27 Oct 2023
Doherty Institute researchers awarded million-dollar grant to improve heart health in remote communities in North-East Arnhem Land
A heart health project led by University of Melbourne’s Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs, Head of Migrant and Global Health at the Doherty Institute, in collaboration with the Yolŋu community in North-East Arnhem Land has received a funding boost with a grant of just under $1 million from the MTPConnect Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease.
Aboriginal Australians, especially in remote communities, have the highest rate of avoidable deaths in Australia, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the leading cause. The new funding is set to improve heart health through early identification of risk factors and culturally sensitive preventative strategies.
The project, ‘Marrtjin limurr rrambaŋin: co-designing innovative, culturally adapted methodologies to improve heart health in remote communities in North-East Arnhem Land’, will be co-designed with the local community and health clinic to address early detection of CVD risk factors and increase heart health knowledge in a culturally safe setting, with Indigenous leadership. Evaluation of the project will be undertaken by Yolŋu researchers and Professor Biggs and her Doherty-based team, to provide essential information for long-term sustainability and eventual scale-up to other communities.
Speaking on the current state of his community, George Gurruwiwi, a Community Elder and Researcher, said, “These (chronic) diseases mean that Yolŋu are passing away younger than Balanda (non-indigenous Australians). Yolŋu are passing away 12 years earlier compared to Balanda.”
“We have been working with the University of Melbourne to find manymak (good) solution for Yolŋu health,” he added.
Embedded in an established Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation with an Indigenous workforce and leadership, the service will introduce point-of-care health monitoring at home, discussion of health results in local language, and share culturally appropriate information with individuals and their families to promote healthier lifestyles for reduction of risk and early detection of CVD.
Professor Biggs lauded the strong heritage of the Yolŋu community and highlighted that strong community engagement is key to sustainability and to long-term health improvement.
“Yolŋu are proud people with a rich cultural heritage, now facing a major health crisis. The TTRA funding will enable the integration of a novel evidence-based community-designed and led approach to cardiovascular disease prevention within the local health service,” Professor Biggs said.
The TTRA program is a Medical Research Future Fund initiative for research into aspects of cardiovascular diseases, which are leading causes of death and disability.