Dr Nicole Sleeman

03/06/2026

Thanks to The Australia Institute for covering this local grassroots campaign, mirroring a national public health issue. In urban environments, green infrastructure is literally our lifeline.

Update: On Tuesday, the 80-year-old historic raintree was cut down.

“It will take crews three days to destroy what took most of a century to grow. The trickiest part will be dealing with the 40-metre-wide canopy that spans the entire width of Old Smithfield Road and the footpaths on both sides” writes Dr Nicole Sleeman, a GP in Gimuy (Cairns) FNQ.

“When the workers are done, our community will be left to endure sweltering summers without its vast expanse of protective shade outside our local primary school.”

“We’ll also be left without its contribution to cleaner air and our wildlife, including black cockatoos and protected brush turkeys, who will be looking for new homes.”

Read the full piece on The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260602-cathedral-of-nature-to-be-felled-for-dual-occupancy-development

11/04/2026

The recently announced National Pharmacy Prescribing Trial is a concern for a multitude of reasons, including conflicts of interest, the impacts of political donations on health policy, and fragmentation of care in the health system. What stands out to me is that the prescribing trial undermines good quality healthcare for women. Women's care is complex and health policy should meet that complexity appropriately - not put resources into initiatives that have potential to oversimplify and even cause harm. Thanks to the Cairns Post for covering this.

BIG QUESTION EDITION: 👩‍⚕️ From period pain to urinary tract infections, Dr Nicole Sleeman explores how systemic bias and rushed care could be affecting Aussie women’s health.
Read it in full: https://bit.ly/4sY0Oqq

03/04/2026

Political donations exploiting women’s healthcare. This is the epitome of medical misogyny. Women expected to expect less, while political lobbyists and private business profit from it. Health policy should be based on the best evidence and health outcomes. Not political donations..

A women’s health trial approved by the federal government has been slammed by a Far North GP, as well as peak medical bodies who say the government is ignoring expert advice and prioritising political donations over safety. Details here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3O5niqd

07/03/2026

Telling it like it is….happy International Women’s Day! !

05/02/2026

Join this webinar to learn about the Idle Off project!

Most parents assume school and childcare gates are safe places for kids. Few realise they are often some of the most polluted with car exhaust sitting right at children’s breathing height while their lungs are still developing. The pollution is invisible, but the health impacts are real.

Idle Off is a simple, proven way communities are changing that. By encouraging drivers to switch off their engines while waiting, parents and educators are already improving air quality and protecting children’s health - together.

Join Parents for Climate and Doctors for the Environment Australia for the national launch of Idle Off. Hear from doctors, parent champions, and schools who are already making this work in their communities.

You’ll leave knowing exactly how to bring Idle Off to your own school or childcare and how to be part of a growing parent movement for clean air.

This isn’t about blame - it’s about community leadership, small actions, and big collective impact.

Because every child deserves to breathe clean air.

📆 Tuesday, 10th February, 8pm AEDT
🔗 Register here: https://www.parentsforclimate.org/idle_off_webinar

04/02/2026

03/02/2026

Extreme Heat Awareness Day!

03/02/2026

It's national Extreme Heat Awareness Day! Heat kills more Australians that all natural hazards combined. Thanks to the work of Sweltering Cities Australian Red Cross Doctors for the Environment Australia Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and Centacare FNQ for raising awareness in Gimuy, Far North Queensland. Climate Action Saves Lives.

31/01/2026

Thanks Cairns Post for covering community efforts to build heat resilience in a changing climate. Come along next weekend to the Extreme Heat Awareness Day event in Cairns, as part of Sweltering Cities annual initiative. Thanks to national partners Australian Red Cross and local partners Doctors for the Environment Australia, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and Centacare FNQ for leading on this issue, with support from Queensland Health and Cairns Regional Council!

27/01/2026

Join us on February 7th for Extreme Heat Awareness Day in Gimuy / Cairns. And don't forget to share your experiences of heat in Australia's Biggest Summer Survey! https://swelteringcities.typeform.com/summersurvey26?utm_email=all&typeform-source=www.google.com

Doctors for the Environment AustraliaSweltering Cities Australian Red CrossCairns and Far North Environment CentreCentacare FNQ

WITH temperatures reaching new heights, and staying cool is no longer just an attitude, the Cairns community is invited to swelter together at the Extreme Heat Awareness Day next month.