Collaboration and community shine at Integrative Healthcare Research Symposium

On 10 September, nearly 100 researchers, clinicians, educators and community members gathered at The University of Melbourne to explore approaches to health, wellness and disease prevention. The day featured the official launch of the Interdisciplinary Integrative Healthcare Special Interest Group, lively lightning talks, a community panel, yoga and mindfulness breaks, and a keynote from herbalist and Senior Lecturer in Complementary Medicines, Dr Sue Evans, on plant medicine.

Discussion was rich and highly interactive, with participants exploring cross-disciplinary collaboration and pathways for practitioner and consumer engagement. A major outcome was the creation of the Integrative Healthcare Research Collective of Australia, a new grassroots LinkedIn community for sharing ideas and building respectful dialogue across traditional, complementary, integrative and lifestyle medicine.

The event closed with a strong sense of momentum and excitement about advancing integrative healthcare research in Australia. Community members and healthcare providers interested in joining the group are encouraged to visit the website for further information.