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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing

Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition

GLOBE has a cohesive program of work focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander food policy and the commercial determinants of First Nations Peoples’ health. As part of this research, we are interested in the commercial factors that influence First Nations Peoples’ health and wellbeing, such as the supply and marketing of unhealthy products and political lobbying by companies that produce these unhealthy products.

We work as a collaborative, culturally safe team of First Nations and non-Indigenous researchers, using scientific methods that align with Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. The outcomes of our work will be used to improve policy decisions and accountability of governments and the private sector regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.

Meet The Murrnong Health Research Mob under ‘Our teams’.

 

Artwork above is by Tammy Chatfield (Kamilaroi/Gamilaroi) for the ACHIEVE project.

  • CURRENT: • Addressing Commercial Health-determinants Indigenous Empowerment and Voices for Equity (ACHIEVE)

    ACHIEVE is a 5-year research project funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It is one of 5 projects around Australia funded in response to a targeted call for research on the commercial determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

    ACHIEVE aims to produce an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led policy agenda to prevent the negative impacts, and enhance the potential positive impacts, of the commercial sector on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. We have 4 objectives:

    1. Understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on the commercial determinants of health and the interplay between the social, cultural and commercial determinants of health
    2. Evaluate the effectiveness of current regulations in mitigating the health impacts of marketing of harmful products on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
    3. Assess the health impacts of specific commercial entities on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, including commercial influences on policy development
    4. Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and the ACCHO sector to co-create solutions to address the commercial determinants of health.

    Here are some our previous publications on the commercial determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health:

  • CURRENT: #DigitalMob

    We are conducting a study to measure how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are exposed to unhealthy online advertising. In the #DigitalMob study, we are using an AI-powered system called SCANNER to analyse screen recordings from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants to look for marketing of junk food, alcohol, gambling and vapes. The study aims to provide insights that can inform policies to protect Mob from unhealthy advertising. For more information or to express your interest in participating, click here

    #DigitalMob poster presented at the 2025 Lowitja Institute Conference

  • COMPLETED: Aboriginal Data and Action on Prevention Together (ADAPT) Project

    We partnered with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) to present the findings of a secondary analysis of 2 Victorian child health datasets using a strengths-based approach. For more information: VACCHO

    We analysed data from around 300 Aboriginal children on their:

    • consumption of fruit, vegetables, snacks, take away, sugary drinks and water
    • physical activity and screentime
    • perceived physical, social, emotional and school-related quality of life.

    ADAPT report

    ADAPT journal article

  • COMPLETED: Food Policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heath (FoodPATH)

    This project—in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)—aimed to identify which food policy actions are likely to be most effective and acceptable for Victorian Aboriginal communities. We used culturally tailored group model building (GMB) methods, led by trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander facilitators, to understand the system of factors influencing food choice and identify actions to improve food environments. For more information see: VACCHO 

    FoodPATH Report

    FoodPATH Policy Statement

    FoodPATH journal article