Key Thinkers Forum

Image caption: Pictured are some of the speakers, organisers and participants who made the day possible, including Prof Tom Calma AO (centre), next to SCaW Hub advisory committee chair Michael Sharpe, Prof Veena Sahajwalla AO and organising committee members Veronica Matthews from University Centre for Rural Health, John Skinner from Djurali Centre, Sally Taylor and Dr Amanda Wheeler from CSIRO and AProf Dr Farshid Pahlevani from the SCaW Hub.

UNSW SMaRT Centre researchers featured in the recent Key Thinkers Forum held at UNSW as part of the work they do for the Sustainable Communities and Waste (SCaW) Hub.

Hosted and led by UNSW SMaRt Centre Director, Prof Veena Sahajwalla, the SCaW Hub has been collaborating with a range of research organisations, leaders and community groups on a range of First National initiatives.

This latest Key Thinkers Forum, led and hosted by leading Indigenous Australian Prof Tom Calma AO, was entitled First Nations Action for Healthy Country & Community, brought together First Nations community members, health and environment practitioners, and researchers from across Australia. 

The day focussed on action and research, led by and/or involving First Nations people, into issues that affect community health, Country and everyday life, and featured a key project led by SMaRT Centre researchers involving SMaRT's Green Ceramics MICROfactorie^TM Technology.

Reflections on the Wellington NSW collaboration project, which involved the trial use of ceramic tiles made from waste textiles and glass in Aboriginal housing in Wellington NSW, showed how the ceramics can modernise and improve living standards while at the same time addressing local waste issues.

The first panel discussion looked at environmental health, including findings from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s First Nations Burden of Disease study.

Housing is central to health, security and connection to community. The Forum’s second panel, chaired by Prof Veena, heard from Aunty Lola Ryan, a Dharawal Elder, and Jacek Anderst from The George Institute for Global Health on the housing and health priorities of Aboriginal people living in public and community housing in Sydney.

The afternoon included short presentations from early- and mid-career researchers, which explored Indigenous-defined futures, connection, collaboration and emerging research priorities.

The final panel examined how communities are responding to climate change through Country, culture and local knowledge, and speakers explored issues of heat, water resilience, healing Country and Indigenous governance in just transitions.

Prof Calma has led 17 Key Thinkers forums since he kicked these off more than a decade ago at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. 

These collaborations focus attention on 'wicked problems' facing First Nations communities, prioritise Indigenous voices in the discussion and develop solutions from mob, with experts coming in to support and walk alongside.

A clear message from the day: research works best when it starts with community priorities, values Indigenous knowledge, and builds partnerships that last.