Indigenous Health

In the year 2000 the Queensland Institute of Medical of Research initiated the establishment of an Indigenous Health Research Program. The program was launched on 3rd June 2002 by His Excellency, The Governor of Queensland, Major General Peter Arnison, AC CVO. Aunty Ella Gordon from the Brisbane Council of Elders welcomed guests and students from the Aboriginal the Islander Independent Community School gave an impressive dance performance.

Ms Janelle Stirling, an Australian Aborigine, is the Coordinator of Indigenous Health Research Program. The aim of the program is to increase the number of research projects developed in partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander postgraduate students and researchers working on these projects.

Our mission statement is:

• To promote improved health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through health/medical research and education.
• To develop culturally appropriate research projects in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• To cooperate with, and where possible to assist, the work of other agencies to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• To act as an advocate on issues related to the health and well being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

QIMR is a member of the CRC for Aboriginal Health, a major Commonwealth Government Funded Program. The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) aims to

• Promote high quality research through the development of research partnerships involving key stakeholders, through increased Aboriginal participation and control and through better-defined ethical practices.
• Undertake strategic research to investigate health service delivery systems, the social determinants of health and health conditions.
• Transfer research findings into policy and practice to improve primary health care practice, to build sustainable prevention and early intervention programs and to reduce the burden of disease on Aboriginal communities and individuals.
• Increase formal research training opportunities for Aboriginal people.