Ageing And Dementia In Aboriginal Australians: Promoting Vitality, Identifying Decline And Supporting Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,411.00
Summary
Dementia is a growing concern and burden on communities for Aboriginal Australians. This fellowship will develop effective, culturally appropriate, and accessible strategies to promote healthy brain ageing and prevent dementia in Aboriginal communities. It will also investigate better ways to assess memory and thinking in this population, in order to identify changes as early as possible for enhanced dementia research and treatment prospects.
The Effectiveness Of Systems-based Intervention In Increasing Health Assessments In Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$177,197.00
Summary
Access to health checks is an important part of Closing the Gap in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. Health checks benefits patients by increasing preventive health opportunities and detecting chronic disease. Despite these benefits, few Aborignal people undergo health checks. This research will examine the effect of an intervention in increasing the prevalence of Aboriginal people receving health checks in Aboriginal Medical Services.
Building A Simulation Model To Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction And Treatment For Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,986.00
Summary
This project will primarily focus on developing health economic simulation models to assess different methods for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians . The aim will be to develop a research program to examine and evaluate policies designed to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and thereby help close the health inequality gap.
Exposure And Risks From Persistent Organic Pollutants Through Consumption Of Traditional Seafood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,042.00
Summary
For many coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, local marine resources provide an important and integral aspect of the communities' diet, culture and traditions. The health benefits associated with seafood consumption have been well documented. On the other hand, many environmental contaminants accumulate in the marine environment. In particular persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have the potential to accumulate to elevated levels in the marine food chain, including humans. Cons ....For many coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, local marine resources provide an important and integral aspect of the communities' diet, culture and traditions. The health benefits associated with seafood consumption have been well documented. On the other hand, many environmental contaminants accumulate in the marine environment. In particular persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have the potential to accumulate to elevated levels in the marine food chain, including humans. Consumption of food contaminated with POPs can pose a risk of causing adverse health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, developmental and immunotoxic responses. Recent studies in Queensland have shown elevated concentrations of POPs, specifically dioxins, in the near shore marine environment. Concentrations present in dugong and turtle tissues were found to be among the highest reported compared to other marine biota worldwide. These species represent an integral part of the traditions and diet for many coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. However, to date no information on exposure to these compounds from locally sourced seafood exists in Australia. The proposed study will redress this lack of information and provide an understanding of the risks associated with the consumption of traditional seafood from local contaminated areas. In collaboration with the Quandamooka community, Moreton Bay in South East Queensland this will provide a case study with the objectives of: 1. Assessing the qualitative and quantitative risks associated with consumption of traditional and contemporary seafood sourced from local contaminated areas. 2. Providing communities with a thorough understanding of food contamination and building internationally competitive capacity in Australian Indigenous researchers. 3. Develop risk management options that allow informed decisions making on POP exposure and are acceptable to the community.Read moreRead less
Neurocognitive And Social Changes Associated With Unleaded Petrol Sniffing And Abstinence From Further Sniffing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,570.00
Summary
Currently, there is a poor understanding about the nature and permanence of brain damage associated with sniffing petrol. Previously, we used culturally-appropriate assessments of brain function to test Aboriginal petrol sniffers from remote communities in northern Australia. This showed that recreational petrol sniffers who remained living in their communities showed some degree of brain dysfunction that affected their ability to concentrate, remember things, learn, control their emotions and c ....Currently, there is a poor understanding about the nature and permanence of brain damage associated with sniffing petrol. Previously, we used culturally-appropriate assessments of brain function to test Aboriginal petrol sniffers from remote communities in northern Australia. This showed that recreational petrol sniffers who remained living in their communities showed some degree of brain dysfunction that affected their ability to concentrate, remember things, learn, control their emotions and control their behaviour. Petrol sniffing was then completely stopped in these communities. Two years later, among people who had shown brain dysfunction from sniffing petrol, our assessments showed some recovery of some of the brain damage caused by sniffing petrol. Initially, the current study aims to determine the longer-term outcomes for abstinent petrol sniffers by returning to these communities and assessing social and brain function outcomes in the original study participants, now over 10 years since they stopped sniffing petrol. The second part of the study will focus on the specific effects on the brain, behaviour and social function of sniffing unleaded petrol in comparison to leaded petrol, alcohol, other inhalants and polydrug use. It will also further investigate the time course of recovery of brain function and social outcomes in the immediate period following abstinence from petrol sniffing. This will involve recruiting petrol sniffers who move to outstation communities to stop sniffing, and have them perform brain function tests several times over the months or years that they spend recovering. These findings will enable the development of appropriate programs to minimise the harm from petrol sniffing. It will also establish an assessment protocol for the classification of petrol related brain damage that can be used by health professionals such as Aboriginal health workers, nurses and doctors.Read moreRead less
Youth services in remote communities. This project aims to improve outcomes for high-risk youth in remote communities in Australia and Canada. It will establish a transdisciplinary research network comprising researchers and services experienced in delivering programmes to high-risk youth; develop a universal intervention definition, and a useful, scientifically rigorous evaluation framework; and integrate the intervention and evaluation framework into participating services’ routine service del ....Youth services in remote communities. This project aims to improve outcomes for high-risk youth in remote communities in Australia and Canada. It will establish a transdisciplinary research network comprising researchers and services experienced in delivering programmes to high-risk youth; develop a universal intervention definition, and a useful, scientifically rigorous evaluation framework; and integrate the intervention and evaluation framework into participating services’ routine service delivery. This project expects to increase the number and quality of services available for high-risk youth, improve their social, health and economic outcomes, and generate positive economic benefit for their communities.Read moreRead less
Cervical Screening Participation And Outcomes For Indigenous Australian Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,546.00
Summary
Cervical cancer is much more common among Indigenous than other Australian women, however little is known about their cervical screening participation or outcomes. This study will use Pap Test Registers and other data sources to compare screening participation and outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, and investigate whether cervical cancer incidence has decreased for Indigenous women in recent years, as it has done for non-Indigenous women in Australia.
Spirometry And Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Reference Values For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,790.00
Summary
Lung diseases are one of the leading contributors to the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Simple tests, such as spirometry, are needed for early diagnosis and good management of lung diseases. My study aims to develop healthy reference values which are lacking for this population. Results from my study will improve the accuracy of test interpretation, aid in diagnosis and clinical care, and reduce morbidity of lung disease for Indigenous Australians.
To Improve The Quality And Access To Dialysis Treatments By Indigenous Australians From Remote Areas By Using A Patient-centred Approach To Determine The Cost-effectiveness Of Treatment Models That Include The Health, Social And Economic Impact
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,195,023.00
Summary
Compared to other Australians, Indigenous people from remote areas suffer disproportionately from kidney disease. In order to access treatment they must often relocate, sometimes permanently to urban areas. Communities advocate for services closer to home but most health providers see remote area delivery as prohibitively costly. The study will assess the relative cost-benefits of more patient-centered models of care that are inclusive of impacts on patients, families and communities.
What Works To Reduce Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Smoking? A National Evaluation Of Tobacco Control Initiatives For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,603.00
Summary
My study ties in with a large national project that aims to find out what works to reduce smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I will look specifically at one tobacco control approach and its effect on steps toward quitting and staying quit in this group. Together with findings from the broader study, this research will provide valuable new information to help reduce smoking, the number one killer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.