Indigenous cancer research receives critical funding boost
Indigenous communities will be placed at the heart of a project supporting cancer care and prevention initiatives.
(Photo credit: James Walker, JW Drones and Photos )
Key points
- A UQ project on cancer prevention and care in Indigenous communities has received a $2.5 million funding boost.
- The funding from Cancer Australia will support efforts to improve culturally safe cancer care and accessibility for First Nations patients.
- The project will co-design place-based strategies with community organisations to connect First Nations communities across Queensland health sectors.
New cancer prevention and care initiatives supporting Indigenous communities across North Queensland will advance following a $2.5 million funding boost.
A University of Queensland-led project has been awarded a Cancer Australia – Improving First Nations Cancer Outcomes: 2024 Partnerships for Cancer Research grant, to accelerate culturally respectful, evidence-informed strategies.
Professor Gail Garvey (AM), from UQ’s School of Public Health said the initiative, Empowering Indigenous Communities: Strengthening Agency, Equity, and Connections in Cancer Care and Prevention, places First Nation communities at the heart of the project.
“We will establish a network to connect First Nations communities, locally, regionally and across Queensland health sectors to ensure relevance, effectiveness and sustainability in cancer prevention and cancer care,” Professor Garvey said.
"Addressing cancer inequities is a health priority.”
“Every person, regardless of where they live or who they are, deserves access to timely, culturally safe, and effective cancer prevention and care.”
The health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities is the focus in a project targeting cancer prevention.
(Photo credit: The University of Queensland.)
Professor Carmen Parter, Djurali Centre researcher, said this is a significant investment to support community-controlled organisations in North Queensland
“This is a significant investment to support community-controlled organisations in North Queensland,” she said.
“We will deliver strengths-based and culturally safe cancer prevention and care that is driven and led by community.”
Kathy Anderson, CEO of Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service said they are excited to be partnering with UQ.
Valerie Pilcher, CEO of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay said they welcome the opportunity to partner with mainstream services as cancer is the biggest killer in their communities.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Australian e-Health Research Centre will also work in collaboration with UQ and partners to drive better health outcomes across North Queensland.
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The project will run for 3 years and is a collaboration between Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Australian e-Health Research Centre, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay, Girudala Community Cooperative Society, Djurali Centre and Heart Research Institute.Topics
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