Coolamon Research Centre | Ngangk Yira Institute for Change

About the centre

Inspired by the 'coolamon', traditionally used to cradle babies or collect and prepare food, this First Nations-led and operated Research Centre will, with allies, facilitate and harness cross-sectoral science for life together with Aboriginal traditional knowledges to engage and empower Australian First Nations to support healthy families and communities.

Addressing social, cultural and environmental challenges impacting Aboriginal communities

Coolamon Research and Advocacy Centre aims to build an understanding of the widespread and cumulative effects of climate change, and the social, cultural and environmental factors impacting the lives of Aboriginal families and communities. The frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves is increasing globally and in Australia, resulting in significant social, health, and economic impacts and increasing morbidity and mortality. The Coolamon Centre will conduct research to support Aboriginal communities in the regions to mitigate the impacts of heatwaves.

Water quality is another key area of concern. Whilst the World Health Organisation recognises that access to safe and quality water is a fundamental human right and essential for people’s health and quality of life, many Indigenous homeland communities across Australia do not have access to clean, reliable water. Many homelands communities in Western Australia experience high levels of nitrates and, uranium and other minerals contaminants and bacterial pollutants in their water causing a range of diseases.

Our research themes

The five key themes, acknowledge the interrelationship of the health of people and planet. These themes will be investigated in co-design with Aboriginal communities, research partners, stakeholders and industry, and include:

Care for country

Addressing the impact of environmental toxicology and pollution (air, water, energy and waste) on Aboriginal health and social and emotional wellbeing
Establishing commercial remediation/rehabilitation services based on traditional knowledge
Promoting land management practices (eg Rangers/Scientists)
Exploring alternative, sustainable land uses
Advocating for right to access waterways and cultural sites

Curation on country

Supporting diversification including Ecotourism and codesigned regional projects
Promoting and privileging Aboriginal cultural knowledge and heritage
Learning, sharing and adapting to climate change
Supporting Governance mechanisms focused on holistic community needs

Cultivation on country

Promoting Food security through agri business and carbon farming
Working with communities to support biosecurity preparedness, surveillance, early warning and disaster management
Exploring potential for Nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals
Ensuring Respect of Indigenous Intellectual Rights and Data Sovereignty

Connection to country

Sustaining commercial businesses providing economic security
Facilitating Sovereignty, recognition and empowerment
Establishing Communities of wealth, health and wellbeing
Promoting biodiversity conservation and restoration

Interconnections of culture, country and health and wellbeing

Addressing the impacts of environmental change on emerging infectious diseases and maternal and child health outcomes
Supporting Aboriginal Community responses and adaptation to climate change
Improving social and environmental justice
Empowering nutritional literacy and food security

Key projects

Young girls taking part in group cooking

Deadly Koolinga Chefs

Led by Associate Professor Caroline Nilson, the Deadly Koolinga Chefs program is highly recognised by the WA Education Department and is a collaboration between Ngangk Yira Institute for Change and the School of Nursing. This project addresses the critical need to increase our focus on good food and nutrition to improve health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal families and communities.

Discussions are underway with Peel Development Commission, the Minster for Education and Food Futures Institute to extend the Deadly Koolanga Chefs from primary schools to include senior high schools and TAFE to train people in nutrition, cooking and food security including Traditional Bush Foods.

Mums & Bubs Deadly Diets

Led by A/Prof Kym Rae and Dr Stephanie Gilbert, this University of Queensland led research project is a partnership with NYIC, responding to socio-economic disadvantage and geographical isolation experienced by First Nations peoples in the Perth Metropolitan area, and rural areas in Queensland and New South Wales. This is a cross-centre collaboration with Yorga, Maaman and Koolanga Centre and Professor Rhonda Marriott, who with Professor Roz Walker and Janinne Gliddon are exploring the dietary intake of Indigenous women of childbearing age as well as during pregnancy, recognising that a healthy diet is important during pregnancy and for optimal foetal growth and development.

Australian Strep A Vaccine Initiative (ASAVI)

In this Australian-led global initiative, ASAVI aims to reduce the disease burden caused by Strep A infections through effective vaccination.

ASAVI is a collaboration between Telethon Kids Institute and Ngangk Yira Institute for Change.

Linking up for a better outcomes

Through investigation of deidentified linked administrative data we will develop a better understanding of the relationship between Aboriginal maternal health and wellbeing and perinatal outcomes in order to guide public health policies, prevention strategies and clinical practices and close the gap in targets 1,2,3 and 4.

Collaboration across the Yorga, Maaman and Koolanga Centre and the Coolamon Centre enable consideration of the impacts of social and environmental determinants on maternal and infant health outcomes as impact of the latter on health outcomes are not fully understood. The Ngangk Yira Institute for Change Council of Elders and the Kaadaninny Advisory Board provide cultural governance and oversight to ensure that Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles are being considered.

Keep Carnaby’s Flying - Ngoolarks Forever

This innovative community action project helps save WA’s Carnaby cockatoos (Ngoolarks) from extinction. Ngoolarks are culturally significant to the people of the Whadjuk and Binjareb nations (Perth-Peel region). Kris Warren, from the Harry Butler Institute, and Barbara Hostalek, of the School of Veterinary Medicine play and integral role in the research. The collaborations of Institutes, Aboriginal groups, local government authorities and community stakeholders will deliver a range of on-ground activities to protect and preserve the endangered birds. The overall outcome of the Keep Carnaby’s Flying – Ngoolarks Forever program is to empower the community to keep Carnaby’s flying (safeguard the species) through providing food sources (and water and habitat) and mitigation of threatening processes for Carnaby’s cockatoos across the Perth-Peel region in the short, medium and long term.

The Homelands hub

The Healthy Homelands Research and Advocacy Hub (formerly the Homelands Water and Energy Working Group) is chaired by Dr Mara West who was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate for her extensive work with communities. The Homelands Hub includes representatives from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Murdoch University (Dr Kuruvilla Mathew) and Chair of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Energy, (Dr Martin Anda); the Heathy Future Institute (HFI) (Professor David Doepel), John Ruprecht and the ANPC (Prof Jeremy Nicholson). Industry and government partners with include Snr Eng – In Service Assets Metro & OAM Safety Representative Operational Asset Management Water Corporation, Horizon Power and Catherine Holland, Sustainability Unit, WA Government. All members have expertise that will add value and complement Indigenous perspective to all activities.