Indigenous-led precision public health: a new starting point

Front Public Health. 2024 Aug 29:12:1427246. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1427246. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Precision public healthcare has been applied to bring about positive change, narrowing the gap in healthcare inequity for Aboriginal peoples. Three such examples include the Mappa, Lyfe Languages, and Pilbra Faces projects, which were all developed through engagement and codesign with Indigenous Australians and each meet a distinct critical need. The Mappa project offers patients and healthcare providers with the necessary geographical information to navigate and maximally utilize available healthcare services. Lyfe Languages is a community driven translational tool that empowers indigenous languages in healthcare. The Pilbara Faces project aims to create a database of clinical measurements enabling better disease diagnosis and monitoring. These three projects have been integrated into a multi-faceted precision public health program, the Healthy Pilbara Project Initiative, acting synergistically to improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples living in Western Australia.

Keywords: Aboriginal peoples; Lyfe Languages; Pilbara Faces; precision public healthcare; public health initiatives Mappa.

MeSH terms

  • Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples*
  • Health Services, Indigenous / organization & administration
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Public Health*
  • Western Australia

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by Mappa: Govt of WA, Dept of Health; Govt of WA, WA Country Health Service; Lotterywest; AHCWA; Australian Govt; Kimberly Aboriginal Medical Services; WA Primary Health Alliance. Lyfe Languages: Roy Hill Community Foundation; Stan Perron Charitable Foundation; Meridian Global Foundation. Pilbara Faces: Roy Hill Community Foundation, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.