Q & A with Associate Professor Toombs

As part of NHMRC’s stated commitment to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, NHMRC has established certain requirements and processes designed to ensure that research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is of the highest scientific merit and is beneficial and acceptable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Applicants proposing to undertake research which specifically relates to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or which includes distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, biological samples or data, should be aware of, and must refer to, the following documents in formulating their proposal:

• Roadmap 3: A strategic framework for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through research
• Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders, and
• Keeping Research on Track II, which is a companion document on how the values and principles outlined in the Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders can be put into practice in research.

To qualify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, at least 20% of the research effort and/or capacity-building must relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

• Qualifying applications must address NHMRC’s Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria as follows:
• Community engagement - the proposal demonstrates how the research and potential outcomes are a priority for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with relevant community engagement by individuals, communities and/or organisations in conceptualisation, development and approval, data collection and management, analysis, report writing and dissemination of results.
• Benefit - the potential health benefit of the project is demonstrated by addressing an important health issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This benefit can have a single focus or affect several areas, such as knowledge, finance and policy or quality of life. The benefit may be direct and immediate, or it can be indirect, gradual and considered.
• Sustainability and transferability - the proposal demonstrates how the results of the project have the potential to lead to achievable and effective contributions to health gain for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, beyond the life of the project. This may be through sustainability in the project setting and/or transferability to other settings such as evidence-based practice and/or policy. In considering this issue the proposal should address the relationship between costs and benefits.
• Building capability - the proposal demonstrates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and researchers will develop relevant capabilities through partnerships and participation in the project.

Peer reviewer(s) with specific expertise in Indigenous health research will consider how well the application addresses the Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria.

Join Associate Professor Maree Toombs for a Q & A session to address all your questions about the NHMRC Indigenous Research Excellence criteria.

Zoom details:

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/88280746627

About Associate Professor Maree Toombs 

Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement), Faculty of Medicine, UQ

Along with her role at the Faculty of Medicine, Maree has 20 years’ experience in teaching Indigenous students. It was from this that she observed a pattern in young Indigenous Australians disengaging from education and has worked since to understand and help bridge this gap. Maree is heavily involved in NHMRC projects focusing on mental health, suicide prevention and other chronic disease. She is a member of Australian Medical Council, as well as an advisory board member for the Darling Downs Health Service Board and current chair of the Carbal Medical Service (Toowoomba and Warwick). Maree’s current projects include: The Mob Van, a mobile caravan which aims to provide primary health care to Aboriginal communities around Toowoomba; and I-ASIST, a culturally-tailored training established to address the increasing rates of suicide among Indigenous people living in rural and remote areas.