Abstract - Cumming

RespectingTechnology Data, Strengthening Care: Integrating Digital Solutionsopportunities for Remoteanimal Animalhealth Healthmanagement in remote communities 

Access to veterinary care in remote communities has long been constrained by distance, limited infrastructure, and systemic inequities. For more than two decades, AMRRIC has utilised digital tools such as telemedicine to bridge these gaps, enabling timely advice and support for both companion animals and the communities who care for them. Today, new innovations are building on this foundation. The AMRRIC App is designed not only as a data collection tool, but as a platform that empowers communities to actively manage their own companion animal populations, supporting local ownership and decision-making.

This presentation will explore the opportunities and challenges of digital integration in remote animal health, with particular attention to connectivity limitations and the importance of culturally appropriate solutions. Central to this discussion is Indigenous data sovereignty: recognising the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to govern the collection, access, and use of their community data. By situating digital innovation within this context, Bonny will highlight how tools can both strengthen animal welfare and respect community control.

In doing so, AMRRIC invites dialogue on how digital futures can uphold principles of equity, trust, and self-determination—ensuring animal health becomes a pathway to community wellbeing.

Dr Bonny Cumming
Veterinarian
AMRRIC (Animal Management In Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities)