Mrs Amanda Bywaters1, Mrs Rotona Martin1
1Torres And Cape Health Service, CAIRNS, Australia
Biography:
Amanda Bywaters and Rotona Martin are dedicated health professionals with the Tuberculosis Control Unit, Torres and Cape Public Health Service.
Amanda, a Clinical Nurse Consultant, provides leadership in tuberculosis management, education, and coordination across remote Torres Strait and Cape York communities. She is committed to culturally responsive care and equitable health outcomes.
Rotona, an Advanced Indigenous Health Worker, brings deep cultural knowledge to promote health, support patients, and strengthen treatment adherence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Together, they advocate for collaborative, community-led approaches to tuberculosis and leprosy control through culturally safe, partnership-based practice.
Abstract:
Leprosy remains a rare but significant public health concern in northern Australia, with sporadic cases still detected in the Torres Strait. Managing communicable diseases in remote, cross-cultural settings presents unique challenges, including stigma, community fear, and geographic isolation. This presentation describes a nurse-led, culturally informed public health response to a recent leprosy case in the Torres Strait.
Early family engagement revealed profound fear and shame surrounding the diagnosis, with concerns about exclusion from the community. Guided by Torres Strait Islander health workers and local leaders, the nursing team prioritised transparent communication, family meetings, and community education before clinical screening commenced. This preparatory phase-built trust, dispelled myths, and reduced stigma.
Once relationships were established, contact tracing and comprehensive clinical assessments were undertaken, including skin, eye, and nerve function assessments, AFB sampling, and TB screening. Preventive measures—such as prophylactic antibiotics and BCG vaccination for children—were implemented, with all contacts enrolled in five-year monitoring.
This case demonstrates the effectiveness of remote, nurse-led collaboration integrating clinical expertise with local cultural knowledge. Strong partnerships and culturally safe practice enabled a respectful, coordinated response—offering a replicable model for managing communicable diseases in remote Australian communities.