{"id":133069,"date":"2025-09-24T13:41:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T05:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?page_id=133069"},"modified":"2025-12-16T09:36:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T01:36:57","slug":"indigenous-health-research-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/indigenous-health-research-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigenous Health Research Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t
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Â鶹ֱ²¥ Us<\/h2>\n \n
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Based at Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s Medical School, our Indigenous Health Research Program brings together a passionate and multidisciplinary team working to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.<\/p>\n

We work across disciplines and sectors \u2014 from researchers and clinicians to policy partners \u2014 united by a shared commitment to health equity. We prioritise projects that can improve outcomes for Aboriginal communities or accelerate progress toward equity.<\/p>\n

Our work is shaped by strong governance and guided by Aboriginal Elders and senior Aboriginal researchers. We place Aboriginal voices and worldviews at the heart of every step \u2014 from shaping the questions to sharing the answers.<\/p>\n

Our research spans epidemiological, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, with particular strengths in perinatal health and the social and cultural determinants of health.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n<\/mimas-block>\n\n\n\n \n

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Our Research Team<\/h2>\n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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\"Prof<\/div>
\n Head of the Indigenous Health Research Program\n <\/div>

Prof Carrington Shepherd<\/h2><\/div>

Carrington Shepherd is a Professor at Â鶹ֱ²¥, with adjunct appointments at the Telethon Kids Institute and Murdoch University. He leads the Indigenous Health Research Program in Curtin\u2019s Medical School and has worked alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for nearly 20 years.<\/p>

Guided by Aboriginal Elders and senior Aboriginal researchers, his program uses epidemiological, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to address critical health inequities \u2014 with a focus on perinatal health, early life outcomes, and the social and cultural determinants of health.<\/p>

Carrington\u2019s work is grounded in equity, strong community governance, and meaningful translation. His team has delivered landmark evidence on child mortality, education, racism, and social conditions, and contributed to national reforms. He is also co-founder of the Australian Stillbirth Awareness and Prevention Collaborative, which brings together families, advocates, and researchers to help reduce preventable stillbirths.<\/p>

Carrington.Shepherd@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Ms<\/div>
\n Cultural Engagement Lead | Research Fellow\n <\/div>

Ms Carolyn Lewis<\/h2><\/div>

Carolyn Lewis is a Research Fellow at Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences. She first commenced work with the Stillbirth CRE while based at the Telethon Kids Institute and continued to do so after starting at Â鶹ֱ²¥ in October 2021. The Ironbark Project \u2013 an Aboriginal healthy ageing research project Carolyn is a Yamatji Noongar woman who grew up on Wadjak Boodja country (Perth) and has strong cultural ties across Western Australia. Carolyn believes big change can come about through yarning to all people, and that sharing knowledge and stories will bring light to injustices, facilitate awareness, and promote positive conversations.<\/p>

Carolyn.Lewis@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Dr<\/div>
\n Senior Research Fellow\n <\/div>

Dr Helen Bailey<\/h2><\/div>

Helen is a Senior Research Fellow in the Indigenous Health Research Group in the Curtin Medical School with adjunct positions at the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia. She is a perinatal epidemiologist (PhD and MPH UWA) with a background in nursing (mainly neonatal intensive care), midwifery and child health. She has experience using large, complex datasets to investigate risk factors for prenatal and early life adverse outcomes both in Australia and France. She is currently the co-lead of the epidemiology aim of an NHMRC-funded mixed methods project ‘Jinda Maawit, New insights for reducing Aboriginal stillbirth: Community-led, integrated evidence for change’ project which aims to reduce the gap between outcomes for Aboriginal births compared to non-Aboriginal births. <\/p>

Helen.Bailey@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Ms<\/div>
\n Research Associate | Dietitian\n <\/div>

Ms Melissa Dunham<\/h2><\/div>

Melissa joined the Indigenous Health Research Program at Curtin Medical School in August 2021 as a dietitian on the Kaat Koort project, an Aboriginal Health Professional-led dementia prevention study in the southwest of Western Australia. In 2023, Melissa combined her duties of dietitian with the role of clinical trial coordinator on the Kaat Koort project and is now part of the Yorga Mooditj Koort trial. Melissa has a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics and has worked in private practice, and as a research assistant on a variety of projects including mechanisms of immortalisation in cancer cells, mesothelioma, dementia, primary health in rural and remote areas, and other projects focused on improving health outcomes in older persons and vulnerable populations.<\/p>

Melissa.Dunham@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Dr<\/div>
\n Research Fellow\n <\/div>

Dr Leah Cave<\/h2><\/div>

Dr Leah Cave is a Research Fellow in the Indigenous Health Research Program at Curtin Medical School. Her research has concentrated on the health impact of racial discrimination on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents, with a focus on the social and cultural determinants of health. She has a strong research interest in building networks within and between the health and education sectors to develop and evaluate effective anti-racism initiatives.<\/p>

Leah.Cave@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Ms<\/div>
\n Project Officer\n <\/div>

Ms Christian Crozier<\/h2><\/div>

Christian Crozier joined the Indigenous Health Research Program at Curtin Medical School as a Project Officer in 2022. She brings a wealth of experience in supporting researchers and scientists, including 10 years as EA to Prof Fiona Stanley AC and prior to that at CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and the University of Western Australian.<\/p>

