Ramsay Newsroom

The grant has supported eleven research projects across Australia to learn from the COVID-19 response.  

Led by First Nations researchers, these projects will capture lessons from COVID-19 and boost responses to future outbreaks.  

The funding was awarded to the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies (APPRISE), a Centre of Research Excellence funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.  

APPRISE established a First Nations Council to advise on the entire grant process. This included identifying research priorities and deciding how to assess and manage the grants. 

The grant program will strengthen COVID-19 responses for First Nations communities. Giving space for a First Nations-led process sets the scene for robust, relevant and powerful outcomes. By supporting First Nations researchers, the program will have a lasting impact the COVID-19 response and help prepare for future public health challenges. 

The Council was co-chaired by: 

• Professor Adrian Miller of the Jirrbal people of North Queensland and Director of the Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research at CQUniversity 
• Kristy Crooks of the Euahlayi nation and an Aboriginal Program Manager with the Health Protection Unit for Hunter New England Population Health 

Professor Miller said: “The whole process was unique because rather than just having a small proportion of First Nations people sitting on a panel, the First Nations Council was entirely made up of senior First Nations researchers.” 

“A key focus was to attract applications from diverse organisations and with our First Nations-led approach we were able to attract proposals from the Aboriginal-controlled health sector as well as universities,” he said. 

Ms Crooks said the grant arrangements helped reach diverse First Nations researchers across Australia. 

“If you had non-First Nations people leading the process, you’d have a different outcome and you’d see projects funded based on what they perceive to be important. But we placed value on what we see as a priority and what we see will result in better health outcomes for our communities,” she said. 

The eleven funded projects are all led by First Nations researchers. At least half of each research team is comprised of First Nations people. 

The projects address varied aspects of the COVID-19 response and future preparedness. This includes issues affecting diverse urban and rural First Nations communities. For example: 

• Some projects will look at the impact of shifting to telehealth arrangements due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.  
• One project will assess the impact of pandemic health messaging for First Nations peoples.  
• Other projects will harness lessons from the COVID-19 response. These lessons will help direct health system adaptation and the development of culturally appropriate public health responses and COVID-safe practices in hospitals. 

Projects are led through a variety of research institutes, universities and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. This reflects the broad range of First Nations research expertise across the country. 
 
The Paul Ramsay Foundation is an 18 per cent shareholder of Ramsay Health Care, which means almost a fifth of the profits paid to Ramsay Health Care shareholders by way of dividend are directed back into charitable causes funded by the Foundation.