Background

In 2010, National Health and Medical Research Council awarded the $2.5 million Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing (CRE) grant to a group of 10 Chief Investigators headed by Professor Fiona Stanley AC (Director, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research).

The CRE partners include the University of Western Australia (UWA), Murdoch University, Curtin University of Technology, Baker IDI, Pindi Pindi, The National Research Centre for Aboriginal Children, Families, and Community and the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health (CUCRH).

The Centre of Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing (CRE) is a strategic program of intervention research that is focused on achieving radical and sustainable change for the Aboriginal community and improving the lives of Aboriginal people.

The program is a unique validation of Aboriginal knowledge and demonstration of Aboriginal methodology involving a multi-disciplinary team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers, who will contribute to the body of knowledge, work transparently with the Aboriginal community and embrace Aboriginal culture and ways of thinking.

The CRE brings the research strengths of each of the Chief Investigators together in a cohesive program of community-based intervention research, well known both nationally and internationally, but with local relevance to Western Australia. It will be supported by the outstanding track record of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in working with government and informing policy and practice and build on past achievements by developing the next generation of Aboriginal health researchers and leadership among the Chief Investigator team.

Goals

The CRE program of research will build capacity in the community and bridge the disconnect between researchers, service providers and the community in a practical and empowering way. History has seen significant issues, such as racism, perpetuated and become embedded in the Aboriginal community with a significant negative impact on health and wellbeing.

The CRE investigators are seeking to change this cycle by listening and working in partnership with the community and investing energy and attention to get the best result for the community. This will require system change and involve investing time with decision makers in order to inform policy and practice.

The specific objectives of the CRE are to:

1. Generate new knowledge that leads to improved health outcomes for Aboriginal people
2. Ensure effective transfer of research outcomes into health policy and/or practice
3. Facilitate collaboration between Chief Investigators, their institutions and relevant stakeholders
4. Advance the training of researchers, particularly those with a capacity for independent research and future leadership roles