Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Encyclopedia
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is an internet resource that collects, collates and interprets evidence-derived knowledge on Australian Indigenous health. It then makes this knowledge readily accessible via the internet to inform policy, practice, research, teaching and general community understanding. Its purpose in doing this is to contribute to improving the health of Indigenous Australians.
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."
through Edith Cowan University
.
Two groups of the Australian Indigenous health workforce are particularly catered for in the sections Indigenous Health Workers and Indigenous environmental health practitioners.
in Western Australia. Its work is guided by a national Advisory Board of 11 members who are prominent in the field of Australian Indigenous health. The HealthInfoNet also has a number of topic specific reference groups who meet regularly and a national network of honorary consultants who have expertise in various areas of Indigenous health.
The website has a number of component parts including:
The HealthInfoNet also supports a number of yarning places (online networks also known as 'communities of practice') that enable people interested in Australian Indigenous health to share information, knowledge and experience about specific health topics.
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."
History
The HealthInfoNet was established in September 1997 as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse. 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” 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.”Funding
Core funding for the HealthInfoNet is provided by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing’s Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH)OATSIH
The Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, often known by its acronym OATSIH, is a division of the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing...
through Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University is located in Perth, Western Australia. It was named after the first woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman....
.
Target audience
The HealthInfoNet defines its target audience broadly as all people working, studying or interested in Australian Indigenous health.Two groups of the Australian Indigenous health workforce are particularly catered for in the sections Indigenous Health Workers and Indigenous environmental health practitioners.
Governance
HealthInfoNet is part of Edith Cowan UniversityEdith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University is located in Perth, Western Australia. It was named after the first woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman....
in Western Australia. Its work is guided by a national Advisory Board of 11 members who are prominent in the field of Australian Indigenous health. The HealthInfoNet also has a number of topic specific reference groups who meet regularly and a national network of honorary consultants who have expertise in various areas of Indigenous health.
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 overview of Indigenous health (Overview of Australian Indigenous health status)
- a searchable list of publications on Indigenous health (Australian Indigenous HealthBibliography)
- a quarterly refereed e-journal (Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin)
- collated information on a range of specific health topics
- information on health systems
- noticeboards (Job advertisements and conference notices)
The HealthInfoNet also supports a number of yarning places (online networks also known as 'communities of practice') that enable people interested in Australian Indigenous health to share information, knowledge and experience about specific health topics.
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)