Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Trial Access Initiative — Led by Goulburn Valley Health
This initiative is co-designing a pilot with consumers, local health groups and researchers to increase cancer clinical trial participation among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The implementation of the Clinical Trials component of the Optimal Care Pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Cancer represents a potential major shift in health outcomes for these communities.
Successful completion of this initiative will result in a completed pilot at Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, along with long term sustainability plans for bridging the health gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
As of February 2025, ReViTALISE has completed a Consultancy Report, synthesising evidence for strategies to improve access to cancer clinical trials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The initiative has also established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group, with Aboriginal consumers, health workers, health administrators and researchers.
Partnering with Goulburn Valley Health, the team continues to develop strong relationships with key external stakeholders, such as Rumbalara Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).
Steering Committee members pictured above, after the February meeting at the Peter Copolus Cancer Centre, Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton (L-R): Carole Mott (GVH), Donna Long (BMORU), Monica Green (BMORU), Yvonne Chesser, Boonwurrung, Wemba Wemba & Barapa Barapa, identify with Yorta Yorta, (consumer), Cynthia Scott, Yorta Yorta (GVH), Shannon Drake (Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative), Leah Lindrea-Morrison, Yorta Yorta (BMORU), June Grinter, Stolen Generation (consumer).Steering Committee members not pictured: Dr Javier Torres (GVH), Karen Matheson (GVH), Shannon Gleeson, Wiradjuri (VACCHO), Prof Joan Cunningham (Menzies School of Health Research), Ivy Ahmat, Bangerang woman (consumer), A/Prof Craig Underhill (BMORU), Dr Heather Cameron (ReViTALISE, @research), Damon Parker (BMORU) and Michelle Pryce (LRH).
Lotjpa Yapaneyepuk: Talk together about cancer trials
Coordinating Principal Investigator and Research Co-Lead Dr Monica Green, alongside Associate Investigator and Aboriginal Advisory Group Lead, Leah Lindrea-Morrison, are running a research study in collaboration between Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Goulburn Valley Health, Rumbalara and VACCHO.
The study, "Lotjpa Yapaneyepuk (Talk together) about cancer trials: Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to cancer clinical trials in regional Victoria, Australia", will run for two years until May 2026, and will involve yarning sessions with approximately 50 participants from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and education sessions with up to 100 cancer health professionals across 14-16 organisations. Yarning circles commenced in February 2025.
Pictured above: Aboriginal Advisory Group members after the first meeting for 2025, at Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative (L-R): Leah Lindrea-Morrison, Yorta Yorta (BMORU), Michelle Atkinson, Bangerang, Gunai / Kurnai (Djirra), Shelly Norris, Luritja, Warumungu & Waanyi (Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative), Erica Bell, Yorta Yorta (Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative), Tracey Hearn, Yorta Yorta (Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative), Shannon Drake, Wamba/Wamba and Jaara, working on Yorta Yorta country, (Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative). Not pictured: Julie-Anne Bamblett, Bangerang (Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative), Christopher Cooper (community representative).
The objectives of the study are to increase the knowledge of cancer clinical trials among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in and around Shepparton, through the co-design of appropriate resource/s, and to raise awareness among cancer health professionals, of strategies that may improve access to cancer clinical trials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in regional areas.
Dr Monica Green and Leah Lindrea-Morrison have spoken about their research study at the 2024 Ngar-wu Wanyarra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Conference, hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Department of Rural Health in October 2024, as well as at COSA and an A-CTEC Webinar in November 2024.
This study is part of the ReViTALISE project, which is funded by the Australian Government under the Medical Research Future Fund, grant number MRFF000023.