Sydney, May 19, 2025 — The 2025 Australian Ethical Health Alliance (AEHA) Symposium, co-hosted with the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA), brought together over 180 stakeholders from healthcare, media, academia, and policy to address one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine: ethical communication in an age of misinformation and disinformation.
Held as a hybrid event, this year’s theme, “Ethical Healthcare in an Era of Disinformation and Misinformation,” reflected both the urgency and complexity of the issue—and participants didn’t hold back.
Australia’s Global Leadership in Ethical Health
Opening the symposium, AEHA Chair Adrian Cosenza set the tone with a powerful reminder of Australia’s role on the world stage. Adrian highlighted AEHA’s roots in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) movement, noting that Australia’s Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration in the Healthcare Sector—launched in 2018—has become a model for other nations:
“Australia’s model through the Australian Ethical Health Alliance… has been recognised as an international best practice model in ethical collaboration by the Governance Institute in Basel and peer global networks.”
With 78 member organisations representing over a million healthcare professionals, AEHA’s reach is both deep and wide. Adrian emphasized the framework’s core mission:
“Its purpose is to promote collaboration and interaction among healthcare sector organisations… to enhance integrity and trustworthiness.”
Leading Voices in Ethical Health
The event showcased a high-profile lineup of experts:
Professor Michael Kidd AO – Director, International Centre for Future Health Systems, UNSW; Australian Chief Medical Officer
Professor Stacy Carter – Director, Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values (ACHEEV), University of Wollongong
Professor Chris Bain – Digital Health Expert, Monash University
Dr Emily Kirkpatrick – Managing Director, EKology Group and Health Leader, University of Adelaide
Nina Roxburgh – Assistant Lecturer & Researcher, Monash Bioethics Centre, Monash University
Adrian Cosenza – Chair, AEHA & Symposium MC
The symposium concluded with a moderated panel discussion facilitated by Tracey Duffy (Department of Health and Aged Care) and Natasha Robinson (The Australian), the conversations were candid, critical, and collaborative.
Themes and Takeaways
From AI to interpersonal ethics, the symposium unpacked wide-ranging challenges and solutions:
1. Digital Misinformation as a Public Health Threat
“We must treat misinformation not just as a nuisance, but as a public health threat,” said Professor Michael Kidd AO.
2. Ethical Communication in a Rapidly Changing World
“It’s important to see good healthcare communication as an ethical obligation – for clinicians and policymakers,” stressed Professor Stacy Carter.
3. AI and Its Risks
4. Collaboration Over Competition
“The medical profession needs to be more collegiate with colleagues and parallel organisations,” urged one participant.
5. Connection Before Conversion
6. Equity, Trust, and Person-Centredness
7. Shared Responsibility Across Health Ecosystems
Real Voices, Real Impact
The panel discussion added depth to the symposium’s themes. Dr Emily Kirkpatrick emphasised the urgency:
“Trust is now fundamentally impacting how the clinician is viewed in the community… it’s a scarce and fragile commodity.”
Professor Chris Bain highlighted the ethical risks of digital tools:
“Digital health tools and interventions undoubtedly contribute to misinformation… especially when divorced from expert health input.”
Nina Roxburgh advocated for patient voice:
“We need to consider the role of patient-reported data in building and sustaining trust… and shift from our information hierarchy to an information partnership.”
Professor Stacy Carter reminded attendees:
“We must meet people who hold false health beliefs with respect, recognise what matters to them, and build the trustworthiness of institutions.”
Dr Emily Kirkpatrick noted AEHA’s unique role:
“There’s not enough appreciation across the clinical community around what the current risks are. AEHA has a unique opportunity to raise awareness and support clinicians.”
Looking Ahead
The panel concluded with a call to action: to use AEHA’s broad coalition—78 member organisations and over a million professionals—to lead the way in ethical reform and information equity.
“Anything the Ethical Health Alliance can do to bring clinicians together and support them in dealing with misinformation is incredibly useful,” said Nina.
“We constantly ask ourselves: how can a voluntary alliance like this continue to support the sector in encouraging and modelling ethical practice?” Adrian reflected.
As AEHA begins planning for the 2026 Symposium, the message is clear: ethical leadership must be modelled, supported, and scaled—locally and globally.
As Adrian reminded attendees:
“Trust can never be taken for granted. Leaders must navigate a more skeptical, frustrated and uncertain world where trust is fragile and expectations are higher than ever.”
For enquiries contact info@ethicalhealth.org.au
