Guunu-maana

03/09/2026

The Central Coast Dance2Kinnect (D2K) mob had a very full and very tasty Monday session last week!

The afternoon kicked off with a native ingredient taste testing experience, with the kids trying Lemon myrtle tea, Pepperberry butter infused popcorn and Davidson plum infused custard.

There were definitely some mixed reviews, but one thing we loved was seeing everyone eagerly give each flavour a go, talk about what they liked and didn’t like, and learn a little more about native ingredients along the way.

From there, the group spilt off for some more cultural learning and movement.

The boys spent time with Brendan Moore learning how to play the Yidaki (Didgeridoo) and it’s safe to say they absolutely loved it! They were so engaged that they didn’t want the lesson to end.
Meanwhile, the girls worked with our dance teachers on their routine, practising their moves, building confidence and making sure they had every step just right.

It was such a deadly D2K session, filled with learning, laughter, movement and plenty of smiles.

Seeing our young people so engaged, curios and immersed in culture is exactly what Dance2Kinnect is all about- creating spaces where culture, connection, movement and learning come together in a way that feels fun and meaningful.

01/09/2026

Last week one of our research assistants had the privilege of visiting the new Burns Unit at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, and what a beautiful space it is.

The difference between the old unit and this new space is truly incredible. From the moment you enter, there is a sense of calm, with so much thought and care reflected throughout the ward.

The new unit is bigger, brighter and more welcoming, with different play areas for children, spaces for families to be together and an environment that allows kids to still be kids while receiving care.

For children and families navigating a burns journey, the spaces where care happens matter. Creating environments that feel welcoming, supportive and family centred can help make an already challenging experience feel that little bit more comfortable.
This is something that strongly connects with the work happening across Guunu-maana through our burns projects, Safe Pathways and Community Coordinated Burn Care (CCBC).

Through this work, we are focused on strengthening the pathways of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities affected by burns and working alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, health professionals, families and communities to support care that is culturally safe and connected throughout their burns journey.

It was wonderful to see a space that recognises the strength of children and families and creates opportunities for connection, play and togetherness throughout their care journey.

17/08/2026

Guunu-manna is heading to Cape Town!

We’re incredibly excited to have members of or Guunu-maana team travelling to Cape Town, South Africa to attend the 16th World Conference on Injury Prevention and the 18th World Congress on Public Health, where they’ll be sharing some of the important work happening across our program on an international stage.

Bringing together researchers, health professionals, community leaders and organisations from around the world, the Congress provides an incredible opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen connections and explore approaches to improving health and wellbeing.

Our team will be presenting work from Dance2Kinnect and HEAL, while four team members will also come together to deliver a joint workshop showcasing Guunu-maana’s model of Indigenous Leadership and Excellence.

Through these presentations, our team will share the work, learnings and experiences of Guunu-maana, while highlighting the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, perspectives, and ways of knowing, being and doing within health research.

We’re so proud of Keziah, Julieann, Kate, Tamara, Bianca and Sonja representing Guunu-maana and sharing this work on a global stage.

We can’t wait to follow along on their journey and hear the knowledge, connections and reflections they bring home from cape town.

17/08/2026

Congratulations Christine!

🏆CONGRATULATIONS Christine Corby, winner of the 2026 National NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year Award 👏🏾

🖤💛❤️💙🤍💚🖤

AH&MRC is incredibly proud to congratulate our Board Director and CEO of Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, Christine Corby AM, on being named the 2026 National NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year.

A proud Gamilaroi woman, Christine has dedicated decades to Aboriginal health, advocating for her community and strengthening Aboriginal Community Controlled Health across New South Wales.

This national recognition is a wonderful acknowledgement of Christine’s leadership, dedication and service to community.

From everyone at AH&MRC, congratulations Christine on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement! 👏🏾🖤💛❤️

13/08/2026

A deadly day of learning, sharing and meaningful conversations at the AH&MRC of NSW Indigenous Health Forum.

Associate Professor Julieann Coombes recently joined a panel discussion on Safe and Meaningful Engagement with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), sharing important insights into what genuine, ethical and accountable engagement with community looks like in research.

The session explored how the AH&MRC Human Research Ethics Committee operationalises ethical accountability, the importance of building meaningful engagement with ACCHOs from the very beginning of the research journey, and what strong research applications do differently.

It was a powerful discussion that sparked plenty of engagement from those in the room and reinforced the importance of ensuring research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is built on strong relationships, respect, accountability and genuine partnership.

