The Indigenous Health Research Priorities Study: family research priorities identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland, Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold deep cultural strengths, kinship structures, and knowledge systems that are central to health and wellbeing. Yet, health research in Australia has historically been dominated by deficit-based approaches, often overlooking Indigenous knowledges and leadership.

The Indigenous Health Research Priorities (I-Priorities) study aimed to prioritise Indigenous community voices in identifying health research priorities across Queensland, with a focus on early life, perinatal and family health. Using Indigenous Methodology and a participatory action research framework, communities across Far North, North, Central and South-East Queensland identified and refined their health research priorities. This was achieved in two phases: initial yarning sessions followed by Delphi workshops. Data were analysed thematically and validated through community review processes to ensure cultural integrity.

The study engaged 403 participants through 40 yarning sessions and 13 Delphi workshops conducted between May 2022 and October 2024. The study included participants across diverse age groups, with 80.5% identifying as Indigenous. Communities consistently highlighted key health priorities, with an overwhelming number of participants identifying access to health services, particularly transport, affordability, and overcoming institutional racism. Social and emotional wellbeing, along with family and domestic violence, also emerged as top priorities. Overall, the findings affirm that Indigenous-led research provides solutions grounded in cultural strengths and guided by principles of self-determination.

The I-Priorities study offers a clear roadmap for aligning research, service delivery and policy with priorities defined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, fostering stronger beginnings, healthier families and intergenerational wellbeing across Queensland. Importantly, findings from communities underscore that health equity requires more than biomedical solutions and demands sustained investment in cultural, social and structural determinants of health.