The Lowitja Institute

09/09/2025

First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria has negotiated Australia's first Treaty between First Peoples in Victoria and the Victorian Government. The legislation is the first of its kind in Australia and provides an opportunity for genuine self-determination.

Taungurung man and Lowitja Institute's CEO Paul Stewart welcomes this historic moment to advance relations between the First Peoples in Victoria, and the State.

'This outcome has been made possible by a decade of community consultation led by First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria with our mob here in Victoria, and we thank them for their many years of work leading to this moment,' he said.

Read our media release: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dWZs0

To find out more, visit https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dW-m0

08/09/2025

Reminder: Applications for the Lowitja Institute’s 2025 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Grants are open now.

These grants offer two distinct streams:

Seeding Symposium: Designed for organisations without prior research experience. Two representatives can attend, engaging in workshops led by Indigenous research leaders to help shape a proposal for the Major Grants program.

Community Seeding Grant: Supports organisations (regardless of previous research experience) to develop a research proposal. Funding of up to $35,000 is available.

Find out more and apply: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dRK50

04/09/2025

It’s Women’s Health Week (1–5 September), Australia’s biggest celebration of women’s health and wellbeing. Led by Jean Hailes for Women's Health Foundation, the week is about encouraging women to prioritise their health and access the resources and support they need.

At Lowitja Institute, we are proud to build on the legacy of an absolutely incredible woman, our namesake, the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, and the many women who continue to lead and strengthen our work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

This week, we’re proud to highlight the work of our own Jaki Adams. Jaki’s determination and lasting impact have been recognised in National Indigenous Times, highlighting her leadership and commitment to creating better health outcomes for our communities.

Read Jaki’s story: https://nit.com.au/04-09-2025/20060/quiet-determination-lasting-impact-celebrating-jaki-adams

At the halfway point of Women's Health Week the work of Jaki Adams is being celebrated, a woman whose life has been dedicated to care, equity and community.Ms Adams was born and raised in Garramilla o...

04/09/2025

This study explored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients’ experiences of cultural safety in Australian hospitals, finding that access to Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers (AHLOs) significantly enhanced their overall care experience.

AHLOs serve as advocates and cultural brokers, helping Aboriginal patients to navigate racism, understand their rights, and feel more comfortable, respected, and culturally safe within the hospital system.

The study underscores the critical role of culturally safe care in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal patients and demonstrates that AHLOs are essential in delivering this care.

Read the full article in The Lowitja Journal: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dwVt0

03/09/2025

Racism has no place in Australia. The events we saw unfold over the weekend serve as a stark reminder that words and actions fuel harm and that silence allows it to grow. At Lowitja Institute, we have long called for cultural safety and accountability across all institutions to eliminate racism, and to be embedded across all systems in Australia. This work matters not just for the health and wellbeing of our mobs today, but for the future generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Now is the time for action and to change the narrative about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We urge our allies and leaders to join us in calling out racism, confronting uncomfortable truths, and committing to real change. Share these resources and stand with us.

https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dpgV0

02/09/2025

Today on Indigenous Literacy Day, we celebrate the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, cultures and stories.

At Lowitja Institute, we know that knowledge sharing in all its forms, from research to storytelling, is vital for the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Strong voices and strong stories create strong futures.

Tune in today at 10:30am AEST for the premiere of Strength in Our Stories: For Now & Future Generations, a short film taking audiences on an adventure through three remote First Nations communities to celebrate the diverse ways storytelling makes Communities strong.
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dk6Z0

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation

29/08/2025

Congratulations to Associate Professor Graham Gee, winner of Gayaa Dhuwi - Proud Spirit - Australia Leadership in Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health and Su***de Prevention Award recognising his research in trauma and healing. Presented at Gayaa Dhuwi's National Conference 2025 on Larrakia Country, the award is proudly sponsored by Lowitja Institute and presented by the deadly Jaki Adams, Executive Manager Research and Knowledge Translation.

We also congratulate research fellow Michelle Gissara for receiving the Community Impact Award that recognises a community-driven individual that has positively influenced social and emotional wellbeing outcomes.

Both Graham and Michelle are past recipients of the Lowitja Institute scholarship program. If you're an early career researcher in health, why not apply for a Lowitja Institute scholarship. Eligible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students looking to study in 2026, our Certificate IV Health and Wellbeing Scholarships and Postgraduate Health and Wellbeing Scholarships support you to develop skills and knowledge in health research. And our Higher Degree Research Top-Up Health and Wellbeing Scholarships are available to students enrolled in a higher degree by research and have passed their confirmation of candidature. Find out more and start your research journey: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0d0Wd0

21/08/2025

🎓 Congratulations Mr Stephen Harfield – recipient of the 2025 Lowitja Institute Student Achievement Award 👏

A proud Narungga and Ngarrindjeri man, Stephen is recognised for his PhD research in Public Health, having recently submitted his PhD thesis titled “Strengthening primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents living in urban settings”.

A Lowitja Institute Award recipient, Stephen’s work reflects a strong commitment to culturally safe, community-led research, and health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples which is at the core of Lowitja Institute.

20/08/2025

Missed out on the Lowitja Conference? Take a look at what we got up to on Kaurna Country.

https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0bZsc0

Thank you for coming to Institute’s International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference is a biennial event attracting a global audi...

19/08/2025

“An integrated system of traditional and biomedical knowledges”

Professor Sheryl Lightfoot, University of Toronto (Canada) on what is needed to develop a culturally responsive, integrated healthcare model for First Nations Peoples.

If you missed the conference, you can watch our plenary presentations on the website 🎥
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0bWT00

18/08/2025

What a night! 🌟

On 18 June 2025, conference delegates gathered on Kaurna Country for the gala dinner with food, music, laughter and performances by the Sound Factory and a surprise performance by Briggs!

We came together to celebrate outstanding First Nations researchers and leaders at the Lowitja Institute Awards.

Flick through the images to relive some of the best moments of the conference. More images are available on the website https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0bP9_0

18/08/2025

For everyone in Naarm, we highly recommend the Yurlu documentary at this year’s MIFF 2025.

Banjima Elder, Maitland Parker, calls his Yurlu (land) 'Poison Country'—a haunting, toxic truth etched into his body. Set against the breathtaking yet contaminated landscapes of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, YURLU | COUNTRY lays bare the devastating impact of the Wittenoom asbestos mines, where millions of tonnes of waste laced with deadly asbestos fibres have poisoned both land and people. As Maitland battles mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, his resolve to fight for his homeland and future generations only strengthens. Through striking cinematography and deeply personal storytelling, the film stands as a testament to the resilience of Banjima and their unbreakable bond with Country. Maitland and his family’s fight for justice, cultural survival, and environmental restoration will inspire, enrage, and catalyse.

We heard Johnelle Parker, Maitland Parker’s relative, speak about the documentary and their family’s fight against the government at the Lowitja Conference last month. In a moving presentation, she shared her Uncle’s story and spoke to the responsibility of government to clean up environmental damage, and the health risks her community is exposed to when they connect with Country.

A vivid ode to Country and an intimate, inspiring portrait of a Banjima Elder’s fight to reclaim his asbestos-tainted homeland.