Keeping care closer to home: Strengthening transitions of care for First Nations people
Tracks
| Sunday, August 2, 2026 |
| 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM |
| C2.1 |
Overview
Chair: Tinu Abraham
Panel Members: Chastina Heck, Curtis Ruhnau, Scarlett Magin, Hannah Loller
Details
For many First Nations peoples, staying connected to Country, family and community is an essential part of health and wellbeing. However, transitions between hospital, primary care and community settings can be complex and may contribute to medication-related problems, fragmented care and poorer health outcomes. This panel session will explore the importance of keeping care on Country wherever possible, providing culturally safe care and strengthening transitions of care for First Nations peoples. Keeping care on Country may manifest as avoiding flights out of remote locations for care or in an urban context, closer to familiar hospitals or health care services.
Drawing on perspectives from ACCHO pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, community pharmacists and pharmacy regulation and education leaders, the discussion will examine practical strategies to improve continuity of care, culturally safe communication and collaboration across healthcare settings. Panellists will share insights into the evolving role of pharmacists in supporting seamless care, as well as the increasing expectations around cultural safety in pharmacy education, accreditation and professional practice.
Learning objectives
• Describe the importance of culturally safe transitions of care in supporting First Nations peoples to remain connected to Country, community and culturally appropriate healthcare services
• Identify the roles of ACCHO, hospital and community pharmacists in improving continuity of care, medication safety and health outcomes for First Nations peoples across healthcare settings.
• Apply practical communication and collaboration strategies that support culturally safe care during transitions of care, while recognising emerging professional and accreditation expectations for pharmacists.
Competency Standards (2016): 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
Speakers
Atinuke (Tinu) Abraham
Keeping care on Country: Strengthening transitions of care for First Nations people
Biography
Tinu is a Credentialed Medication Management Review Pharmacist and Credentialed Diabetes Educator with over a decade of experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Based at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, she provides culturally responsive, person-centred care and leads initiatives aimed at improving medication management and chronic disease outcomes.
Tinu also regularly guest lectures at various tertiary institutions, sharing her expertise in diabetes care, medication management, and culturally responsive healthcare. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive, multidisciplinary healthcare and currently serves as President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Victorian Branch, contributing to the advancement of the pharmacy profession and excellence in patient car
Chastina Heck
Keeping care on Country: Strengthening transitions of care for First Nations people
Biography
Chastina Heck is a Nywaigi woman with connections through her father's grandmother to the Mamu people and custodial connection to Bidjara mob. She is currently working as a Senior Pharmacist at Logan Hospital and as a Workforce Development Officer for the Executive Director of Allied Health, Metro South Health.
Chastina’s practice is one driven by the desire to continually improve upon current practice whether it be operational or clinical in nature to ensure optimal consumer outcomes. Her expertise and knowledge in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in relation to the aspect of pharmacy and healthcare integration has been drawn upon by both government and non-government organisations at a national level. She is currently a member of the Australian Pharmacy Council’s Indigenous Health Expert Advisory Group and a member of the Accreditation Committee, a valued member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia, and member of Leaders in Indigenous Pharmacy Profession Education Education (LIPPE) Network. She is the current chair for the PSA NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest group.
Hannah Loller
Manager Indigenous Programs
Australian Pharmacy Council
Keeping care on Country: Strengthening transitions of care for First Nations people
Biography
Hannah is a non-Indigenous pharmacist, based in rural South Australia, with more than 30 years across pharmacy roles including community, hospital pharmacies, governance and Quality Use of Medicines projects.
She is particularly passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health initiatives, her passion ignited upon working in the Kimberley region of WA in the late 1990's.
As a senior pharmacist with NACCHO, she led a range of projects across Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services and QUM across the Community Controlled sector. At the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, she co-coordinated the Integrating Pharmacists within Community Controlled Health Services project (IPAC) and the co-design of the Deadly Pharmacists foundation training program.
She has recently commenced at the APC as their Manager Indigenous Policy and Programs, working closely with Dr Aunty Jane Havelka.
She has been involved in leadership positions within local government, school governing councils, sporting clubs/associations and agricultural based organisations. Alongside her husband, they have raised three children into adulthood.
Scarlett Magin
Student
University Of Queensland
Close to home | The topics shaping the pharmacy profession
Biography
Scarlett Magin is a proud Kamilaroi woman with family connections to the St George and Cunnamulla regions of Queensland. She is a third-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) student at the University of Queensland and currently works across both community and hospital pharmacy, with her hospital role supported through a First Nations Cadetship Program. Scarlett is attending PSA26 as a recipient of the PSA Faye McMillan Conference Grant.
Curtis Ruhnau
President
Pharmacists' Support Service
Keeping care on Country: Strengthening transitions of care for First Nations people
Biography
Curtis Ruhnau has been a community pharmacist for over 40 years and was a partner in Emerton Amcal Pharmacy with his wife Margaret and Matthew Quick for over 25 years, having sold the pharmacy earlier this year. From 2013 to 2022 Curtis was the NSW/ACT Director for PDL. He has been the PDL representative on the Board of the Pharmacists’ Support Service since 2019 and the PSS President since October 2023. His passions are mental health and self-care for pharmacists as well as Harm Minimisation, Cultural Safety, Indigenous Health and support for people experiencing Family and Domestic Violence. Emerton Amcal Pharmacy was awarded the national awards for Pharmacy of the Year for both Harm Minimisation and for Community Engagement at APP 2024, as well as the 2024 Amcal Pharmacy of the Year.
