Telethon Kids Institute - Kulunga Aboriginal Research Development Unit (KARDU)

The Telethon Kids Institute has developed a Commitment to Aboriginal Children and Families that outlines the guiding principles for our work in Aboriginal child health and the priorities to be addressed. The vision of the Institute’s Kulunga Aboriginal Research Development Unit (KARDU) is to empower Aboriginal people, families and communities to control their own health futures. It seeks to do this by conducting research that Aboriginal communities have identified as a priority. What is learnt can provide an evidence base for communities, families and individuals to bring about change in their health and wellbeing. KARDU’s relationships with Aboriginal families, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) and other agencies allow it to work at a local level across WA and nationally. The Institute’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers oversee a range of Indigenous maternal and child health projects. KARDU’s focus is on facilitating research opportunities that involve Aboriginal families and communities, as well as building the capacity of researchers working on Aboriginal projects. KARDU can create teams of clinical and other health related researchers to fit project needs for Indigenous corporations, government and non-government agencies. KARDU’s reports and resources can be accessed at http://aboriginal.telethonkids.org.au