The Lowitja Institute

03/06/2026

Today, on Mabo Day, we honour the strength and legacy of Eddie Mabo whose tireless fight for justice changed our nation's history.

The 1992 Mabo decision recognised the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country, rejecting the myth of terra nullius. At Lowitja Institute, we build on this legacy by supporting community-led research and systems change that upholds sovereignty, strength, community voice, justice and health equity.

03/06/2026

Yesterday the South Australian Government unveiled a bronze statue of our co-patron, the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, at Tarntanya Wama (Elder Park) on Kaurna Country.

Designed by Robert Hannaford AM, this is the first of an initial six statues to memorialise prominent Aboriginal South Australians acknowledging their extraordinary contributions to the state's communities.

'Our family deeply appreciates this recognition, and we know that Dr O’Donoghue would be profoundly moved to be memorialised on Kaurna Country for a higher purpose. The inspirational achievements and legacies of Aboriginal leaders who created pathways and opened doors in this state, will now be powerfully symbolised for our young people and future leaders to follow.' – Deb Edwards, Head of the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation

Statue photo credit: Guildhouse

Group photo (L-to-R): Ruby Edwards, Lowanna Norris, Michael Newman, Craig Ritchie, Pat Anderson AO, and Deb Edwards.

Find out more about the sculpture of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, including an audio description of the sculpture, a digital biography, and a behind-the-scenes video of the sculpture's creation: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0XJkQ0

02/06/2026

Last week our CEO Paul Stewart met with Travis Lovett for the final leg of the National Walk for Truth on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra.

On the day, Paul spoke with Croakey Health Media about the importance of Truth-telling for health and wellbeing, including the message he would share with the Prime Minister.

🎧 Watch the full interview: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0XB2L0

Croakey - Informed, engaged communities for health

01/06/2026

Today we kicked off day one at the AIATSIS Summit on Kombumerri Country on the Gold Coast, Queensland. ✨

It's exciting to be connecting with people from across the sector and taking part in important conversations about the issues that matter most to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We're proud to be sponsoring and presenting at the five-day summit.

Our Research Ethics Coordinator, Janaya Pender, led a workshop titled 'Establishment of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Research Ethics Committee - Findings and Next Steps'.

Come and have a chat with us at our booth to learn more about the work we're doing. 💬 AIATSIS

29/05/2026

Current approaches to Indigenous health education are predominantly deficit-based, with limited inclusion of the cultural needs of Indigenous communities. This scoping review aimed to develop an understanding of how the cultural determinants of health are represented in the literature and their role within healthcare curricula.

The review found that although there is sufficient literature that focuses on the cultural determinants of health and associated factors, some elements remain unclear within literature. The review identified that there is a clear need to develop high-quality evidence that supports the implementation of the cultural determinants of health within healthcare curricula, policy and practice. As well, the implementation of the cultural determinants of health should predominantly be informed and designed by Indigenous community.

Read the full article in 'The Lowitja Journal': https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0WKTY0

27/05/2026

This morning, Lowitja Institute CEO Paul Stewart joined Travis Lovett for the final leg of the National Walk for Truth on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country.

The Walk journeyed over 820km from Melbourne to Canberra, alongside coordinated walks taking place across the country. A key priority of the initiative is an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling for the establishment of a national Truth-telling process.

🔗 To sign and find out more, visit: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0WxQ60

27/05/2026

Tune in with us this Reconciliation week!

🔸Thursday 28 May: at Lowitja Institute's Knowledge Translation (KT) Summit 2026, Major Research Grant recipients will share their research journeys and the impact of their work. This online event brings together policymakers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and researchers to share knowledge, innovation, and support systems change.

🔗 Learn more: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0Wtnb0

🔸Tuesday 2 June: the Lowitja Learning Summit workshop, 'Best practice Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research', will be presented by Terri Janke and Company, Australia's oldest and largest privately-owned Indigenous legal and consulting firm, specialising in Intellectual Property (IP) and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).

🔗 Learn more: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0WtjJ0

🔸Friday 29 May: during Nulungu Research Week, members of Lowitja Institute's Workforce team will present an overview of our role in strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research workforce, in a session entitled 'Reshaping Indigenous research'.

🔗 Learn more: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0WtjH0

26/05/2026

VACCHO and the Lowitja Institute is proud to launch the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Theory and Practice.

This is the first time a course like this will be run in Victoria, with the qualification being delivered by VACCHO’s Registered Training Organisation, Yagilaith Djerring.

“The resounding message from our Community is that research about us must be by us, marking the end of Aboriginal people being subjects rather than drivers of research.”
- VACCHO CEO, Dr Jill Gallagher AO

VACCHO and the Lowitja Institute are joined in celebrating this milestone with Minister for Medical Research, Ben Carroll and Minister for Skills and TAFE, Colin Brooks.

Read the full news story here > https://www.vaccho.org.au/2026/05/19/victorian-first-launch-of-research-theory-and-practice-course-to-strengthen-aboriginal-health-research-workforce/

26/05/2026

Today we acknowledge National Sorry Day. A day that remembers and honours the strength and continuous self-determination of the Stolen Generations survivors and their families.

It is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and acknowledge the truth of Australia’s Stolen Generations history and the ongoing, intergenerational impacts caused by past policies of forced removal.

We stand with The Healing Foundation and echo their national call, ‘From Sorry to Action. A plan to act on Bringing them home’, outlining critical priorities and tangible actions to support leaders and policy makers in implementing a number of the long outstanding recommendations of the 1997 Bringing them home report.

As we mark the 29th anniversary of the Bringing them home report, this moment demands leadership, accountability and action that delivers justice and healing within survivors’ lifetimes. The Action Plan, developed by The Healing Foundation, highlights the ongoing needs of Stolen Generations survivors across health, wellbeing, records access, redress, sector sustainability, education, and research, that remain unmet three decades after they were called for.

Follow Healing Foundation and read the From Sorry to Action: Action Plan (2026–2028) on their website.

25/05/2026