Science (Hons) at the University of Queensland, he completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, supported by the Herchel Smith Research Studentship. He is a molecular biologist and geneticist with a focus on synthetic biology, RNA medicines and epigenetics.
Emeritus Professor Robert Tindle, UQ: Long Covid and Long Vaxx – the science, the sufferers, and the medical profession
Robert Tindle’s principal interest has been the immunology of viral infections. He moved to the University of Queensland (Australia) investigating Human Papillomavirus infection and its role in cervical cancer, with Professor Ian Frazer at the Centre for Immunology and Cancer research He served for eight years as Director of the Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre and the Centre for Clinical Medical Virology at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, and is presently Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of Queensland. He has authored ca 80 papers in viral immunology in the peer reviewed press. He presently writes commentary on contemporary human pathogenic viruses and vaccines including a recent paper Tindle, Robert (2024). Long COVID: Sufferers can take heart. Australian Journal of General Practice, 53 (4), 238-240. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-07-23-6896. He has sat on numerous advisory boards and committees, and held continuous NHMRC research funding for 25 years.
Emeritus Professor Roland (Roly) Sussex OAM, UQ: COVID-19 and the compromising of the word
Emeritus Professor Roland (Roly) Sussex (OAM, FQA, Chevalier des Palmes Académiques ) was Professor of Russian at The University of Melbourne (1977-1989), and Professor of Applied Language Studies at the University of Queensland (1989-2010). Since leaving The University of Queensland he has been researching intercultural communication and medical communication and pain. He has been presenting a weekly broadcast on language with ABC Radio for over 27 years. As a public intellectual he gives more than 50 talks on language and communication to community groups every year.
Moderator: Emeritus Professor Sandra Capra AM, QAAS
Emeritus Professor Capra AM has had a distinguished career as an allied health professional and academic in Australia and overseas. She has held professional and academic leadership positions at QUT, The University of Newcastle and at UQ. She was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for her services to nutrition and dietetics and community health. From 2010-2014 she was an independent board director of Health Workforce Australia, representing the allied health professions. Her interests lie in health outcomes, service delivery organisation, management and leadership.
Details:
| Start Date: | 23/05/2025 [add to calendar] |