January 22, 2025
SWAMS Secures funding for MRFF for Groundbreaking Indigenous Health Research
The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) and University of Western Australia are pleased to announce it has been awarded funding over two years from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Indigenous Health Research Fund. This grant will enable SWAMS to drive transformative research and advance health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal communities in the region.
The newly funded project titled; Knowledge + Innovation = Power: is an Aboriginal community controlled health service striving for excellence through Indigenous data sovereignty. Central to this initiative is the establishment of a dedicated Research Coordinator position, based at SWAMS. This role will focus on designing, coordinating, and implementing the project and its evaluation processes, guided by Aboriginal-led principles and cultural practices. The Research Coordinator will work closely with local communities, SWAMS staff, and academic partners to ensure the project’s success.
In collaboration with the University of Western Australia (UWA), this research project aims to develop and adapt culturally informed data measures and tools that will enhance models of care, operational management, and policies. Founded in Aboriginal concepts of health and wellbeing (HWB), including social and emotional wellbeing, this initiative represents a bold step toward addressing health inequities through holistic, culturally sensitive approaches.
Key Elements of the Project
- Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS): This project upholds the principle of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, ensuring First Nations people have control over the collection, analysis, and ownership of their data. By applying IDS principles and a community-led action research approach, SWAMS will enhance its capacity to use culturally informed data to meet community and organisational needs.
- Community Engagement: Central to this project is a Community Advisory Panel and IDS workshops will engage local community members and SWAMS staff, building research capacity and mobilising knowledge in culturally relevant ways.
- Health Metrics and Measures: The project will synthesise local population health data and co-develop culturally informed HWB measures focusing on community-determined health priorities. This includes reviewing best-practice evidence and existing SWAMS data tools.
- Holistic Outcomes: By incorporating Noongar concepts of HWB, the research will bridge traditional knowledge and contemporary health practices, providing a model for culturally safe care and service planning.
Impact and Alignment aligned with the Indigenous Health Research Fund (2021) and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (2020), this project will contribute significantly to health system reform. Its findings will provide practical recommendations for implementing new culturally informed data tools, shaping the future of Aboriginal health care delivery and policy.
SWAMS CEO Lesley Nelson expressed her gratitude for the funding, saying, “This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of culturally grounded health solutions and research frameworks. By working alongside our community and partners, we will create tools and models that reflect and respect Aboriginal culture in research and data, ensuring better health outcomes for generations to come.”