Australia’s leading researchers have received a vital boost for their work, with $130.4 million awarded to 71 projects through the Medical Research Future Fund. Among the recipients is a pioneering study aimed at transforming chronic pain care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The two-year pilot project Yarning through pain: A pilot study of three new strategies to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pain care has been awarded $799,434.
Co-led by Associate Professor Ivan Lin from the WA Centre for Rural Health at the University of Western Australia, and Dr Brooke Conley from the University of Melbourne, the study will co-design and evaluate culturally safe strategies to improve pain care.
Associate Professor Ivan Lin said chronic pain disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, yet current services often fail to meet their cultural and clinical needs.
“This project is about listening, learning, and working together to create pain care that is not only effective, but culturally safe and empowering,” Associate Professor Lin said.
Ngiyampaa physiotherapist and research co-lead Dr Brooke Conley added that it was great to be awarded the funding so they can begin the work that the Community have asked them to do.
“Our team is greatly looking forward to getting started,” Dr Conley said.
The study will collaboratively-design and evaluate three novel strategies to improve pain care.
These include introducing Indigenous pain navigators to guide and support people with chronic pain through their healthcare journey, supporting communication between clinicians and patients by implementing training in Clinical Yarning, and supporting Community members living with chronic pain by co-developing chronic pain yarning groups.
The project brings together a strong collaboration of academic institutions including The University of Western Australia, University of Melbourne, Griffith University, University of Sydney, and the University of Queensland.
It is supported by partner organisations such as Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (WA), Mid North Coast Local Health District (NSW), Galambila Aboriginal Health Service (NSW), Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (QLD), Arthritis Australia, The Australian Pain Society, Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Musculoskeletal Health Australia, and the Agency for Clinical Innovation (NSW).
The findings from this pilot will inform a larger-scale study, laying the foundation for high-quality, culturally safe pain care that improves outcomes for Indigenous Communities across Australia.