Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Leadership 

Romlie Mokak
The Lowitja Institute

University of Canberra
16 July 2015

The Lowitja Institute members
•	Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
•	Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
•	Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
•	Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives 
•	Danila Dilba Health Service
•	Flinders University
•	Healing Foundation
•	Indigenous Allied Health Australia
•	Menzies School of Health Research
•	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association
•	QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
•	University of Melbourne
The Lowitja Institute CRC Participants
•	Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia
•	Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
•	Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
•	Australian Government Department of Health
•	Australian National University
•	Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
•	Charles Darwin University
•	Curtin University
•	Edith Cowan University
•	Flinders University
•	George Institute
•	Griffith University
•	James Cook University
•	La Trobe University
•	Menzies School of Health Research
•	QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
•	Queensland Health
•	Queensland University of Technology
•	University of Melbourne
•	University of Queensland
•	University of New South Wales
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CRCs
1997–2003   		CRC for Aboriginal and Tropical Health
2003–2009   		CRC for Aboriginal Health
2010               	Establishment of the Lowitja Institute
2010–2014   		CRC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 							Health (hosted by the Lowitja Institute)
2014–2019   		The Lowitja Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait 						Islander Health CRC (hosted by the Lowitja 								Institute)

Guiding principles
•	that we act for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the conduct of our research
•	that there is leadership by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
•	that we engage research end users (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities, policymakers)
•	that we develop the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research workforce, and
•	that we measure the impact of our work.

Research Programs
•	Community capability and the social determinants of health 
•	Needs and opportunities for a workforce to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health 
•	Health policy and systems
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Roundtables
Research Program Committees

Facilitated Development Approach
Methodology that operationalises the five key principles in all our research activities, and
•	ensures consistent and appropriate high quality engagement from stakeholders in the priority setting process
•	mediates relationships between researchers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations and policymakers to set research priorities and develop research projects
•	provides a strong foundation for translating research findings into effective practice

Knowledge exchange
•	complex series of interactions that connects research evidence to policy and practice
•	research projects to meet our knowledge exchange goals
•	knowledge exchange schedule 
•	knowledge exchange activity budget 
•	Knowledge Exchange Coordinator 
- recently established 
- liaison with researchers

Knowledge exchange projects
Knowledge exchange projects
•	Racism (LEAD) report
•	Alternatives to Imprisonment 
•	Managing Two Worlds Together 
– Stage 3: Improving Aboriginal Patient Journeys
•	Legally Invisible
Ethics
National Health and Medical Research Council:

•	Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research and the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies
•	Keeping Research on Track: A guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about health research ethics

•	Both currently under review 
EthicsHub
An online resource to support individuals and organisations working or participating in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. 
www.lowitja.org.au/ethics

Tarrn-doon-nonin 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research ethics award 
Next Steps for Aboriginal Health Research: How research can improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in South Australia.  AHCSA/SAHMRI project partners

The project :
•	demonstrated ongoing engagement, collaboration and partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community 
•	included capacity building and professional development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
•	demonstrated a high level of research translation to ensure stakeholder involvement at every stage of the research. 

Dissemination
•	Growing our communication channels for effective dissemination of research and knowledge

•	We produce printed and electronic material, tools and other resources to support research and knowledge exchange activities

•	Dissemination is through 
–	website
–	targeted distribution to key audiences 
–	social media (4400 approx. Twitter followers)
•	local, national and international connections
–	media – mainstream, Indigenous (eg..community radio)
–	newsletters
–	bibliographic databases accessible through libraries such as RMIT Informit (Australia and Oceania) EBSCOHost (international/global).

Impact: the Lowitja Institute Research Evaluation Tool
Practical step-by-step guide designed to assist researchers and others working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to evaluate the benefits and costs of research

Some areas to be addressed include:

•	the value of the research – why is research done
•	Indigenous ownership and control
•	research type and quality
•	benefits - from the process of doing the research; using existing or new evidence
•	unintended consequences 
•	costs

The Lancet and The Lowitja Institute 
Global Collaboration for Indigenous and Tribal Health 
A report card to describe the health and social status of a sample of indigenous and tribal peoples across the globe relative to benchmark populations. 

•	Population
•	Life expectancy
•	Infant mortality
•	Birth weight
•	Maternal mortality
•	Relative educational attainment 
•	Relative poverty
•	Relative nutritional status

Launch in Australia in early 2016.