National ‘Indigenous Health Roundtable’ – Adelaide

The Roundtable, co-hosted by CSIRO and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH), aims to gain an understanding of Indigenous perspectives on research needs and priorities in the area of nutrition in preventative health and to discuss pathways for Indigenous engagement in current and future research in this area.

Director of CSIRO’s Preventative Health National Research Flagship, Dr Richard Head, says CSIRO is keen to ensure that the research currently undertaken by the organisation can assist in improving the everyday health of Indigenous Australians. “I look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Indigenous community to ensure or work can be further explored to have a meaningful impact on health,” Dr Head says.

The head of CSIRO’s Office of Indigenous Engagement, Greg Davison, says the Roundtable is designed to bring together representatives from CSIRO and Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to explore research priorities which more broadly address their needs and aspirations.

“Today’s Roundtable further aims to progress this by: sharing knowledge, experiences and stories on how to engage Indigenous Australians in policy, research and research adoption processes to improve their nutrition, health, lifestyles and wellbeing; and, facilitating a discussion on nutrition and Indigenous health policies to identify what key policy issues influence research and political agendas,” Mr Davison says.

The NISRR Series is the starting point for CSIRO’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy process.

Initiated in July 2007, the Strategy aims to address four focus areas: scientific opportunities – engage in research and projects designed to improve the quality of life of indigenous peoples; employment – to boost indigenous employment in science; education outreach – increase participation and science education among indigenous young people and incorporate indigenous knowledge in CSIRO’s education program; and, cultural learning and development – broaden the knowledge and understanding of indigenous issues and cultures within CSIRO.