Current Projects
Birthing on Country
First Nations women, babies and families experience profound health inequities when comparing health outcomes to non-First Nations Australians and a disproportionate number of First Nations women experience adverse outcomes in pregnancy and birth. There has been little or no improvement over time relating to key maternal child health indicators, such as maternal and perinatal mortality. Reproductive health disparities increase with geographical remoteness and the East Arnhem region have some of most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged First Nations women in Australia.
Interventions during pregnancy and early life that address health and well-being, including those that reduce preterm birth, will have life-long benefits. Interventions must also address the social determinants of health including income, employment, education, and access to culturally safe health care, informed through First Nations knowledge systems if they are to be effective. Yalu is a partner for the Birthing on Country project to support closing the gap in health inequities affecting Yolŋu people.
Repatriation: Bringing home the maŋgu samples
The Australian National University's National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG), along with Yalu Aboriginal Corporation have been working together with the community of Galiwin'ku to culturally repatriate around 1,200 blood samples collected during the 1960s and 1970s after a typhoid outbreak.
Consultation began in 2018 between NCIG, Yalu and the people of Galiwin’ku on a joint plan for the future management and use of the samples. In November 2019, NCIG, Yalu and the community facilitated the return of these samples to community, country and families. NCIG and Yalu continue to work together to explore the best ways to support the Galiwin'ku community to engage in genomic research on their terms and for their benefit.
Waka Ŋurrkanhayŋu: Regenerating the existence of life
Reducing the risk of natural and social disasters - reviving and strengthening Indigenous law, culture and governance in remote Indigenous communities.
This project aims to bring together western and Yolŋu worldviews and knowledge to support Yolŋu in Galiwin'ku to reduce the risk of natural events resulting in environmental, social and cultural disasters.
The project works from the perspective that Yolŋu knowledge and practices are key to healing the causes of disasters and adapting to climate change. The first stage of this project involved Yolŋu and University of Canberra (and other research partners) researchers speaking with Yolŋu in Galiwin'ku in 2020 and sharing these findings with relevant Government representatives. The second stage is running in 2022.
Dual Learning Pathways
Dual learning pathways is about understanding pathways to support Yolŋu children and families to achieve strong learning in two systems or in Yolŋu Matha: 'Dharaŋanamirr dhukarr guŋgayunaraw djamarrkuliw ga gurrutumirriw marŋgikunharaw ḏälkunharaw gakalwun dhiyakun marrmaw’nha romgun.
The Dual Learning Pathways research project is a collaboration between the northern institute at Charles Darwin University and Yolŋgu researchers in Galiwin’ku. The aim of the project is to discover ways to support Yolŋu children in Galiwin’ku to learn well in two worlds – Yolŋu and Balanda (non-Aboriginal).
Yolŋu have strong knowledge and skills from Yolŋu culture and languages. Balanda systems also have their own cultures and languages. Balanda need to recognise the skills and knowledge of Yolŋu children and families. Yolŋu also want to understand the Balanda education system. If we recognise and understand each other we must find the best ways to work together to support Yolŋu children so they can be strong in two education pathways.
This project aims to build better understanding between Yolŋu and Balanda about both systems of education. We want to find out how to connect the education pathways so Yolŋu children can be strong in two worlds.
Antibiotic Resistance
Yalu has been working along side a PhD candidate from the University of Melbourne to support her work to research the issue of Antibiotic Resistance. The project is investigating the bacteria that dogs have to see whether they have become resistant to antibiotic medicine. Yalu researchers have helped with the first stage of this project since 2021, and are supporting the researcher to explore the next step.
Nutrition
In 2021 Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation approached Yalu to support with the collection of community perspectives on nutrition. This includes thoughts about local food production, community priorities for nutrition, and the barriers and opportunities to good health relating to nutrition in Galiwin'ku.
These stories from the community will support Miwatj to develop a Galiwin'ku specific Food Security and Nutrition Strategy. Yalu has worked along side Miwatj staff to undertake community consultaiton throughout 2021 and 2022.
Footprints in time
Footprints in time is an initiative of the Australian Government. It is a longitudinal study that has been running since 2008 and involves researchers speaking with the same children and their families each year.
This study looks at young people's development, health, their hopes and dreams and the things happening around them. Yalu has been involved in supporting these surveys for many years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Yalu researchers increased their workload to help the Footprints In Time staff link up with families.
