Overview
Knowledge translation (KT) efforts are essential to making research processes and findings useful and valuable. Much Indigenous health research and KT continues to be taught, developed, designed, regulated, and conducted in ways that do not prioritize local Indigenous Peoples’ ways of sharing knowledges. In this presentation, we will share key findings and recommendations from a systematic review on Indigenous health research KT globally; highlight what KT has to offer Indigenous communities, sharing examples of KT done well; and propose future directions for advancing KT in Indigenous health research. The presenters assert that KT is inherent to Indigenous health research that is authentically by, for, and with Indigenous Peoples.
Speakers
Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy is a Wiradjuri woman who has grown up on Worimi country, Australia. Michelle is an NHMRC early-career researcher, partnering with Aboriginal communities to place the power in their hands and address priority areas to improve Indigenous health. Michelle brings 16 years’ experience working with Aboriginal communities and Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing to the health research space to deliver health research that is appropriate, engaging and meaningful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Michelle is leading a national study Murru Minya (www.murruminya.com.au) exploring the conduct of research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Michelle is the Assistant Dean Indigenous Strategy and Leadership for the College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle, the Executive Manager of Research and Knowledge Translation at the Lowitja Institute and the Vice President Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander for the Public Health Association.
Felicity Collis is a proud Gomeroi woman from North West NSW. Felicity holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) and has over 14 years of experience in the community sector with a background in child protection and family law. Felicity has worked across all levels of the community sector, including with government and non-government agencies in rural, remote and urban settings across NSW and the Northern Territory. Felicity is currently part of the Research and Knowledge Translation team at the Lowitja Institute as a Senior Project Officer. Felicity is also a PhD candidate and academic at The Wollotuka Institute; the University of Newcastle’s Indigenous engagement and advancement unit. Felicity teaches decolonising and ethical research in Aboriginal communities. Felicity’s PhD focus is situated within a national project Murru Minya exploring the ethical conduct of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. Felicity is passionate and committed to interrogating and disrupting colonial systems, whilst upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and governance within research.
Raglan Maddox's Bagumani (Modewa) clan, in Papua New Guinea, leads the commercial Tobacco Free Program at Australian National University. Raglan’s program of research has focused on developing and analyzing population based Indigenous heath information using community driven processes. This research has been generating and returning data to Indigenous communities to help better understand and improve Indigenous health and wellbeing outcomes.
Melody Morton Ninomiya, of Japanese and Swiss-German Mennonite upbringing and heritage, is an assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Community-Driven Knowledge Mobilization and Pathways to Wellness at Wilfrid Laurier University. She was involved in a systematic review of knowledge translation in Indigenous health research globally with Simon Brascoupé (who was originally intending to present on this webinar), Raglan Maddox, and Donna Atkinson (webinar moderator).
Learning Objectives
- Understand what knowledge translation (KT) is and why it is important, in the context of Indigenous health research.
- Learn about common challenges and barriers to effective KT as well as ways KT has worked well and benefitted Indigenous Peoples.
- Consider ideas and ways to better advance, facilitate, and support KT in Indigenous health research contexts.
Suggested Reading
Knowledge translation approaches and practices in Indigenous health research: A systematic review
Webinar Resources