Turning ideas into impact: highlights from the inaugural Dust Diseases Researcher Forum

On June 11, the Dust Diseases Board hosted its inaugural Researcher Forum, a landmark event focused on one of Australia's most persistent and preventable occupational health threats.

Nearly 100 participants — from researchers to frontline workers — took part, exploring how to turn ideas into real-world impact for the thousands of Australians living with preventable, often incurable dust-related illnesses.

The theme of the day was: "Ideas to impact. Evolving dust disease research. A space to share, explore, and unlock what's next in prevention and care." And that's exactly what they did — drawn by a shared urgency to address one of Australia's most enduring and overlooked health threats: dust.

A story that brought data to life

Alongside research and policy discussions, it was the voice of Trevor Seaman, a Dust Diseases Care client, that grounded the room.

Speaking with quiet clarity, Trevor shared what it means to live with a dust disease—the weight of a diagnosis that arrived years after exposure, and the impact it's had on his family, his work, and his future.

His story was not just a reminder of why the work matters—it was the reason.

A common purpose, many perspectives

Six core themes structured the day's roundtable discussions:

• Screening: Are current methods catching disease early enough?
• Early Detection: How do we quantify exposure before symptoms appear?
• Diagnosis: What stands in the way of faster, more accurate identification?
• Treatment: Where do innovation and access collide?
• Care: How do we centre patients in systems not built for them?
• Research: Who holds the data, and how can we share it better?

Each discussion returned to a central tension: the science is advancing — but the systems around it often lag.

Artificial intelligence was hailed as a promising tool for integrating data, while attendees called for smarter trials, more patient samples, and research that mirrors the complexities of real lives.

"By creating a space to share, explore, and unlock what's next, we turn ideas into impact. This isn't just about discovery. It's about delivery."

Small details, big questions

For some, the most meaningful moments weren't during keynotes or presentations, but in the roundtables and lunchtime conversations; where health researchers sat beside policy makers, and people with a lived experience of dust disease shared with industry experts.

The takeaway? Engagement was high, and the appetite for more — more time, more dialogue, more action — was unmistakable.

Measuring impact, one response at a time

The numbers tell part of the story:

• 125 attendees from 53 organisations
• 95% took part in roundtable discussions
• 70 questions submitted, 80% answered live
• Forum content and networking each scored 9.3/10 for value

The highest-rated session? Panel 1: Prevention, Screening & Early Detection, closely followed by Seaman's address.

Looking forward

Australia's dust disease burden is not new. But the approach to solving it may be entering a new era — one built not just on technical expertise, but on shared understanding.

As the day wound down, the conversations didn't. The forum, in many ways, had only just begun.

Watch the highlights

You can watch key moments from the Forum, including Panel 1: Prevention, Screening, and Early Detection below.