The people behind the research: First Nations voices driving impact at The Kids

As we celebrate NAIDOC Week and reflect on this year’s theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’, we recognise the strength, achievements and enduring contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across generations.

For The Kids Research Institute Australia, this recognition is closely tied to how we work. Since our establishment more than 35 years ago, First Nations health and equity has been central to our purpose, shaping not only what we do, but how we do it across the Institute. It is a foundational commitment grounded in partnership, culture and community.

In 2025, this commitment was further strengthened through the launch of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and the release of the second edition of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Standards, recognised by the NHMRC as best practice. Together, these milestones reinforce our responsibility to ensure research is culturally safe, ethical and guided by community at every stage.

But it is people who bring these commitments to life.

We invite you to learn more about just some of our inspiring First Nations researchers and staff members whose leadership, knowledge and lived experience are shaping how research is done at The Kids. Their work ensures that First Nations health and equity is not only embedded in principle but realised in practice, driving research that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families now and into the future.

Brooke Garlett
Aboriginal Project Coordinator
Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention

As an Aboriginal Project Coordinator at The Kids Research Institute Australia, I support the national ISAAC trial, which aims to improve the prevention of invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease in household contacts. My role focuses on ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are embedded throughout the research by strengthening cultural governance, supporting community engagement, and advancing Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Working alongside researchers, clinicians and First Nations communities, I help ensure research is conducted in culturally safe, respectful and meaningful ways, with the goal of improving health outcomes while upholding the rights, knowledge and priorities of First Nations peoples

Elizabeth Wilkes
Aboriginal Community Engagement Coordinator
First Nations Childhood Cancer Research

I am currently coordinating yarning circles and interviews to find out community priorities and concerns about childhood cancer research and laboratory-based cancer research. These yarns will be used to design our First Nations Childhood Cancer teams research projects and priorities at The Kids, and will contribute to closing the gap in health inequities for cancer in our mob.  

The people we would like to yarn with are people who have had cancer or cared for someone in their family with cancer, community elders or leaders, people working in health, allied health, science or any community members who are interested in childhood cancer or laboratory cancer research. 

Thomas Betts
Aboriginal Project Officer
Healing Kids, Healing Families

I am a proud Minang and Wudjari Noongar man who grew up on Whadjuk Noongar boodja. I currently work as a Project Officer with the Healing Kids, Healing Families team, where I lead and supports community and stakeholder engagement, provide a cultural lens to child health research, and offer strategic guidance on embedding culture throughout the research process. My role involves developing culturally appropriate resources for use in research, as well as by communities and service providers. I am currently supporting several research projects, including Cultural Safety in Mainstream mental health services and an Aboriginal Parenting Program.

Lisa Pigliafiori
Aboriginal Health Project Officer
Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention

I am a proud Murri woman from Queensland and is a descendant of the Erubam Le People of the Torres Strait. Since March 2025, I have worked at The Kids Research Institute Australia as an Aboriginal Health Project Officer in the Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Team. I support the Staphylococcus aureus Network Adaptive Platform Trial (SNAP Trial) at Perth Children’s Hospital by engaging with and recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants and overseeing the SNAP Trial Cultural Information Hub, launched in November 2025 SNAP Trial – Cultural Information Hub. The SNAP Trial is a global study evaluating treatments for Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, involving over 165 hospitals across 14 countries. In Australia, the trial began in February 2022 and includes 46 hospitals nationwide. I am also Co-Chair of the SNAP Trial Cultural Advisory Committee (CAC), who provide cultural expertise and leadership to the SNAP Trial.

Bek Morrison
Aboriginal Project Officer
Healing Kids, Healing Families

I am a proud Bibbulman Yued and Goreng Noongar woman who works on the Healing Kids Healing Families team on the Aboriginal Parenting Project. This project is looking at creating a trauma-informed, culturally safe parenting program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and caregivers. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology, and am currently undertaking my honours degree at The University of Western Australia looking at stories Aboriginal Wellbeing held in the archives. My role as an Aboriginal Project Officers includes facilitating Advisory Group yarns, transcribing, community engagement, project delivery, and stakeholder engagement, all the while contributing in creating the Aboriginal Parenting Program.

Adam Heterick
Bioinformatics Officer
Indigenous Genomics

I am a proud Wiradjuri man and Australia's first Indigenous bioinformatician, working across Black Ochre Data Labs at The Kids Research Institute Australia and the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics at The Australian National University. My research sits at the intersection of genomics, pharmacogenomics and Indigenous Data Sovereignty, working toward precision medicine that delivers safe, effective outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I serve on the NHMRC-MRFF Indigenous Advisory Group and the Lancet Global Commission on Precision Health, bringing community-led governance principles into genomic research design, ensuring data about our mob stays governed by our mob.

Natasha Morrison
Aboriginal Researcher
Ear & Hearing Health

I am an Aboriginal Researcher in the Ear and Hearing Health team at The Kids Research Institute Australia, with connections to Whadjuk, Wadandi, Yued, Yamatji and Gnarla Karla Boodja. As a proud mum of four, my passion for ear health is deeply personal. I experienced chronic ear disease growing up, and three of my children have also required ear surgery. These experiences drive my commitment to improving ear and hearing health outcomes for Aboriginal children and communities. For more than eight years, I have worked alongside families and communities, building trusted relationships and supporting culturally informed research that increases awareness, improves access to care, and empowers families. I am proud to contribute to the Healthy Ears clinical trial, helping create healthier futures for Aboriginal children.

Lily Hayward
Aboriginal Research Assistant
Youth Mental Health

I am a queer Noongar person working as an Aboriginal Research Assistant on the Pride Yarns project. Since 2023, I have been working on projects to improve and support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ young people. Pride Yarns is a co-designed program that brings together rainbow mob aged 18-30 together with Elders to provide a space for two-way learning, celebration and acceptance. This project is currently running its final pilot with the aim of sharing the project findings by the end of this year. 

Liam Tilbrook
Research Cadet
Infectious Diseases Epidemiology

My time at The Kids has been a fantastic experience. Beyond the welcoming and positive community, I’m continually inspired by the quality and impact of the work being done across the organisation. I’ve been able to continue developing my sarcoma research while also strengthening my biostatistics skills. My current work involves analysing gene expression across a range of paediatric solid tumours to identify patterns in tumour behaviour and help guide future research directions. So far, this experience has had a significant positive impact on both my technical capabilities and my interpersonal skills.

Amber Frankhuizen (Hunter)
Research Cadet
Infectious Diseases Epidemiology

I am a Nyikina, Warrwa, and Nyul-Nyul woman from the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) region in the Lower West Kimberley. I am currently in my final year of a Bachelor of Psychology (Extended Major) at The University of Western Australia and am a scholarship recipient at The Kids, where I work as an Aboriginal Cadet. Through this role, I rotate across research teams to gain broad, hands-on experience in health research. To date, my work has involved a cross-collaboration between the Ear Health and OMinWA teams, contributing to research that aims to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal communities. I have had the opportunity to serve as first author on a manuscript focused on otitis media, while continuing to strengthen my research capabilities and deepen my understanding of community-led and culturally responsive health research. I am passionate about contributing to research that creates meaningful, lasting benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.