Australian Indigenous visions and voices enacted through research

Abstract

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples visions and voices within the Community Controlled Health Sector in Queensland, Australia, are being embedded and enacted through the leadership and governance of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). QAIHC leads and governs the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) which has a research and education focus on circulatory and associated conditions in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The establishment of the CCRE under the Community Controlled model of governance is unique and presents both opportunities and challenges for innovative partnerships between universities and Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations. It additionally presents the capacity to embed and enact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visions and voices in education and research and to develop the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as researchers and educators.