Dr Brooke Conley wins Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research

Congratulations to Dr Brooke Conley, a proud Ngiyampaa woman and Peeneeyt Thanampool Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Physiotherapy, who has received the 2024–25 Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research in the category of Aboriginal Researcher undertaking research in any field of health and medical research.

Dr Conley was recognised for her leadership of the ‘Staying Strong with Arthritis’ project, an initiative co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to address a critical gap in arthritis care. With over 85,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with arthritis, many report being left “in the dark” following diagnosis, with limited access to culturally appropriate information and support. In response to this Community-identified need, which aligned with government priorities outlined in the 2020 National Strategic Action Plan for Arthritis – the project brought together evidence-based arthritis care and the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to co-create arthritis education resources tailored for Community.

The result is a comprehensive suite of materials: four brochures, six videos, four research papers, and a dedicated website. These resources have been widely disseminated through health services, media, conferences, and community networks. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting that the resources are relatable, accessible, and useful in supporting individuals and families to manage arthritis more effectively. This project marks an important step in reducing the burden of arthritis for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and showcases the impact of culturally informed health education.

Congratulations, Brooke!