In November 2018, a workshop was convened to discuss current Indigenous health research projects, capacity building strategies, strengths, gaps and identify common priorities. The following priority areas emerged from the workshop:

• Enhance cultural awareness in our health services
• Develop an Indigenous health research presence on the Monash Partners website
• Support strategies to improve Indigenous employment and retention
• Explore research priorities regarding Indigenous health
• Explore opportunities for collaborative Indigenous health research initiatives
• Strengthen Indigenous workforce capacity.

From 2019 and beyond, the Monash Partners Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and wellbeing community of practice has worked to address these priority areas of action through cross-sector and inter-Partnership collaboration and effective engagement with Indigenous stakeholders and communities.

If you would like to be part of the Community of Practice, please express your interest, HERE. We strongly encourage expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Network is being led on an interim basis by Professor Jacinta Elston.

Professor Jacinta Elston

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Professor Jacinta Elston, an Aboriginal woman from Townsville in North Queensland is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at Monash University.

Previous to Monash, Professor Elston was Professor of Indigenous Health, and Associate Dean (Strategy and Engagement) in the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University.

Professor Elston has a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from James Cook University, and is a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leaders Foundation. She is currently serving as the Deputy Chair of the Breast Cancer Network Australia, and the Chair of Cancer Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group.

Monash Partners is engaged in a national initiative led by the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) comprising the ten Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres (AHRTCs) and Centres for Innovation in Regional Health (CIRH) recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

AHRA has established an Indigenous Research Network to support connection and coordination for research, training, translation, methodological development and project collaboration across the country to strengthen capacity within the Indigenous health and medical research community.

The network is uniquely positioned to enable and support the growth of the next generation of Indigenous Translational Research leaders. The network is driven by a National Steering Committee of representatives from all AHRTC’s, led by Professor Alex Brown, theme leader for Aboriginal Health and Equity at South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Monash Partners commissioned an artwork from local Indigenous painter Emma Bamblett for our website. A proud Wemba Wemba woman, born and raised in Echuca on the Murry River, Emma now lives in Melbourne with her family. Emma finds inspiration and motivation from the arts community in Melbourne and through her work in the Aboriginal child and welfare sector. For Emma she has found purpose and meaning in her artwork, which represents the stories and struggles for vulnerable children, youth and families whom she meets through her occupation. Emma uses bright and vibrant acrylic colours in her artwork, which she hopes captures and conveys her feelings for people they look at her paintings.

About the artwork

Artist: Emma Bamblett

Title: Connecting Wellbeing for our people

Date: 2018

In Emma’s own words:

This painting represents Monash Partners and their ability to bring health professionals and academics together to support the wellbeing and future of our Aboriginal Communities.

The purple lined patterns throughout the painting represents the strength and relationship building that Monash Partners currently do when working with community. The purple circles connecting in the top left corner represents research and innovation. The lines connecting the circles represent engagement. The lines are reaching out and connecting with health care professionals and academics to provide the best innovative practices.

The clap sticks located in the middle of the painting represent wellbeing, they have significant carvings which represent health, physical and emotional wellbeing.

The red circles throughout the yellow section of the painting represent communities. The circles are in different sections of the painting to represent the different lands and areas which communities reside in and feel connected to.

The bottom right corner sections represent the partnerships that are formed. The two figures talking and sharing stories depict the way we build relationships and practice partnerships. The two lines connecting represent equity. The circles are equal and share the same vision and future for all communities.

The smaller beige and grey circles in the bottom left section represent learnings and better ways to further improve the way we work with communities, health professionals and academics in the medicine sector.