The Kanyini Vascular Collaboration
The collaboration will explore the barriers to best-practice health care within Indigenous communities
Until now, little Indigenous health research has exclusively focused on barriers to implementing best-practice management of chronic diseases. There has also been limited collaboration with Aboriginal controlled health services to find meaningful solutions to chronic disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Kanyini Vascular Collaboration recognises that an in-depth, multi-disciplinary research effort is essential to achieving its goal of narrowing the gulf between evidence and actual practice in the prevention and management of chronic vascular disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This exciting collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health service, clinical researchers, policy-makers, health economists, clinicians, and communities will received funding from the NHMRC over the next five years and is now in the early stages of development.
What we hope to achieve
By working in close partnership with Aboriginal communities and a diverse range of health professionals, the Kanyini collaboration seeks to achieve four primary objectives in the areas of research, innovation, capacity building and policy reform.
- Identify systemic barriers to health care for Aboriginal people with chronic vascular disease, kidney disease and diabetes, from the perspective of the patient, their community and health care providers.
- Develop, implement and evaluate health systems, services and interventions that will reduce the burden of chronic vascular diseases amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Respond to the needs and priorities of individual communities by building capacity within community-controlled and mainstream health services to improve the management and care of those suffering from chronic disease.
- Establish a coherent policy agenda and distribution strategy by utilising the expertise of research team members who have significant roles at the state and national levels in the development of chronic disease policy. These individuals are well placed to negotiate the processes of health system reform within primary care, hospital and population health services.
The Studies
The Kanyini Vascular Collaboration is made up of five inter-related studies, including:
- An audit of chronic disease prevention and management practices in the community-controlled primary care sector.
- A qualitative evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, practices and the perceived needs of patients, communities, health care providers and policy makers with respect to the prevention and management of chronic disease.
- A documentary and communication study tracking the real life journeys of Aboriginal people with chronic illness as they negotiate their health care needs.
- A randomised controlled trial of a community-based strategy to maximise evidence-based, long-term therapies among individuals at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
- A trial of multi-disciplinary vascular clinic models within community-controlled health services.
Making a difference
Exploring the complexities of chronic vascular disease and related health services within Aboriginal communities will serve as a model for engaging in similar research within other disadvantaged groups such as low-income earners and those from non-English speaking backgrounds, as well as the broader population.
Kanyini
Kan-yee-nee, verb.
Kanyini is an important term used by a number of language groups in central Australia. It can be translated as "to have, to hold and to care". Kanyini represents one of the four fundamental principles of Aboriginal life in Central Australia that also include Tjukurpa (Law, Dreaming); Walytja (Family) and Ngurra (Land, Country).
In essence, Kanyini is the tenant of caring for others. Within Aboriginal culture, the nurturing and protecting of family, country and law is viewed as both an obligation and a fundamental right. Kanyini enables reciprocal relationships to be developed between Aboriginal people and the world around them and is pivotal for the continuity and reinvigoration of Aboriginal life.
Contacts for further information
Maria Tchan
Program Manager, The George Institute
02 9993 4505
mtchan@george.org.au
Michael Howard
Program Manager, Baker Heart Research Institute, Alice Springs
08 8951 4738
michael.howard@baker.edu.au