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| Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet |
| Formation | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Perth, Western Australia |
| Leader title | Director |
| Leader name | Professor Neil Thomson |
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is an Australian online knowledge translation service that synthesizes evidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health for policy makers, clinicians, educators and communities. It operates as an independent hub providing reviews, databases and learning resources that link research, practice and policy across Indigenous health sectors. The InfoNet engages with national and state institutions to promote culturally informed health improvement and community-led approaches.
The InfoNet provides curated summaries, bibliographies and thematic reviews across topics such as chronic disease, mental health, maternal and child health, and social determinants, supporting decision-making by organisations including Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia), and state health departments such as Western Australian Department of Health and Queensland Health. Publications aim to inform stakeholders from Lowitja Institute researchers, Menzies School of Health Research, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, and university centres such as The University of Western Australia and Flinders University. The resource supports practitioners in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services like Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation by linking to materials from peak bodies including Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association and Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives.
Established in 1997 in Perth, Western Australia, the InfoNet emerged amid national initiatives following reports by inquiries such as the Bringing Them Home report and frameworks like the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy. Early collaborations involved partners including Curtin University, Telethon Kids Institute, and federal agencies such as the Commonwealth Department of Health. Over successive policy eras—through milestones like the Close the Gap campaign and national strategies from the Council of Australian Governments—the InfoNet expanded its remit, integrating outputs from research institutes such as University of Melbourne, Monash University, and Australian National University.
The organisation operates under a governance model linking academic leadership and community advisory input, engaging bodies such as Lowitja Institute and local Aboriginal community controlled health organisations. Funding streams have included competitive grants from agencies like the National Health and Medical Research Council, contracts with the Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia), philanthropic support from entities such as Paul Ramsay Foundation, and partnerships with research councils including the Australian Research Council. Governance arrangements have reflected accountability to stakeholders including Indigenous representative bodies and university host institutions such as Curtin University.
Core services encompass thematic syntheses, searchable bibliographies, training modules, and evidence summaries on topics like tobacco control, renal disease, and hearing health, interfacing with programs run by Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association, Health Workforce Australia initiatives, and community campaigns like National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day. The InfoNet produces tailored resources for clinical programs in settings such as Royal Darwin Hospital, Alice Springs Hospital, and primary health services in regions including the Kimberley and Torres Strait Islands. It supports workforce development through links to curricula at institutions such as James Cook University and Charles Darwin University.
Publications include systematic reviews, rapid evidence briefs, and thematic overviews synthesising outputs from journals and institutes including The Lancet, The Medical Journal of Australia, BMJ, Public Health Research & Practice, and reports from the Productivity Commission. The InfoNet collates data from surveillance programs run by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and research projects led by groups such as Menzies School of Health Research and Telethon Kids Institute. It disseminates findings to audiences including policymakers at Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council and educators at universities such as University of Sydney and Deakin University.
The InfoNet has been cited in policy documents, clinical guidelines and academic literature, informing strategies developed by bodies such as National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council and service delivery reforms in jurisdictions like Northern Territory Government. Independent evaluations by universities and institutes including Murdoch University and University of Western Australia have noted its role in knowledge translation and capacity building. It has been referenced in initiatives tied to national commitments like the Close the Gap targets and contributed to discourse alongside landmark reports such as the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Collaborative links span research organisations, peak bodies and community-controlled services including Lowitja Institute, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Menzies School of Health Research, Telethon Kids Institute, and universities such as Curtin University, The University of Western Australia, and Flinders University. International connections have engaged agencies and networks related to Indigenous health in countries such as New Zealand, Canada, and United States Department of Health and Human Services counterparts. Project partnerships have included funding and programmatic collaboration with entities like the National Health and Medical Research Council and philanthropic organisations such as Ian Potter Foundation.
Category:Indigenous Australian health