The new Lowitja Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research launched

The new Lowitja Institute, launched in February 2010, will focus on Indigenous health research and will host the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health (CRCATSIH).

It will provide a more permanent home for CRCATSIH’s pioneering work of improving Indigenous health and the development of a professional and effective Indigenous health workforce. It is named in honour of senior Yankuntjatjara Elder and national Aboriginal leader, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue.

Interim Chair, Pat Anderson, said, ‘The need for Indigenous control of the health research agenda is well recognised but it is also essential that the new Institute continues to build strong relationships with governments, academic and other research institutions and the non-government health sector including medical associations and nurses unions’.

The Lowitja Institute and the CRCATSIH have developed a new research agenda with three program areas:

• Healthy start, healthy life
• Healthy communities and settings
• Enabling policy and systems

The agenda will investigate determinants of health including relationship to land, connectedness to community and family, the impact of racism, and identity and levels of self-determination and community control.

• Further information:
  • View website: The Lowitja Institute
  • Closing the gap – Lowitja research institute launched.
    View media release: Cooperative Research Centre Aborignal Health
• Contact details:
  • The Lowitja Institute, ph: (08) 8943 5000, fax: (08) 8943 5010, email: admin@lowitja.org.au