Our team members Camila, Ty and Mel also attended the Forum and really valued the opportunity to listen, learn and connect. They came away with plenty of reflections and learnings to bring back to our team.

12/08/2026

What becomes possible when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities lead the future of cardiovascular disease care?

For too long Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced significantly poorer cardiovascular health outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians, not because of who they are, but because of the systems they have had to navigate.

Thanks to a prestigious NHMRC EL2 Investigator Grant, Associate Professor Julieann Coombes will lead community driven research that aims to change that.

Working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Aboriginal health workers and Aboriginal services, the project will explore how systemic and institutional racism, together with the social and cultural determinants of health, continue to shape experiences of cardiovascular disease (CVD) care and recovery. Together, they will co-design practical, healing-informed and culturally safe approaches that better support people throughout their recovery journey and help embed these models of care within mainstream health systems.

As A/Prof Julieann shares:
“Our people are not passive recipients of care. We are knowledge holders, leaders and decision-makers. This project places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership at every level. It will ensure that the voices of families and communities who navigate these systems every day are central to the project, so the outcomes reflect real-world needs, strengths and aspirations.”

Beyond improving care, the project will also invest in the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and health workers through mentorship, leadership opportunities and the co-designed Building Cultural Capabilities (BCC) program, strengthening First Nations leadership in cardiovascular research and care.

Congratulations A/Prof Julieann on this well-deserved achievement. We look forward to seeing this work drive meaningful, community-led change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities across Australia. ❤️🖤💛

12/08/2026

As our time in Cambodia came to an end, we shared Aboriginal knowledge, perspectives, culture and stories with our Cambodian colleagues. We were shown a beautiful view from their office, where you can see the meeting of Lake Sap and the Mekong River – you could see that the two rivers do not mix, one distinctly brown in colour, and one more blue. Associate Professor Julieann reflected on the parallels between this, and Walgett which means ‘the meeting of two rivers’. A powerful reminder that although our histories, cultures and landscapes may be different, there are often unexpected connections that bring us together.

Throughout our trip, we were welcomed with extraordinary hospitality, shared many delicious meals, and heard many rich stories of Khmer and Cambodia culture and history.
As we conclude our reflections from Cambodia, we do so with immense gratitude to our wonderful CHAI Cambodia colleagues and all those who welcomed us into their communities.

The RESist-NCD Program is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.

11/08/2026

New research from an Australian study led by Associate Professor Mei Ling Yap and Associate Professor Julieann Coombes from the Guunu-maana (Heal) and The George Institute highlights opportunities to strengthen equitable access to prostate cancer treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in NSW.

The findings show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men are less likely to receive prostate cancer surgery and experience greater financial barriers to treatment, reinforcing the need for accessible, culturally safe and publicly funded treatment options that support men, their families and communities to make informed choices about their care.

Read the full study here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(26)00135-5/fulltext

11/08/2026

The last day of our RESist-NCD Cambodia trip was one of the most valuable, as we received training from the Cambodia Disabled People’s Organisation (CDPO). It was incredibly important for our team to deepen our understanding of the experiences of persons with disability in Cambodia and to reflect on how we can ensure our program is as inclusive and equitable as possible.

We are so grateful to our CDPO colleagues for generously sharing their expertise, lived experiences and perspectives.

We also had the privilege of meeting with many other local partners whose knowledge, leadership and commitment are essential to the successful implementation of the RESist-NCD Program. These partnerships help ensure our work is delivered appropriately, effectively, and in ways that support equitable and sustainable outcomes for communities.

The RESist-NCD Program is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.

05/08/2026

One of the most memorable parts of our RESist-NCD Cambodia visit was travelling to Kampong Chhnang Province, where we were privileged to be welcomed into two local villages.

Dr Julieann, Dr Kate and Emily attended community education sessions led by the amazing Village Health Support Groups as they delivered non-communicable disease (NCD) education to two villages. These sessions spread important awareness amongst the community members about the risk factors, symptoms, screening and management of diabetes and hypertension, encouraging people to access screening services if they are 40+ or have any symptoms.

Following from the village visits, we toured a local health centre in Kampong Chhang, including its pharmacy, where we spotted NCD risk reduction messaging displayed for the community – less salt, less fat and less sugar.

We are deeply grateful to the communities, local leaders, and health staff who welcomed us so openly and shared their knowledge, experiences and hospitality with us.

The RESist-NCD Program is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.