A public hearing will be held on Monday, 20 February 2023 at Cabrini Hospital in Malvern, Melbourne, as part of the House Health Committee’s inquiry into long COVID and repeated COVID infections.
Professor Brendan Crabb AC, the Burnet Institute’s Director and Chief Executive, will appear to further unpack what medical researchers know so far about long COVID and repeated COVID infections.
The public hearing will also hear from peak bodies, other medical researchers and ventilation experts about the effects of long COVID and repeated COVID infections on patients, health workers and schools.
The Chair of the Committee, Dr Mike Freelander MP said: ‘The Committee is looking forward to travelling to Melbourne to hear from organisations and researchers who have played central roles throughout the COVID pandemic.
'The Committee is interested in hearing about how we may be able to reduce the risk of COVID in highly social settings such as schools, including by investigating the role of ventilation. We are also looking forward to speaking to peak bodies to better understand how long COVID and repeated COVID infections are impacting Australia’s primary care capability.’
The Deputy Chair of the Committee, Mrs Melissa McIntosh MP, stated: ‘COVID is serious, and the Committee is asking for expert evidence on preventative measures and issues with multiple reinfection.
'Throughout our inquiry we have repeatedly heard about the importance of preventative strategies such as mask wearing, social distancing and ventilation. We intend to canvass these measures in more detail at this public hearing.’
Further information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference and published submissions are available on the Committee’s website.
Public hearing details
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023
Time: 8.30 am–5.00 pm AEDT
Location: Cabrini Hospital Education and Training facility, 154 Wattletree Road, Malvern, Victoria
Program
8.30 am–9.10 am: Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO, Burnet Institute
9.10 am–9.50 am: Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)
9.50 am–10.30 am: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
10.30 am–11.00 am: Break
11.00 am–11.40 am: Associate Professor Robyn Schofield, University of Melbourne
11.40 am–12:20 pm: Professor Lidia Morawska, Queensland University of Technology (by videoconference)
12.20 pm–1.20 pm: Break
1.20 pm–2.00 pm: Professor Geoff Hanmer, Director, OzSAGE
2.00 pm–2.40 pm: Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Director, Australian Phenome Centre
2.40 pm–3.40 pm: Break
3.40 pm–4.20 pm: COVID Safe Schools Inc (by videoconference)
4.20 pm–5.00 pm: Australian Education Union
5.00 pm: Close
Audio of the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Media inquiries
Dr Mike Freelander MP
Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport
Mike.Freelander.MP@aph.gov.au
(02) 4620 0293
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4145
Health.Reps@aph.gov.au
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site you can read published submissions and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.
