Exploring sustainability models for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research in diabetes and cardiovascular disease

In early December, Dr Michelle Allen, Senior Research Fellow – Implementation Science and Megan Campbell, Operations Director at the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI), travelled to Melbourne to represent the Centre at the MTPConnect Accelerator Showcase. MTPConnect is one of Australia’s Industry Growth Centres, first established by the Federal Government in 2015 to support the development of cutting-edge medical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare innovations.

Since 2021, AusHSI has been a partner of MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) Program, supporting implementation of projects to improve the prevention, management and treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (D&CVD) in Australia. The program funded 3 rounds of projects, 22 in total, with Round 3 having a dedicated focus on models of care to benefit the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with D&CVD.

Preceding the Accelerator Showcase, on Monday 1 December, MTPConnect, Lowitja Institute and AusHSI co-hosted a Forum: Exploring sustainability models for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Bringing together health researchers, Community and partner organisations from the Round 3 TTRA-funded projects nearing completion, together with government, philanthropic and other funders, this forum was an opportunity to share the strengths and support the sustainability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

All of these projects have embedded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, Community empowerment, and First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing, demonstrating the powerful outcomes that can be achieved when research is place-based and Community-led. The projects have been closely supported and mentored by TTRA Partners, the Lowitja Institute and AusHSI, experts in First Nations research and implementation science, respectively.

Researchers on the ground leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health studies were able to showcase their work, share insights from their projects, and highlight the positive impacts that their research has had on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including a maternal health strategy, youth peer support program, and in-language outreach services.

The event provided a platform for funded projects to communicate their knowledge to a broader audience, while creating a space for project teams to engage with potential funders and explore the long-term implementation of research findings. It also helped to foster new relationships and strengthen existing networks with funding bodies, enabling discussions around better, more sustainable funding strategies, beyond the current stop-start cycles that exist.

By creating a space for project teams to share both their successes and challenges, participants were left with a deeper understanding of how research programs can be designed and delivered in ways that place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at the centre, leading to better outcomes. It also highlighted the critical importance of strong partnerships between researchers, the communities they work with, and research funders in achieving meaningful and sustainable impact.