Our work with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Communities
Jillay wannik - Healthy pathway"
By Dixon Patten, Yorta Yorta and Gunnai artist - Bayila Creative
This artwork is about strong culture, health & well-being and equity for Aboriginal children, young people and families.
The river in the middle, represents life's flow and journey. The 3 large circles represent the MCRI implementing programs and policy to influence greater health outcomes from Aboriginal people. The hands represent Aboriginal children. The flowers represent caring, nurturing and growth. The leaves within spiral outwards, creating a ripple and showing how positive outcomes impact on the individuals, families, mobs and communities. The U shape symbols within, depict parents, carers and support people guiding our young people. The smaller coloured circles represent the diverse nations across the Country. The trail of circles represents our connection to each other.
The gum leaves represent the local Kulin Nation and symbolise 'Welcome to Country'.
Our team
Graham Gee
Petrea Cahir
Yvonne Clark
Karen Glover
Fiona Mensah
Kath Moore
Stephanie Brown
Cathy Leane
Helen Kennedy
Renae Holmberg
Arwen Nikolof
Our projects
Aboriginal Families Study
The Childhood Resilience Study
Aboriginal Kinship Care
Corka bubs, Deadly mums and Strong families
Preventing lateral violence
Ngagagee Ngulu Murrup Durra (Hear us: our voices, spirit and heart)
iCARE
Care and Connect
I know moving house is stressful, especially if you are renting and you need to move house multiple times. Working on the Aboriginal Families Study, I noticed families moving house and also children moving between schools. This got me interested in why are families moving and how can we better support families and children with high mobility.
Arwen Nikolof - CRE Scholar
Our PhD students
Arwen Nikolof
Moving house: impacts on Aboriginal children’s health and wellbeing
Helen Kennedy
Aboriginal Kinship Care: understanding the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children, young people, and their carers
Our Partners
Ron Briggs
Kellyanne Andy
Safe Pathways to Healing
Cathy Leane
Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA)
Laura Thompson
Lena Charles
Sarah Sheridan
Clothing the Gaps Foundation
Garra Kombrook
Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service
Where can I read more?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols in Victoria. MCRI Guide for Researchers, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, June 2021
Thorpe S, Gee G and Stephanie Brown
Understanding experiences of family violence and implications for women’s psychological wellbeing: Results of the Aboriginal Families Study in South Australia
Glover K, Cahir P, Gartland D, Leane C et al.
The Her Tribe and His Tribe Aboriginal-Designed Empowerment Programs
Gee G, Sheridan S, Charles L, Dayne L et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health; 2022;19(4):2381
Mapping Aboriginal children’s social and emotional wellbeing: Development and validation of a new tool in an Aboriginal cohort study
Niklof A, Gartland D, Glover K, Leane C et al.
Community engagement in the Aboriginal Families Study: Strategies to promote participation
Weetra D, Glover K, Miller R, Wilson R et al. Women and Birth;2019;32(1):72-79
Understanding cannabis use and mental health difficulties in context with women’s experiences of stressful events and social health issues in pregnancy: The Aboriginal Families Study
Menash F, Glover K, Leane C, Gartland D et al.