Professor James Smith
Deputy Dean of Rural and Remote Health - NT and NCETA affiliate Flinders University
April 2023
In every edition of Connections, we ask someone in the alcohol and other drug sector to share a little about their work and life.
Let us introduce you to Professor James Smith.
The next time I take leave I will be heading to Fiji for an email free holiday of relaxation and rejuvenation. The beach has always been my happy place.
I will never forget being stuck in the US with my family when COVID hit (and how lucky Australia was with its relatively proactive public health response in comparison).
If I could do one thing that scares me it would be cliff diving. It looks like such an exhilarating sport, in some amazing locations.
The research that I am most proud of was a small study about health literacy among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males in the Top End of the NT. But I'm also really proud of building a team to respond to the numerous AOD policy research priorities in the NT.
My goal for the next year is to continue building respectful relationships with people and organisations that have similar values to me, and which strive to improve the health and well-being of the communities in which we all work.
My greatest hope for the health sector is that consumer voices are genuinely reflected in decision making to address health and social inequities, particularly among marginalised and vulnerable populations. I’m also a big advocate for more joined-up policy responses reflective of a Health-in-All-Policies approach.
