ONE HEALTH: RESEARCH
AMRRIC’S RESEARCH
RESEARCH PRINCIPLES
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
RESEARCH POLICY
PUBLICATIONS
On average, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have higher rates of disease burden and lower life expectancies compared to non- Indigenous Australians; and this is particularly true for those living in rural and remote communities. Despite increasing global awareness of One Health linkages, the published evidence base for One Health related impacts within remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities remains extremely limited.
Over the last two decades, through grass-roots conversation and observation, AMRRIC and its community and veterinary partners have amassed a wealth of anecdotal experience of the impacts of companion animal health on community
and ecosystem health. Despite these experiences, and the potential impacts for the health of humans and animals in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, little of this knowledge has been documented and published, and
thus this knowledge gained through collective experience is not contributing to policy and direct resourcing to areas of greatest need.
AMRRIC’S ONE HEALTH RESEARCH
AMRRIC works in partnership with researchers, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to coordinate efforts to engage in One Health focused research. To help address these knowledge gaps, in 2022 AMRRIC, employed a One Health Research Coordinator. The role is designed to coordinate efforts to build the One Health evidence base in partnership with researchers and rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. By supporting projects that address community-identified priorities, build local capacity, and utilize culturally and contextually appropriate research practice, AMRRIC hopes to fill critical knowledge gaps in the relationships between human, animal and environmental health in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and ensure that the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard when making policy and resource decisions.
AMRRIC’S RESEARCH PRINCIPLES
1.
ONE HEALTH
Collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches, reflecting broad consultation with the community, relevant stakeholders, and service providers, that acknowledge and recognise the links between human, animal and environmental health and wellbeing and improve the capacity of One-Health knowledge frameworks.
2.
CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION
Understanding, appreciation and acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and traditional knowledges, and translation of cultural awareness into ethical, culturally, and contextually appropriate research practices.
3.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER LEADERSHIP
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led and driven research projects that promote community-based participatory research practices and facilitate self-determination, leadership, and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
4.
IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE
Research that drives sustainable improvements in animal health for the benefit of animals, people, and country and provides tangible outcomes to address priorities and objectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for their communities, their peoples, and their companion animals. Prioritisation of research projects that are of national significance and produce outcomes that can be applied in more than one jurisdiction or community.
5.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND TRANSLATION
Research that drives effective policy development and animal management practices in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, utilising culturally relevant and contextually appropriate strategies to inform Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, stakeholders and research partners of program and research outcomes.
6.
ETHICS & WELFARE
Research that aspires to the highest ethical and welfare standards for both the humans and animals involved and demonstrates an awareness of culturally and contextually appropriate best practices in this regard.
7.
COLLABORATION AND MUTUAL BENEFIT
Research that draws on broad collaboration with communities, stakeholders and service partners and ensures respect, recognition and benefit for all parties involved.
AMRRIC’S RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Improving human and animal health & wellbeing
Enhancing empathy, development & social welfare
Enhancing cultural connections
Reducing animal overpopulation
Reducing negative impacts on wildlife & ecosystems
Reducing biosecurity risks & improving knowledge about emerging diseases
Program evaluation and best practice
AMRRIC’S RESEARCH POLICY
AMRRIC’s Research Policy and Procedures aim to establish a framework for engaging with external research partnerships and guide respectful and synergistic relationships between researchers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. To find out more about AMRRIC’s role and expectations in One Health research collaborations, see the links below.
AMRRIC’S RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
AMRRIC RESEARCH POLICY
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)
Approval of external research collaborators and partnerships
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)
Responsible conduct of research and non-compliance
RESOURCES FOR ONE HEALTH RESEARCH
With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities
PUBLICATIONS
Brown, W., and Kennedy, B. 2014. Evaluating the effectiveness of AMRRIC-facilitated dog health programs. 10th Anniversary AMRRIC Conference Delegate Booklet. Animal Management in rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC).
Cumming, B., Britton, A., Stevenson, M. 2015. Dogs and people: are we making a difference? Australian Veterinary Journal, 93(7): N25
Brown, W., Kennedy, B., Allen, J., Cutter, S., De Santis, R. 2014. Collaboration improves dog management and welfare in Tiwi Islands. 4th Canine Science Forum Abstracts. University of Lincoln.
Kennedy, B.P.A., Cumming, B., Brown, W.Y. 2020. Global strategies for population management of domestic cats (Felis catus): A systematic review to inform best practice management for remote communities in Australia. Animals 10(4): 663
Chaber, A-L., Easther, R., Cumming, B., Irving, R., Keyburn, A.L., Smart, C., O’Handley, R., Lingereaux, L. 2022, Ehrlichia canis rapid spread and possible enzooty in northern South Australia and distribution of its vector Rhipicephalus linnaei. Australian Veterinary Journal, 100(11): 533-538.
Riley, T., Anderson, N.E., Lovett, R., Meredith, A., Cumming, B. 2022. Zoonoses and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population: A One Health scoping review. PLoS Global Public Health, 2(10): e0000921.
Constable, S., and Brown, W. 2012. Barking up the Right Tree: Developing Education Resources that Work in Remote Indigenous Contexts. In 3rd Canine Science Forum Abstracts.
Riley, T., Lovett, R., Thandrayen, J., Cumming, B., Thurber, K.A. 2020. Evaluating impacts of a One Health approach to companion animal health and management in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, Australia. Animals 10(10): 1790.