Reports and Findings

Coordinating Ambitious Research that Supports Interdisciplinarity and Embraces Innovation

Twenty interdisciplinary Investigators, an ambitious research proposal and an unbudgeted funding scheme: sounds like an opportunity for innovation!

Household transmission of Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A): a review to inform potential environmental health interventions for remote living Aboriginal communities at high risk of rheumatic fever

Understanding Strep A transmission within the home is critical to inform effective prevention strategies.

Taking an environmental health approach to preventing Strep A infections and Acute Rheumatic Fever

The STARFISH (STopping Acute Rheumatic Fever Infections to Strengthen Health) program, funded by the NHMRC Synergy Grant, investigates the most effective environmental health initiatives (EHIs) to reduce Strep A infections and prevent ARF.

Check4Strep: A Community-Based Pilot Project to Understand and Respond to Infection with Group A Streptococcus

‘Check4Strep’ is a community-based, participatory action research (PAR) pilot study in a remote northern territory community.

Realising the Health Potential of Remote Community Laundries through Effective Operational Guidance

Citation: Crabb, H., Summer, K., Burgess, R., Lansbury, N., and Wyber, R. (2026). Realising the health potential of remote community laundries through effective operational guidance. Submitted to Australian Journal of Rural Health. Preprint

Washing machines could support skin health for First Nations people – if we get the wash settings right

Rosemary Kate Rachel Wyber Summer Burgess MBChB MPH FRACGP PhD PhD PhD Senior Research Fellow Postdoctoral Research Officer Senior Research Fellow 0422 630 458 Kate.Summer@thekids.org.au Rachel.Burgess@thekids.org.au Senior Research Fellow

Developing better tools for monitoring housing-related health issues in remote communities

Kate Rosemary Summer Wyber PhD MBChB MPH FRACGP PhD Postdoctoral Research Officer Senior Research Fellow 0422 630 458 Kate.Summer@thekids.org.au Postdoctoral Research Officer Senior Research Fellow Kate is a post-doc researcher with the Strep A

Are hospitalised acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease cases notified to the Western Australian Register in the Pilbara region? A retrospective review, 2016–2023

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are prevalent among First Nations peoples in Australia. In Western Australia (WA), notification of ARF and RHD to the WA RHD register is mandatory and supports follow-up care. However, previous studies from rural WA have reported incomplete notification, suggesting gaps in surveillance and hospital-registry linkage.

Comparative evaluation of performance and precision of multiplex immunoassays measuring human IgG to Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine antigens

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, Strep A) is a Gram-positive bacterium and one of the most significant global bacterial pathogens, with disproportionate disease burden affecting low and middle-income countries. Despite substantial mortality and immune sequelae caused by Strep A, no licensed vaccines exist, and correlates of protection remain unestablished.

Stakeholders Want a Menu of Choices: Findings from a Consultation Workshop on Improving Access to Secondary Prophylaxis of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease

Intramuscular (IM) injection of benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) forms the cornerstone of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis. BPG is available as either a low-cost powdered formulation or a costlier pre-filled suspension. Most of the global RHD burden lies in low- and middle-income countries, which rely on the powdered formulation.