The Communicate Study: partnership across the Top End to improve First Nations peoples’ experience and outcomes of healthcare

Research activities:

• Developing, implementing and evaluating innovative intercultural communication education, inspired by the award-winning podcast: Ask the Specialist: Larrakia, Tiwi and Yolngu stories to inspire better healthcare.
• Improving both the supply of, and demand for, First Nations language interpreters, while strenghtening culturally safe systems and workplaces for First Nations health staff. 
• Establishing a community of practice of culturally safe clinicians, supported by a moderated social media discussion group and regular seminars led by invited experts
   

This is a multi-level partnership between Menzies School of Health Research, NT Health, the NT Aboriginal Interpreter Services (AIS), National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), the Djalkiri Foundation, Charles Darwin Unviersity, Swinburne University of Technology and First Nations leaders, health professionals and educators in the Northern Territory. Our work currently operates across Royal Darwin Hospital, Gove District Hospital, Katherine Hospital, and Alice Springs Hospital. 

Training opportunities:

We offer evidence-based intercultural communication training and workshops tailored for healthcare professionals. Our training focuses on developing skills in critical reflection and culturally safe communication.

Workshops are co-facilitated by First Nations and non-Indigenous facilitators, providing a dynamic learning environment that models best practice in intercultural communication. Learn more: Download our information sheet or contact us at communicatestudypartnership@menzies.edu.au.

Program Lead:

• Professor Anna Ralph

Honorary Fellow/Chief Investigator: 

• A/Professor Vicki Kerrigan

Project Manager:

• Dr Arvie Rodrigues Abiero

Key Staff

• Mario Faggion
• Anna Lucas
• Christopher Davis
• Tiana Alley
• Emily Armstrong
• Madelyn Hay
• Beatriz Cardona
• Gisela Malimara
• Harshana Munasinghe
• Rebbecca Lillico

This project has both qualitative and quantitative PhD/Master by research opportunities. Please contact us for more information.

Contact information:

Email: communicatestudypartnership@menzies.edu.au

Project dates:

• 2015 - current

Funders: 

• NHMRC 2024 Collaborations in Health Service Research Grant
• NHMRC Partnership Grant 2008644, 2022-2026
• MRFF Rapid Applied Research Translation Grant 2022-2027
• Menzies School of Health Research small grants scheme
• Harry Giese Research Into Action Award 2024

Collaborators

• NT Health
• NT Aboriginal Interpreter Service
• National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)
• The Djalkiri Foundation
• Charles Darwin University
• Swinburne University of Technology

1. Sims, M., Jarvis, E., Gurruwiwi, L. et al. Language as a pillar of cultural safety: evaluating hospital-based healthcare workers’ knowledge of First Nations languages and interpreter services in East Arnhem Land, Australia. BMC Health Serv Res 26, 51 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13837-9

2. Kerrigan, V., McGrath, S.Y., Baker, R.D. et al. “If They Help Us, We Can Help Them”: First Nations Peoples Identify Intercultural Health Communication Problems and Solutions in Hospital in Northern Australia. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-02160-4

3. Kerrigan, V., McGrath, S.Y., Doig, C. et al. Evaluating the impact of ‘Ask the Specialist Plus’: a training program for improving cultural safety and communication in hospital-based healthcare. BMC Health Serv Res 24, 119 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10565-4

4. Kerrigan, V., Park, D., Ross, C. et al. Countering the “wrong story”: a Participatory Action Research approach to developing COVID-19 vaccine information videos with First Nations leaders in Australia. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10, 479 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01965-8

5. Ralph, A.P., McGrath, S.Y., Armstrong, E. et al. Improving outcomes for hospitalised First Nations peoples though greater cultural safety and better communication: the Communicate Study Partnership study protocol. Implementation Sci 18, 23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-023-01276-1

6. Kerrigan V, Park D, Ross C, Davies J, Ralph AP. Co-design effective health-literacy videos. Lancet. 2023 Feb 4;401(10374):343. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00010-7.

7. Kerrigan, V., S. Y. McGrath, S. W. Majoni, M. Walker, M. Ahmat, B. Lee, A. Cass, M. Hefler and A. P. Ralph (2021). "“The talking bit of medicine, that’s the most important bit”: doctors and Aboriginal interpreters collaborate to transform culturally competent hospital care." International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1): 170. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01507-1%C2%A0

8. Kerrigan, V., S. Y. McGrath, S. W. Majoni, M. Walker, M. Ahmat, B. Lee, A. Cass, M. Hefler and A. P. Ralph (2021). "From “stuck” to satisfied: Aboriginal people’s experience of culturally safe care with interpreters in a Northern Territory hospital." BMC Health Services Research 21(1): 548. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-021-06564-4

9. Kerrigan, V., N. Lewis, A. Cass, M. Hefler and A. P. Ralph (2020). "“How can I do more?” Cultural awareness training for hospital-based healthcare providers working with high Aboriginal caseload." BMC Medical Education, 20(1): 173. https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-020-02086-5

10. Ralph, A. P., A. Lowell, J. Murphy, T. Dias, D. Butler, B. Spain, J. T. Hughes, L. Campbell, B. Bauert, C. Salter, K. Tune and A. Cass (2017). "Low uptake of Aboriginal interpreters in healthcare: exploration of current use in Australia's Northern Territory." BMC Health Services Research 17(1): 733. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-017-2689-y

Podcasts:

• Ask the Specialist: Larrakia, Tiwi and Yolŋu stories to inspire better healthcare

Videos:

• 2024 Cultural Safety Champions - Presentations
• Menzies COVID-19 Australian Vaccine information videos
• Stay Strong on Country Videos - (COVID-19)

Policy and Practice Briefs:

• Communication and cultural safety training - Policy and Practice Brief
• The Communicate Study: Interim summary of Findings and Recommendations
• Co-designing health literacy videos
• The benefits of working with Aboriginal interpreters at Royal Darwin Hospital
• Intercultural comm training flyer
• Policy and Practice Brief for the “Language as a Pillar of Cultural Safety” paper

Reports:

• NT Health report on culturally safe workplaces for First Nations staff (from a Darwin workshop)
• Culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal interpreters and health professionals: key findings from an Alice Springs workshop
• Plain English Health Dictionary Evaluation