Increasing Access to Cancer Research for Indigenous Australians

Published Catarina de Freitas on

Monday Lunch Live

1 September 2025 (Video recording below) 

Exploring barriers and identifying enablers for Indigenous Australians' participating in cancer research

This presentation will explore barriers experienced by Indigenous Australians in accessing precision health research and clinical trials. In this context, we discuss cancer research, the lack of recording of identity for Indigenous participants and the initiatives being undertaken by the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics to address these issues through two-way learning and key partnerships.

 

Chair 

Dr Shayne Bellingham
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program Manager, VCCC Alliance

Dr Shayne Bellingham is  Wotjobaluk man, and descendent of the Kennedy family group, from the Wimmera region of Victoria. Shayne holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Melbourne and has had an extensive career in medical research prior to transition to a career in program management. His interests include genomic and precision medicine for the benefit of Aboriginal and Tores Strait Islander people.Dr Shayne Bellingham is Wotjobaluk man, and descendent of the Kennedy family group, from the Wimmera region of Victoria. Shayne holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Melbourne and has had an extensive career in medical research prior to transition to a career in program management. His interests include genomic and precision medicine for the benefit of Aboriginal and Tores Strait Islander people.

 

Speakers 

Ms Louise Lyons
Senior Manager, Strategy and Policy, Indigenous Genomics, The Kids Research Institute Australia and the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics

Louise is a proud Jaadwa woman and Traditional Owner from Western Victoria. She has held senior research, strategic, project and business management roles in the private and public hospitals/healthcare sectors, Aboriginal health, local government and government owned entities. In her current role at The Kids Research Institute Australia she manages a number of Indigenous Genomics research and Community engagement projects, a research and policy translation program, has established and manages the largest Indigenous genomics Governance network in Australia, and is passionate about the need to remove diagnostic, treatment and research barriers and to create culturally safe genetic and genomic service pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

 

Resource details

Indigenous artwork
Course type
Webinars
Duration
60 mins
Price
$0.00
Curriculum Area
Prevention, screening and diagnostics
Research (incl. Clinical Trials)
Clinical Care
Consumer Involvement, Equity, and Inclusion
Speciality
Allied Health professional
Clinical trials
Clinician
Consumer / patient / carer
Early to mid career researcher
Senior researcher / scientist
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Monday Lunch Live
Research

This course is brought to you by

Alliance members