Workshop Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2016

A critical question for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is whether the abundance of research conducted with communities is justified and provides benefits that are meaningful and valued. While some research has achieved positive outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, there still remains a concern that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been over-researched without corresponding improvements in their health and education. However, different research stakeholders (including universities, funding bodies, Indigenous organisations, and communities) have different ideas about the value and nature of research, its conduct, what it should achieve and the kinds of benefits expected.

We are conducting a research project funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) that will develop a framework for measuring research benefit. It will focus on key priority areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and education. The project has the following aims:

• Explore the value of research
• Explore how research impact and benefit is constructed, and
• Identify valid and reliable measures to assess research benefit.

We would like to invite you to be part of this project by sharing your experiences in this workshop facilitated by Felecia Watkin Lui, Roxanne Bainbridge and Yvonne Cadet-James. Felecia is a Torres Strait Islander woman with giz from Erub, Mabuiag and Badu. Roxanne is a Gungarri woman from south-western Queensland. Yvonne is a Gugu Badhun Elder from North Queensland.

In this workshop, you are invited to explore how research benefits can be maximised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The workshop will explore three key areas:

• How research is valued;
• How research impact and benefit is constructed; and
• What leadership in research means and how it contributes to maximising research benefit for Indigenous people.