Indigenous Bone Health Study Guides Better Care in Australia

A new study out of Monash University is breaking ground by putting Indigenous voices at the center of bone health research, addressing a critical gap in Australian healthcare.

Despite experiencing higher rates of fragility fractures from simple falls, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have seen bone health largely ignored in medical research and policy. That's changing thanks to research co-led by Dr. Troy Walker, a Yorta Yorta man and Aboriginal researcher, alongside Associate Professor Ayse Zengin.

The team interviewed 82 Indigenous adults over 35 across Victoria, working closely with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organizations. They used an Indigenous research framework based on traditional Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing, ensuring the study honored cultural perspectives from the start.

What they discovered was eye-opening. Participants openly shared their distrust of Western medical conventions while expressing deep connection to ancestral remedies like bush medicines. Many felt rushed during GP appointments, with no time to discuss bone health properly.

The good news? Participants unanimously agreed on the value of allied health services for bone and muscle management. They also identified clear solutions: community-led education programs that blend traditional Indigenous knowledge with current health evidence.

The study revealed that chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes are affecting bone health in Indigenous communities. Yet current Australian policy barely addresses bone conditions like osteoporosis, where early screening could prevent devastating fractures.

The Ripple Effect

This research model itself represents progress. By centering Indigenous voices and partnering with Aboriginal health workers, the study demonstrates how healthcare research should work. The findings are already informing policy recommendations for culturally safe bone health programs.

The team emphasized that spirituality and co-created educational programs, often neglected in Indigenous health initiatives, are essential components. When communities design their own health programs, engagement and belonging increase dramatically.

The study also highlighted practical barriers like lack of exercise opportunities and insufficient consultation time with doctors. These aren't insurmountable problems. They're fixable with proper funding, community leadership, and policy attention.

Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the research calls for increased financial support and attention to bone health as a serious chronic disease issue. The researchers recommend that future programs incorporate traditional Indigenous practices alongside Western medicine, not as an afterthought but as equal partners.

This collaborative approach honors Indigenous wisdom while addressing a real health crisis, creating a blueprint for culturally safe healthcare that could transform outcomes across Australia.