2022 NHMRC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Report Card of Achievements
This is an annual report card focused on the achievements made in 2022 against the Road Map 3 Action Plan for the 2021–24 Triennium. NHMRC continues to work with the Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus (PCIC) to progress all 18 actions in the Action Plan.
NHMRC is committed to spending 5% or more of the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research.
CHILD HEALTH and MENTAL HEALTH were the top Disease, Health and Research Topics* in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research funding with 62 and 48 grants, respectively.
*Disease, Health and Research Topic table contains duplicates as one grant can fall under multiple research areas
208
$66,988,807
8%
Strengthening Capacity
NHMRC is committed to building and strengthening capacity of Indigenous researchers. In 2022:
*All grants being paid in 2022
Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus
PCIC is appointed on a triennial basis and works with NHMRC Council and CEO to provide advice on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. Professor Yvonne Cadet-James is chair of PCIC and also a member of NHMRC Council for the 2021–2024 triennium.
Left to right: Professor Maree Toombs, Dr Sean Taylor, Professor Gail Garvey, Professor Catherine Chamberlain, Professor Yvonne Cadet-James, Associate Professor Alwin Chong, Professor Yvette Roe, Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths.
2021 NHMRC Sandra Eades Investigator Grant Award
The NHMRC Sandra Eades Investigator Grant Award is named to honour Professor Sandra Eades AO FAHMS FASSA, the first Indigenous medical practitioner to be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy. The award is given to the top-ranked Indigenous recipient in the Emerging Leadership Category of Investigator Grants. Doctor Simon Graham was the recipient of the 2021 NHMRC Award. He is an epidemiologist in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne.
*Image: Dr Simon Graham
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Targeted Calls for Research
The Improving Indigenous Maternal and Child Health in Early Years grant opportunity opened in 2022. It sought grants which aimed to identify strength-based, action-oriented approaches and interventions that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ concepts of health and wellbeing, cultural practices, and knowledge and learning to ensure that all children have the best start to life.
Left to right: Adjunct Professor Janine Mohamed, Professor Sandra Eades, Professor Yvette Roe (facilitator), Professor Alex Brown and Professor Gail Garvey. 2022 IRNet National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Showcase.
OCHRe Network
NHMRC awarded funding to establish a National Network of over 90 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers. The network is now known as OCHRe, which stands for Our Collaborations in Health Research.
OCHRe is led by some of Australia’s most eminent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers including Adjunct Professor Janine Mohamed, Professor Sandra Eades, Professor Alex Brown and Professor Gail Garvey.
OCHRe brings together unique skills across culture, knowledge and health research to address the health priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Tripartite Agreement in International Indigenous Health
The Tripartite Agreement on International Indigenous Health is an agreement with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Health Research Council of New Zealand, to strengthen the capacity and capability of Indigenous health and medical researchers.
Left to right: Dr Margo Greenwood and Professor Yvonne Cadet-James
NHMRC Research Translation Symposium 2022
Dr Margo Greenwood, Indigenous scholar from Canada, visited NHMRC in November. Dr Greenwood, along with Professor Yvonne Cadet-James presented a plenary presentation ‘Towards health equity for First Nations Peoples through co‑creation and co‑translation of health research’. Other presenters at the symposium included Professor Yvette Roe, Associate Professor Dan McAullay, Ms Heather D’Antoine, Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths and Dr Odette Pearson.
Download Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Report Card of Achievements 2022.
The second NHMRC Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was released in April 2022 nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/reconciliation-action-plan-2022-24