Since September 2004, we have been working with communities in the East Arnhem Region with the aim to improve control of skin infections and their sequelae in remote Aboriginal communities. Known as the “East Arnhem Healthy Skin Project”, our research has employed and formally trained a number of local community workers. Many of these individuals will continue to work with us on this project.

In 2007, the CRCAH convened a round table meeting of community groups and key stakeholders to discuss progress to date and plans for the future in relation to Healthy Skin. We have signalled from the outset, in all our consultation documents, oral consultations, grant applications and ethics committee submissions that part of our strategy was to explore new approaches to treatment of skin infections. This was endorsed as a priority during the round table meeting and we see the skin sore trial as fulfilling that commitment.

By including a clinical trial within the Healthy Skin project framework, we are expanding the exposure of our Indigenous staff beyond the epidemiology and public health interventions already in place. We aim to employ an Indigenous staff member to help project manage the study and who will have a mentoring role for other Indigenous staff on the study. This trial is the next step in hopefully providing better treatments for skin sores. This study will directly benefit the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people regardless of the outcome. If we can develop a better alternative treatment to penicillin injections, then we will be able to recommend a regimen that will be well tolerated and lead to good adherence, for an important health problem. If we find that the alternative treatments are not as good, we will be affirming the current recommended treatment as the gold standard.

To read more about the Healthy Skin Project please click here