WEHI Reconciliation Seminar hosted by Dr Vanessa Bryant
 

Belle Hart
Victorian Node Coordinator for Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) | Bryant Laboratory – Immunology division, WEHI
 

A Journey to Equity and Benefit in Medical Research

Davis Auditorium

Join via SLIDO enter code #WEHIWednesday

Including Q&A session

The potential for genomics to deliver health benefits is clear, however, the process for ensuring that Indigenous Australians realise these benefits is less certain. The Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) is a purposeful alliance between community, health, research, government, and industry that privileges Indigenous leadership and sovereignty. ALIGN aims to deliver equity and benefit to Indigenous Australians through genomics.

Belle Hart is an Aboriginal woman and works at the WEHI as the Victorian Program Coordinator for ALIGN. Belle has the privilege of working closely with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing in Victoria. VACCHO have led the development of marra ngarrgoo, marra goorri: The Victorian Aboriginal Health, Medical and Wellbeing Research Accord aka ‘The Accord’. The Accord provides guiding principles to the ethical conduct of health, medical, and wellbeing research that impacts Indigenous Australians. As signatories to The Accord, WEHI staff have a responsibility to understand and implement The Accord. This seminar aims to act as a catalyst for awareness, understanding, and implementation support.

To commence the seminar, Belle will provide context to the medical and research landscape for Indigenous Australians, showcase the work of ALIGN Victoria, and deep dive into ethical research conduct through the lens of The Accord. Belle will then be joined by a panel of esteemed ALIGN and VACCHO colleagues and facilitate a Q&A session to ensure the audience leave with tangible, stepwise actions to improve their research practice.

All welcome!