Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

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The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is a freely accessible responsively designed internet resource that collects, collates and interprets evidence-derived knowledge on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia. It then makes this knowledge readily accessible via the internet to inform policy, practice, research, teaching and general community understanding.[1] Its purpose in doing this is to contribute to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.[2] The work, which falls broadly in the area of implementation research, is concerned with ensuring that the results of research reaches those in the sector to inform their everyday policy and practice.  This is also known as knowledge exchange research and aims to make research and other information available in a form that has immediate, practical utility for practitioners and policy-makers in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. The cornerstones of effective knowledge exchange is information that is timely, accessible and relevant. There are over 1 million users of the website per annum.

The work of the HealthInfoNet is succinctly described by Professor Conigrave "It draws together a wide range of information and resources in relation to Indigenous health in Australia into an easily accessible format. It is a field that’s otherwise challenging to find information in, as so much is in the grey literature rather than in refereed journals."[3]

In September 2017 at the 20th anniversary event of the HealthInfoNet, then Minister for Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt AM, said the website "has proven to be far more than just a passive database and is a one-stop shop for innovative, up-to-date information and ideas. Whilst there are obvious benefits for government agencies, health practitioners, researchers and policymakers in providing a mechanism for evidence based decision making, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are the real winners as HealthInfoNet plays an important role in closing the gap in health."

History

The HealthInfoNet was established in September 1997 as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse.[4] It developed into a more comprehensive web-based resource for knowledge about Indigenous health and was renamed the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet in 2000 to reflect this broader purpose”[5] Dr Wooldridge, the then Federal Health Minister, said at the launch of the renamed HealthInfoNet “In a truly innovative way, even by international standards, the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet uses the Internet to enable people from all around Australia and overseas to share readily ideas on what health interventions work, find out where resources are available and discuss how best practice health care can be provided.”[6]

Funding[]

Since its inception, core funding for the HealthInfoNet is provided by the Australian Department of Health through Edith Cowan University.

Target audience[]

The HealthInfoNet defines its target audience broadly as all people working, studying or interested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.[7]

The HealthInfoNet aims to engage with key decision makers, influencers, users and front line health practitioners who work in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to facilitate the exchange and sharing of high quality knowledge and information. The ultimate aim is to bring about improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

The HealthInfoNet engages actively with various stakeholder groups:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health services and their representative bodies
  • government departments of health and Indigenous affairs
  • non-government organisations
  • professional  associations
  • health  service  workforce  (including  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers,  doctors, nurses and other health workers)
  • research organisations
  • academic institutions including tertiary and technical
  • training organisations.

Governance[]

HealthInfoNet is part of Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. Its work is guided by a national Advisory Board of 13 members who are prominent in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and provide cultural governance.[8] There is also a national network of honorary consultants who have expertise in various areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.[9]

The resource[]

The resource provides comprehensive, up-to-date, evidence-derived information about Australian Indigenous health. The website has a number of component parts including:

  • a comprehensive annual Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • a searchable list of publications on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • a refereed e-journal
  • collated information on a range of specific health topics, information on health systems and workforce information
  • A separate Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre web resource
  • A website supporting the national Tackling Indigenous Smoking workforce

The HealthInfoNet also supports a number of online yarning places (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook) that enable people interested in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to share information, knowledge and experience[10][11] about specific health topics.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "About". Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  2. ^ Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services. & Edith Cowan University. School of Nursing and Public Health. & National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse. & Australian Indigenous HealthInfo. (1997) Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet [electronic resource] National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse, Joondalup, W.A.
  3. ^ Crokey. (19 August 2009). For those with an interest in Indigenous health… Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. ^ Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services. & Edith Cowan University. School of Nursing and Public Health. & National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse. & Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. (1997) Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet [electronic resource] National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse, Joondalup, W.A. : http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/
  5. ^ The Department of Health and Aging (4 December 2000). "Wooldridge launches new-look indigenous health website". Media release. http://www.aodgp.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2000-mw-mw20127.htm Archived 21 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  6. ^ World summit on the information society. World summit on the information society. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  7. ^ Thomson, N. Midford, R. (2019), 5 Simple New Rules of Healthy Weight Loss: bridging the gap between research and practice and policy in Indigenous health|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}", Conference Paper. 10th National Rural Health Conference
  8. ^ [1] Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Friday, 3 October 2008
  9. ^ Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin. . Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  10. ^ Community builders NSW. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Archived 15 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  11. ^ Edith Cowan University. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Archived 29 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  12. ^ Rehill, L (April 2009) "Web reviews: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet." DrugInfo Newsletter

Further information[]

  • Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au)
  • Thomson, Neil. The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet: Knowledge Transfer to assist Decision Making in Indigenous Health [online]. In: Power of Knowledge: The Resonance of Tradition, The; pages: 141-153. Taylor, Luke (Editor). Canberra, ACT: Aboriginal Studies Press, 2005.
  • The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet: a model of knowledge sharing for the health sector by Thomson N (2003) 7th National Rural Health Conference 4 March 2003. Conference presentation
  • Injury Control Council of Western Australia - Autumn 2009 Newsletter
  • Radio interview by Tiga Bayles on ‘Let’s Talk’ 22 October 2009 for 98.9 fm in Brisbane (http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29)
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