The fortnightly BRAG meeting will be held this Thursday, November 14th, at 1 pm via Zoom/GP-Y801. This week we will have a presentation by Becki Cook along with a discussion.
Zoom link: https://qut.zoom.us/j/87361362842?pwd=JsAgV4W0kQ50bjAC10kKrn8pnzYbu1.1
Meeting ID: 873 6136 2842
Passcode: 657629
Becki’s Talk
Title: Empowering communities through data literacy: exploring Indigenous Australians’ perceptions, engagement and understanding of data.
Abstract:
Data literacy stands as a crucial skill necessary for informed decision-making and active participation in modern society. Particularly in the realm of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, it plays a pivotal role in facilitating engagement with healthcare services and supporting health management, Indigenous data sovereignty, and Indigenous data governance. Despite the growing global recognition of Indigenous data sovereignty and governance, there remains a lack of frameworks for understanding and enhancing data literacy within Indigenous communities. To address this gap, a collaborative study was developed in partnership with a community-controlled health service in Queensland, Australia. This project aimed to shed light on the current level of data literacy, community perceptions of data, and gather community input for enhancing data literacy. Employing an Indigenist research framework ensured that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledge systems and perspectives were central throughout the research process, including design, data collection, and analysis. Through qualitative methods, including 20 semi-structured interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members who engaged with the health service, this study offers insights into their views on data and data literacy. The findings presented have implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities, offering insights into ways to strengthen data literacy and empower Indigenous peoples in navigating data-driven landscapes.