Major fellowship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researcher

Dr Kate Hunter, Senior Research Fellow in the Injury Division at The George Institute, has been awarded a prestigious Early-Mid Career Fellowship from NSW Health for her work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Dr Hunter’s research focuses on better understanding referral pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children following a burn injury. This fellowship will offer her research support over three years, in the form of personnel and project support. 

“NSW Health has priority areas of implementation science, evaluation and improvement, and epidemiology. Their focus is a good fit for me and this fellowship is a natural progression from my current work,” said Dr Hunter. 

Of the 277 applications to the fellowship from across NSW, only 19 were successful. Dr Hunter will use it to continue her current NHMRC funded project to:

  • identify the processes for referral and treatment of children who present to an emergency department in NSW with a burn injury
  • describe awareness and understanding of the referral guidelines
  • develop processes to facilitate more widespread, equitable and systematic referral processes leading to integrated care of the child
  • develop a new Model of Care for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child who presents with a burn injury.

“This provides recognition for my body of work to date and puts me in a good position for funding potential in the future. So in a work sense, this means everything for my career and is transformative in the development of my body of work,” said Dr Hunter.

“The strong track record of my supervisor, Prof Rebecca Ivers and the research support provided by The George Institute were integral to my submission. Guided by the project’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group, and working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, researchers and stakeholders this research opportunity can lead to optimal outcomes for children with a burn injury in NSW through increasing referral efficiencies.”