20 Oct 2023
MRFF grant supports Indigenous Health research into chronic diseases
University of Melbourne’s Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs has successfully secured a $1 million grant from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)’s Indigenous Health Research Initiative for an Indigenous-led research project aiming to tackle diabetes among Yolŋu people in Arnhem Land.
Diabetes disproportionally affects Indigenous Australians living in remote communities, especially in North East Arnhem Land, where Yolŋu people have one of the highest rates in the world.
Community Researcher, Ruth Gulamanda said, “Most people in community don’t know they have high blood sugar within them. We want to find out early because we don’t like people flying out of community, we want the people to stay here in community, we don’t want them to go to Darwin or Adelaide with death and chronic disease.”
Led by the Doherty Institute, in partnership with community leaders and the local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Clinic, the project ‘Walking together to reduce blood sugar in the community’ will implement and evaluate a Yolŋu-led and co-designed mobile health unit. Operated by the health clinic, the mobile unit will visit communities to improve access to health in community and prevent high blood sugar and reduce rates of diabetes.
Research team members on Elcho Island. Front row left to right: George Gurruwiwi, Kenny Gongnini, Ruth Gulamanda and Mrs Dhurrkay. Second row, Josh Tynan, Beverley Ann-Biggs, Hasthi Dissanayake (Photo used with approval from individuals and families)
University of Melbourne’s Dr Hasthi Dissanayake, Research Fellow in Indigenous Health in the Biggs group at the Doherty Institute, has been working with Yolŋu Elders on Elcho Island for the last few years to collaboratively develop programs aiming to improve long-term health.
“In the heart of remote communities, we embrace the challenge of elevated blood sugar levels by fostering a collaborative spirit and leveraging the synergy of modern medical insights and traditional knowledge. Together we hope to spark a community movement that empowers leaders to coordinate efforts to effect real change in blood sugar levels in remote communities,” Dr Dissanayake said.
The project builds on previous research by Professor Biggs and her team, which showed that a culturally safe, holistic health program delivered in partnership with the community helps improve metabolic health in remote Indigenous communities.
“The diabetes epidemic in East Arnhem is devasting for local Yolŋu communities and this project responds to their call for action. Thanks to this grant, we will build deep health literacy around the sugar story to empower people to make informed choices about diet and lifestyle, using evidence-based methods that combine traditional Yolŋu knowledge with Western knowledge and approaches,” Professor Biggs said.
For more information on the Australian Government’s MRFF 2023 Indigenous Health Research Grants, visit https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mrff-indigenous-health-research-fund