Ms Diana Mosca1, Ms Vanya Webster1, Ms Catherine Scotney1, Ms Loyla Leysley1, Ms Deidree Whap2, Ms Jill Lawrence3, Ms Emma Stubbs4, Professor JT Hughes1
1Flinders University, Darwin, Australia, 2Queensland Ambulance Service, Thursday Island, Australia, 3Cairns Diabetes Centre, Cairns, Australia, 4Central Australian Aboriginal Congress , Alice Springs, Australia
Biography:
Diana has managed the eGFR3 Kidney health study since 2021, led by Professor Jaqui Hughes across 5 regions in Australia.
Her background is nursing, in paediatrics, operating theatres and public health, always with a focus on education, training, and public health. Formal qualifications include Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Education, Perioperative nursing, Leadership, and Business Analysis.
Background:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community voice is clear about the requirement for increasing capacity for community-led kidney health research and education.
Aim:
The eGFR3 Study is learning about the long-term kidney health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in 5 regions of Australia and is the third phase of an existing cohort study. The eGFR3 Study employs a Trigovernance model to promote Indigenous leadership and true partnership between community members, clinicians and researchers.
Methods:
The eGFR3 Study developed an induction course to encourage community members, supported by community leaders, to work in their community with the eGFR3 kidney health research study. We aim the training at AQL certificate 2 level, because there is no accredited health research course for this level of knowledge available in Australia.
Training is delivered with community researchers and other members of partnering communities via videoconference, and in-person in communities.
Results:
To date, 15 people have completed the training. Two-way learning supports the Community Belonging Researchers (CBR) to advocate culturally safe ways of working with their community. For example, knowledge about kidney health and research methods are contextualised by Indigenous knowledges.
Researchers belonging to community have trust and relationships developed over a lifetime to facilitate depth in research processes enabling robust, culturally safe research processes.
Conclusion:
Delivering training and research in communities promotes capability in kidney health and research processes. The eGFR3 Study Research Induction course is accessible in community, and its training principles can be translated to any health research study. We recommend the development of a nationally recognised entry level certification to extend the power and impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kidney clinical research.