My COVID ‘planetary health’ epiphany: restoration of our planet requires an Indigenous lens in health professions education and healthcare

Introduction: 

In their 2024 editorial, Yassaie and Garman called on health professionals to be planetary health leaders. Responding to their call for articles, this submission reflects my COVID-19 'planetary health' epiphany during the Australian lockdowns while curating sustainable healthcare and climate change education submissions. 

Collective COVID-19 learnings: 

As a global collective, we could have learnt much from the pandemic. Despite our broken relationship with Nature, during lockdown, most of us spent considerable time in Nature. This should have heightened our awareness of our interdependence with our natural environment. The United Nations has asked us to Make Peace with Nature and be the #GenerationRestoration in the 2021-2030 Decade of Restoration. 

A personal COVID-19 epiphany: 

My COVID-19 epiphany happened while curating sustainable healthcare education articles for a medical education journal. An article reflecting Indigenous perspectives introduced me to Natural and First Laws. My newfound awareness of Indigenous communities' deep spiritual connection to and stewardship of Country or Land changed the lens with which Planetary Health was integrated across our curriculum.

Advancing planetary health: 

This 'epiphany' also led to advocacy for advancing planetary stewardship in health professions education, such as the development of a Consensus Statement on Planetary Health and Education for Sustainable Healthcare, and contributing to the revision of the Australian Medical Council's Accreditation Standards.

Restoration of the planet: 

Individually and collectively, as health professionals and health professions educators and as #GenerationRestoration, current and yet unborn generations of all 'beings' are relying on us to be inclusive eco-ethical leaders and planetary stewards.