A heart for health equality
JENNIFER Browne, from the Institute for Health Transformation (IHT) at Deakin University, has been awarded a 2020 Heart Foundation postdoctoral fellowship to continue her research into Indigenous food and nutrition.
Dr Browne’s project, “Food and Nutrition Policy for First Nations peoples – translating evidence into action”, builds on her research as a dietitian, public health nutritionist and Alfred Deakin postdoctoral fellow at IHT’s Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE).
Her research focuses on which options in food and nutrition policy, such as subsidising healthy foods or marketing a tax on sugary beverages, are likely to be most acceptable for the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
The connection between cardiovascular health and nutrition is clear. Research shows that unhealthy diets are a major contributor to the burden of preventable disease in Australia.
Two-thirds of Australians are considered overweight or obese, which puts them at higher risk of heart disease, a preventable condition that is our No 1 killer. “If we can improve nutrition, we can improve people’s heart health,” Dr Browne said.
“I think we need to level the playing field so everyone has the opportunity to make good choices about nutrition.
“If you live in an area where there are fast-food outlets on every corner, or you’re on a low income and good quality food is expensive, how are you supposed to make a healthy choice, compared to a wealthier person living where healthy food is easily obtainable and affordable?” she said.
Dr Browne has long been an advocate for Aboriginal health equality. Improving access to healthy food and nutrition has been her focus since she attended a guest lecture given by two Aboriginal health workers during her dietitian training.
“I was so inspired by the work they did with their communities and I think that was the moment I decided I wanted to work in Aboriginal health and became interested in the broader topic of Aboriginal nutrition policy,” she said.
Dr Browne’s experiences as a dietitian at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, and more than 12 years as a public health nutritionist with peak body the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), developed her awareness that improving nutrition required changing the broader food environment and policies, rather than focusing on individual behavioural change.
It also became clear to her that governments didn’t prioritise Aboriginal nutrition.
“If we’re going to change that, then we need to understand how policy decisions are made, especially at the federal level, and how we can influence them,” she said.
Dr Browne’s research at GLOBE (supported by a VicHealth Research Impact Grant) has reviewed the international literature to assess the effectiveness of food policy actions on Indigenous peoples in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.
During her Heart Foundation fellowship, she will review the qualitative literature and undertake food policy workshops with Victorian Aboriginal communities, while continuing to work closely with VACCHO and Indigenous researchers at Deakin, such as Alfred Deakin professor and chair in Race Relations, Yin Paradies.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are among the most researched people in the world,” Dr Browne said.
“They’re often asked what their issues are, but not a lot of action takes place as a result,” Dr Browne said.
“In reviewing the different consultation-type studies where Aboriginal people have been asked about their priorities and concerns around food and nutrition policy, I plan to develop a clear picture that they have been consistently advocating for A, B and C and hopefully we can use that to strengthen our case for action.”