Today, the Sax Institute celebrates National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 2021. It’s a time for all of us to recognise the crucial impact that culture, family and community play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and celebrate children’s strength and culture, as we continue our commitment to work together for a better future.
The theme for this year is ‘Proud in culture, strong in spirit’. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, safety, wellbeing and development are all closely linked to the strengths of their connections with family, community, culture, language, and Country.
“The Sax Institute has a special connection and commitment to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children through the community-led research that we’re involved in,” says Deputy CEO Dr Martin McNamara.
“We’re proud of the important work we’re doing in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to improve Aboriginal children’s health, particularly through SEARCH – the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health.”
SEARCH is Australia’s largest ongoing study of the health of urban Aboriginal children and their families. Since 2008, the Study has been following over 1600 Aboriginal children in urban and regional NSW to provide critical information about their ongoing health, from chronic disease and social and emotional wellbeing, to hearing and speech development. SEARCH findings have made significant contributions to the development and trialling of a new approach to ear health testing and care for Aboriginal children.
Read more about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day here.
Learn more about SEARCH and the Sax Institute here.
PUBLICATION DATE
04 August 2021