Christian.Crozier@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Dr<\/div>
\n Research Fellow\n <\/div>

Dr Bernardo Dewey<\/h2><\/div>

Dr Bernardo Dewey is a sociologist with over 15 years of experience in project management and research across Argentina, Mexico, and Australia. He holds a BA in Sociology, a Master\u2019s in Community Development, and completed his PhD at the University of Western Australia.<\/p>

Bernardo is currently a Research Fellow at the Indigenous Health Research Program at Curtin Medical School and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Ngangk Yira Institute at Murdoch University. He is coordinating the implementation of a mixed-methods study to build a foundational understanding of stillbirth knowledge among Aboriginal women living in Noongar Country. He has also recently become a Chief Investigator on two large Medical Research Future Fund initiatives\u2014one focused on remodelling bereavement care for Aboriginal families after perinatal loss, and another examining the impact of structural racism on the health of Aboriginal students.<\/p>

In 2025, Bernardo was awarded the Churchill Fellowship and an Early to Mid-Career Research Fellowship funded by the WA Government\u2019s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund, The Hospital Research Foundation Group, and Â鶹ֱ²¥. In the next four years, he will be coordinating the Elder- and community-led project \u201cMoorditj Moort: Strengthening Aboriginal Men\u2019s Involvement in Antenatal Care for Parental and Newborn Health,\u201d<\/p>

Bernardo.Dewey@curtin.edu.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Dr<\/div>
\n Research Fellow\n <\/div>

Dr Marwan Ahmed<\/h2><\/div>

Dr Marwan Ahmed is a Research Associate with the team, with a multidisciplinary background in clinical pharmacy and public health. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy, a Master\u2019s in Pharmacology, and a PhD in Public Health from the University of Western Australia, where his doctoral research examined the impact of diabetes in pregnancy on health outcomes among Aboriginal infants in Western Australia.<\/p>

Marwan is an overseas-trained pharmacist, a registered pharmacist in Australia, and an accredited medication review pharmacist. He has worked across hospital, community, and research settings.<\/p>

His research interests include perinatal and cardiovascular epidemiology, with a strong focus on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. He uses linked administrative data to generate insights that support better health outcomes at both community and population levels.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Ms<\/div>
\n Research Associate\n <\/div>

Ms Dolores Gilbert<\/h2><\/div>

I\u2019m a Yamitiji woman from Mullewa and grew up on stations around the Midwest with my parents and 7 siblings. I completed a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and\/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice and have worked in Roebourne AMS, South Australia and now in Perth with the Kaat Koort Study team.<\/p>

This study has been a real eye-opener for me as I didn’t realise that there was dementia in our communities. Talking to participants and hearing their positive feedback has been great. I love working with the community helping our people and it makes me proud to hear that we are making a difference in their lives.<\/p>

Dolores.Gilbert@dyhs.org.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Ms<\/div>
\n Research Associate\n <\/div>

Ms Salena Linforth-Milham<\/h2><\/div>

I was born in Narrogin and come from a strong line of Noongar women. I have a lovely husband, 5 ambitious children and a beautiful granddaughter. I have been working at SWAMS for the past 15 years during which time I have been a receptionist, Health Information Officer and now a Registered Nurse. My passion has always been to help my people and my community our way.<\/p>

Salena.Linforth@swams.com.au<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Mr<\/div>
\n Research Associate\n <\/div>

Mr Rohan Collard<\/h2><\/div>

Rohan Collard is a Balardong Wudjuk Marmun with strong community connections to the Nyungar nation.<\/p>

He is an executive level professional with significant experience in the Community Sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and the Public Sector. He holds a respected position of cultural authority and knowledge in the Aboriginal community and have demonstrated experience in building strong professional networks.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Assoc<\/div>
\n Research Adjunct \n <\/div>

Assoc Prof Jianghong Li<\/h2><\/div>

Assoc Prof Jianghong Li completed her Bachelor Degree of Arts with a major in English and English Language from Yunnan University, China, in 1982. She then obtained her Master degree in 1986 and PhD in sociology with a minor in economics in 1992 in the United State.<\/p>

Since 2000 she has been conducting research in social epidemiology and child health and development in Perth, Western Australia, collaborating with scientists from population health and epidemiology, psychology, labour economics and biomedical sciences. Jianghong Li is an Associate Professor at The Kids Research Institute Australia and a Research Adjunct at the Curtin Indigenous Health Research Program.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n<\/mimas-block>\n\n\n\n\n \n

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News<\/h2>\n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
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Community Workshops 2025<\/h3>\n\n \n \"Community\n <\/a>\n \n

Churchill Fellowship 2025<\/h3>\n\n \n \"Churchill\n <\/a>\n \n

Medical Research Future Fund<\/h3>\n\n \n \"Medical\n <\/a>\n \n

Jinda Maawit Artwork<\/h3>\n\n \n \"Jinda\n <\/a>\n \n

We are on LinkedIn!<\/h3>\n\n \n \"We\n <\/a>\n \n

Women and Infants Research Foundation Award<\/h3>\n\n \n \"Women\n <\/a>\n \n

Research Rumble 2024<\/h3>\n\n \n \"Research\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/mimas-block>\n\n\n

Our Research Projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n \n\n
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