The Jawun Research Centre
Research driven by First Nations People
Vision
To contribute to First Nations People’s self-determination through research governed by practices that value and respect cultural knowledge.
Purpose
To meet community priorities in health, well-being and preservation of culture through applying social justice principles of Indigenous sovereignty, engagement and leadership.
Background
The Jawun Research Centre (formerly the Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research (CIHER) was launched in 2017, as the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research centre in North Queensland dedicated to realising Indigenous prosperity, social and economic inclusion and cultural continuity.
The Jawun Research Centre builds on previous research conducted through the north Queensland Empowerment Research Program, Collaborative Research on Empowerment and Wellbeing (CREW) program and Building Indigenous Research Capacity Project with community partners.
The centre’s aim is to conduct engaged, high impact, applied research and innovation as essential components in achieving equitable standards for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and well-being.
Our research
Jawun is a Dyirbal word from the language of the Jirrbal people of Far North Queensland that means a style of weaving and a dilly bag that is unique to Far North Queensland. Jawun translated, refers to the style of weaving used in creating bi-cornual baskets, a basketry design unique in the world. Jawun is an organising metaphor, placing First Peoples language in the centre’s purpose and vision. Like a dilly bag research in community forms a space woven from relationships and forms a space for containing and carrying materials that are useful for social emotional wellbeing, resilience and empowerment.
The Centre works collaboratively in partnership with community organisations, adhering to cultural protocols and ethics of place, conducting research that applies the principles of:
- Establishing the right research question
- Conducting ethical research
- Ensuring Indigenous leadership and direction of research
- Working in partnerships
- Respecting the experiences of Indigenous peoples
- Supporting the use of evidence to improve health
- Identifying and providing resources and training
- Designing research to produce outcomes and build capacity
Jawun represents the Centre’s collective purpose and vision and the cooperative hub of like-minded researchers in four main research focus areas:
- Collaborative Research for Community Wellbeing
- Disaster Management and Public Health
- Linguistics and Culture
- Community led Mental Health and Genomics
Jawun is also home to the Jilbay Research Higher Degree Academy is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research-focused community of practice. The Academy is the first internally funded Academy of its kind for any Australian University. It aims to build the research capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Higher Degree (RHD) candidates and their supervisors by developing and undertaking Indigenous research projects and establishing partnerships in collaboration with other CQUniversity Schools, Research Centers, and Institutes.
Contact Us
Email: JRC@cqu.edu.au
Phone: (07) 4930 9955
