The END RHD Community Advisory Board and Aboriginal Reference Group formed under the END RHD Program will will ensure a strong community voice that will help drive the RHD research agenda, and the role they play will be vital to achieve our shared goal to eliminate RHD.
We align the way we conduct research to the The Kids Research Institute Australia’s commitment to prioritise our partnerships with Aboriginal families and communities across WA and beyond, to improve the health and development of Aboriginal children. With the implementation of the Institute’s ‘Standards for the conduct of Aboriginal health research’ (Aboriginal Research Standards) in 2022, this will set the Institute on the path to become the global leader in Aboriginal child health research. The END RHD program is committed to integrating these Standards into our work to become the exemplary program in conduct of research with Aboriginal people, ensuring we continue to engage and walk alongside community, with the voice of Aboriginal people at the centre of our program.
We engage community members at all phases of our research to ensure the ideas, funding applications, protocols, processes and outcomes of every project are aligned with community priorities. This has been essential in creating a foundation for our research that is culturally appropriate, reciprocal and respectful. Our teams have embraced co-design with Aboriginal elders and leaders, and regularly participate in cultural awareness training to improve their knowledge and understanding to walk together on this journey to END RHD.