Indigenising Research in Health & Wellbeing: fit for community, fit for purpose

Indigenous academics are often seen as the found of all (black) knowledge. Being put in the spotlight includes an expectation that the academic or Indigenous collaborator will engage, inform, correct, and act as guides in research that may or may not meet the needs of the target community. To foster a collaborative approach, Maridulu Budyari Gumal (working together for good health and wellbeing) was formed. We are a partnership of 14 organisations in the Sydney region. Our journey to cultural proficiency in Indigenous research encompasses health translation and knowledge exchange but begins by modelling appropriate core values in community. The Yerin Dilly Bag model offers a demonstration of how to apply these values in research to ensure research is fit for the community and research purposes. For example, we have created a ‘sharing our stories’ video asks researchers and community members ‘what makes an effective partnership when researching in Indigenous communities?’. We will premier the video at this event.