Genomics in clinical practice is poised to be the next healthcare revolution with significant investment in research and clinical implementation occurring across Australia: it has the potential to shape Australia’s health future.
To date, there has been limited involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in genomic research due to their experience of past transgressions in conducting research. If opportunities for cultural inclusivity in genomic research do not increase, the prospect of equitable access to the healthcare benefits of clinical genomics will be limited.
To ensure genomics benefits all Australians, we have focused on developing recommendations for best-practice genomic research when engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. Our recommendations are outlined in this document, Genomic Partnerships: Guidelines for genomic research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Queensland.
Development of Genomic Partnerships involved extensive stakeholder engagement to develop recommendations and identify best practice when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on genomics research projects. Areas addressed in this document include:
• engaging with communities
• partnering to develop a research proposal
• ethical and social constraints
• collecting and storing samples
• data and reporting results
Please click on icon below to download the Genomic Partnerships document:
If you want a printed copy to be delivered please email: Genetiqs@qimrberghofer.edu.au
Our team would like to thank everyone involved, in particular, community, expert stakeholders, and our partners who contributed generously to the discussions that informed the development of this document. Thanks to our funding partners, Queensland Genomics and QIMR Berghofer who provided support and help at every step of the journey.
Our project team is guided by a group of 12 Project Steering Committee (PSC) members comprised of leading investigators, academics, policy, clinicians and researchers who are well regarded for their work in the Indigenous health sector. The following PSC members regularly meet with our team to guide us in the process of developing this guideline.
Judy Watson’s Water Memory reflects the many histories of the QIMR Berghofer site, which is partially viewed here in the header of this webpage. The imagery has been inspired by the Traditional Owners of the land—the Aboriginal people who resided on this land—the Turrbal and Jagera people. The Water Memory piece can be viewed in its entirety from the foyer of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.