Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher workforce since 2000

A review and analysis of progress in building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher workforce since 2000

Project aim and objectives

This project aimed to identify changes in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research workforce since 2000 through:

  • Charting current educational and career-pathway models and initiatives.
  • Outlining how research training can be more responsive, enriching and affirming of and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers and communities.
  • Exploring new ways to increase numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers.

Project team

Project leader: Professor Shaun Ewen
Project partner: Shannon Consulting Services Pty Ltd
Administering organisation: The University of Melbourne
Project timeline: 01/01/2017—31/12/2018

Methodology

  • Established a project reference group (PRG) that included key experts and stakeholders.
  • Conducted a review of the international literature related to health research capability, accompanied by a desktop search and analysis of documentation on programs and policy frameworks, with charting of research education and career pathways.
  • Measured research workforce structures and progress by using information gathered from Phase 2, established the number of researchers trained or in training, their field(s) of health research, and where they were trained and, at a systemic level, identified research education structures, partnerships and mechanisms associated with educational and workforce success.
  • Conducted 40 interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and students enrolled in a Higher Research Degree (PhD, Masters), to investigate experiences in relation to formal and informal research training, and the diversity of views on how to further advance the health researcher workforce.
  • Conducted six case studies of a cross-section of promising and innovative health research training programs in Australia.
  • Held a forum and roundtable to triangulate findings and feedback.

Project findings and outputs

  • Creation of a national knowledge base on the characteristics and experiences of research training infrastructure that is connected to the further growth and success of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher workforce.
  • Combined and derived findings from a large volume of fragmented data and information on research capability strengthening in Australia and internationally.
  • Developed the largest primary-data research study to date that is specifically on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher views and experiences.

Project outcomes

Knowledge

  • Creation of a national knowledge base on the characteristics and experiences of research training infrastructure for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.
Awareness
  • Hosted the webinar, ‘Further strengthening research capabilities: The significance of peers and commitment overlaps to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers’, on 25 October 2018. It was attended by partners of Lowitja Institute, across the country.
  • Publication in Human Resources for Health.
  • The project final seminar took place at the National Conference on Indigenous Workforce Leadership.
  • Findings were presented at a workshop that is connected to the project to utilise the Australian Health Research Alliance as the basis for establishing an Australia-wide ‘Indigenous Research(er) Capacity Building Network’ that is geared to research translation.
Behaviour
  • Led to the development of a Draft Action Plan to establish a nation-wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research(er) network.
  • This research project and resulting outputs (e.g. publication, summary report) added to the research profile of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health.
Skills
  • Aboriginal researcher Dr Tess Ryan conducted all interviews for the project, was central to qualitative data analyses and writing/reporting, and led oral presentations on project findings, further cementing her advanced skills in research and extending her research profile

Related resources:

  • Ewen, S., Ryan, T. & Platania-Phung, C. 2019, Further Strengthening Research Capabilities: A review and analysis of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Researcher Workforce, The Lowitja Institute, Melbourne
  • Ewen, S., Ryan, T. & Platania-Phung, C. 2019, Further Strengthening Research Capabilities: A review and analysis of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Researcher Workforce (Supplementary materials), The Lowitja Institute, Melbourne
  • Ewen, S., Ryan, T. & Platania-Phung, C. 2018, Further Strengthening Research Capabilities: A review and analysis of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Researcher Workforce (Summary Report), The Lowitja Institute, Melbourne
  • Ewen, S., Ryan, T. & Platania-Phung, C. 2019, Capacity building of the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher workforce: a narrative review, Human Resources for Health

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land across Australia and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

pattern