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Abstract
Introduction Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia’s first peoples and have been connected to the land for ≥65 000 years. Their enduring cultures and values are considered critical to health and wellbeing, alongside physical, psychological and social factors. We currently lack large-scale data that adequately represent the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; the absence of evidence on cultural practice and expression is particularly striking, given its foundational importance to wellbeing.
Method and analysis Mayi Kuwayu: The National Study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing (Mayi Kuwayu Study) will be a large-scale, national longitudinal study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, with linkage to health-related administrative records. The baseline survey was developed through extensive community consultation, and includes items on: cultural practice and expression, sociodemographic factors, health and wellbeing, health behaviours, experiences and environments, and family support and connection. The baseline survey will be mailed to 200 000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (≥16 years), yielding an estimated 16 000–40 000 participants, supplemented through face-to-face recruitment. Follow-up surveys will be conducted every 3–5 years, or as funding allows. The Mayi Kuwayu Study will contribute to filling key evidence gaps, including quantifying the contribution of cultural factors to wellbeing, alongside standard elements of health and risk.
Ethics and dissemination This study has received approval from national Human Research Ethics Committees, and from State and Territory committees, including relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations. The study was developed and is conducted in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations across states and territories. It will provide an enduring and shared infrastructure to underpin programme and policy development, based on measures and values important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Approved researchers can access confidentialised data and disseminate findings according to study data access and governance protocols.
- culture
- aboriginal and torres strait islander
- indigenous population
- longitudinal studies
- social determinants of health
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Footnotes
RJ and KAT contributed equally.
Contributors RL conceived the study. KAT, RJ and RL drafted the manuscript. RL, EB, CD, TD, MW, SJE, LS, MD, WD, AO, JKS, JC, RJ and KAT contributed to developing the study design and content. All authors provided comments and critical revisions on the manuscript and approved the final version.
Funding This work was supported by the Lowitja Institute (grant number: 1344) and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC, grant number: 1122274). RL and EB are supported by the NHMRC (references: 1088366 and 1042717, respectively). KAT is supported by the Lowitja Institute (reference: 1344). RJ is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Not required.
Ethics approval Ethics approval for the study has been received from national Human Research Ethics Committees and from committees in states and territories, including relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; peer reviewed for ethical and funding approval prior to submission.
Collaborators Mayi Kuwayu Study Team members not listed as authors on this manuscript include (ordered alphabetically): Ngaire Brown (South Australian Health and Medical Research), Patricia Bushby (Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia), Dawn Casey (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation), David Cooper (Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory), Raylene Foster (Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre), Jill Guthrie (The Australian National University), Nadine Hunt (The Australian National University), Rochelle Jones (The Australian National University), Louise Lyons (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation), Shane Mohor (Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia), John Paterson (Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory), Sharnie Read (Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre), Lachlan Russell (The Australian National University), Julie Tongs (Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services), Patricia Turner (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) and Alyson Wright (The Australian National University).