Not Just Scholars but Leaders

Not Just Scholars but Leaders highlights the success stories of Indigenous researchers who forged new paths in Indigenous health and wellbeing through an NHMRC grant.

In 2005, a team of researchers in Indigenous health, led by Professors Deborah Lehmann and Fiona Stanley, secured a capacity building grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council. Over the subsequent five years, this funding supported a cohort of Indigenous health scholars to develop their research: Dawn Bessarab, Ngiare Brown, Juli Coffin, Janet Hammill, Jocelyn Jones, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, Daniel McAullay, Helen Milroy, Ted Wilkes, and Michael Wright. The NHMRC grant enabled them to complete PhDs, continue postdoctoral research, improve their writing and statistical skills, travel nationally and internationally to establish networks, and work collectively to transform Indigenous health care to be community-led, ethical, and self-determined.

Working in areas as varied as gender roles, child and maternal health, ear infections, racial identity and self-esteem, bullying, drugs and alcohol, and caregiving, these scholars enhanced not only the lives of Indigenous communities but also the knowledge and understanding of their non-Indigenous mentors and supervisors, creating a "two-way" learning experience.

Inspirational and practical, this book details the unique life stories of each scholar and how the NHMRC grant provided them the opportunity to become leaders in their fields. It also describes how the grant was established, why it was so successful, and what lessons it offers for future funding in Indigenous health.

"What was wonderful was the power we got from unity, from sharing, collaborating and celebrating achievements together. We were a formidable group collectively ... What a great learning curve to show others that there is a pathway - that you can do top research and keep it grounded in our culture, our ways, our thinking." - Juli Coffin