Contrary to stereotypes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are more likely to abstain from drinking than other Australians. We explored characteristics and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who do not drink alcohol.We conducted a cross-sectional, representative survey of 775 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (16+ years) in remote and urban South Australia. We explore correlates of not drinking alcohol using multi-level logistic regression. We describe reasons for non-drinking and harms participants experienced in past 12 months from others' drinking.Non-drinking participants were more likely to be older (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.21, 1.50] per decade) and unemployed (OR 2.72 [95% CI 1.77, 4.20]). Participants who spoke Aboriginal Australian languages at home were three times more likely to be lifetime abstainers from drinking (OR 3.07 [95% CI 1.52, 6.21]). Common reasons for not drinking alcohol were health and family. Most did not report harms from others' alcohol consumption (79.6%, 76.9%, urban and remote respectively). Stress from others' alcohol consumption was the most reported harm by non-drinkers (14.5% and 23.1%, urban and remote, respectively).Culture such as speaking Aboriginal Australian languages might have protective effects that promote abstaining but was rarely explicitly cited as a reason for not drinking. A greater understanding of local values held by people who do not drink alcohol could help inform health messaging and other interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms. Understanding local reasons for abstaining can help tailor health messaging to suit local contexts.

NT Health, through its Diabetes Network, is committed to a whole-system-approach to improving prevention, early detection and management of type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal young people (youth diabetes) in the Northern Territory (NT). Evidence-based screening and management pathways for Aboriginal youth who are at risk of and/or living with diabetes, can significantly reduce the risk of serious health complications. Well-structured prevention and management of youth diabetes will significantly improve quality of life. Throughout this policy the term Aboriginal should be taken to include Torres Strait Islander people.

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions where it is a cause of community-acquired sepsis. Much of the global burden is in the Asia-Pacific region, however melioidosis remains under-reported and the known area of endemicity has expanded to include countries in Africa and the Americas, including the Southern USA. Infection is via environmental exposure to soil and water, and may occur via (sometimes minor) skin trauma, inhalation during severe weather, or ingestion of untreated water. Those with diabetes, hazardous alcohol consumption, chronic kidney disease, and other immune suppression are most at risk. The clinical manifestations are protean, and include pneumonia, abscesses of internal organs, non-healing ulcers, bone and joint infection, and encephalomyelitis. Diagnosis is made when B. pseudomallei is isolated from clinical specimens. Over half of patients have positive blood cultures. To prevent relapse, prolonged therapy is needed; this includes at least 10-14 days of intravenous ceftazidime, meropenem, or imipenem, and at least 3 months of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. There is no licensed vaccine available, however phase 1 clinical trials of vaccine candidates will soon commence.

PS5 Standard for Pharmacy Based Immunisation Programs

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