- New committee to help guide Aboriginal health and medical
research and innovation across WA
- Group to advise Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund's
Advisory Council and Medical Research Minister
The Cook Government is
working to close the health equity gap by appointing a new expert committee which
will guide the State's decision-making around funding programs for Aboriginal health
and medical research.
The Expert Committee on
Aboriginal Health will inform Western Australia's Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund, helping to ensure
the Fund's programs and initiatives are developed and implemented to achieve positive
health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people in WA.
The group will provide
guidance to the Fund's Advisory Council, the Office of Medical Research and the
Medical Research Minister.
The seven member committee
includes Aboriginal consumers and community members, Aboriginal health
professionals and policy makers and Aboriginal researchers and innovators.
The members who bring a mix of lived experience, knowledge and skills
are listed below:
Ms Wendy Casey
Director
of Aboriginal Health Policy at the Department of Health, Wendy Casey has
decades of experience in Aboriginal health and community matters.
Mr Peter Miller
A Human
Research Ethics Officer at the Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee and member of
the Aboriginal Health Council of WA, Peter is an expert in Aboriginal ethics, consumer,
and community matters.
Dr Caitlin
White
A Public Health Medical Officer at the Aboriginal Health Council of Western
Australia, Dr Caitlin White was nominated by the Aboriginal health sector and
is an expert in clinical and public health priorities.
Mr Slade Sibosado
Slade
Sibosado is a Community Engagement Officer with the Kulunga Aboriginal Unit at
the Telethon Kids Institute. With a strong understanding of research, Slade lives
in the Kimberley and has extensive community engagement knowledge of Broome.
Abby-Rose
Cox
The Evaluation
and Research Manager at the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Research Alliance, Abby-Rose
Cox will bring expertise in rural and remote Aboriginal health research and
evaluation to the committee.
Professor
Pat Dudgeon
A member
of the National Indigenous Health Research Network and Professor in the School
of Indigenous Studies at the University of Western Australia, Professor Pat Dudgeon's
expertise is in Indigenous mental health, suicide prevention, community
engagement and consultation.
Associate
Professor Glenn Pearson
Director
of First Nations Strategy and Leadership at the Telethon Kids Institute and an
Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia, Glenn Pearson's expertise
is in Aboriginal health and emotional wellbeing, child development, Aboriginal
research methodologies, policy, and advocacy.
Aboriginal health
is a key focus area of the FHRI Fund, and this new expert committee reflects
its commitment to involve consumers to enhance the quality and relevance of
research for the WA community.
To date, the Fund has awarded more than $80 million
in grants to 429 recipients, with some $250 million available over the next four
years.
For more information on the recent funding recipients along with the next
round of new funding opportunities, visit the FHRI Fund page.
Comments
attributed to Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
"On behalf of the Cook Government, I am pleased to announce
the appointment of this new committee which will help guide our FHRI Fund into
the future.
"Aboriginal people in Western Australia face
complex health issues and it's critical that their voice is heard when it comes
to designing and implementing programs that encourage
Aboriginal health and medical research and innovation.
"This committee is integral to future-proofing
research and innovation throughout our vast State."
