Overview

The Mayi Kuwayu Study aims to understand how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture links to health and wellbeing. As a longitudinal study, we survey people and ask them to be part of the survey again every few years so we can understand what influences on health and wellbeing change over time. The baseline data collection is now complete and has just over 11,000 participants.

The Mayi Kuwayu team has worked with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals across Australia over the last six years to develop a survey about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and wellbeing. We have implemented partnerships with many communities and community organisations to help drive recruitment in their communities. The partnerships have improved local community awareness of the study, strengthened data collection, and provided an opportunity to translate research findings back to communities.

The Mayi Kuwayu Study is designed, controlled, and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Mayi Kuwayu team hopes that the Study will help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make decisions about health on their own terms and in their own cultural contexts.

The Mayi Kuwayu Study will provide information for communities, service providers and policy makers about ways to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Findings from the Study will be shared so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Australia can use the results in a way that helps them.

As said by one of the Mayi Kuwayu Study ambassadors about the Study:

"It’s giving us a voice to discuss what issues are important to us and what things we want to be included in future policy".

The Mayi Kuwayu Study has been created for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We anticipate that the study will help strengthen Indigenous health, wellbeing and cultures – in positive and progressive ways.