Aboriginal Health RFA Deputy Chair
Dip. Teaching, MPH&TM, PhD
Professor Coffin is a prominent Aboriginal researcher with research expertise in cultural security, education and research across a diverse range of chronic diseases, nutrition, contextualising bullying, and health promotion. Professor Coffin holds a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (with distinction) and a PhD with an award in excellence. With a keen interest in Aboriginal languages and ways of learning Professor Coffin combines her education and cultural learnings to deliver the outstanding translation of research into practice that is always of an impeccable standard. She is highly regarded by her peers as being creative and innovative around some of the particularly controversial and complex areas in Aboriginal health and education. Professor Coffin is an accredited Equine Psychotherapy Practitioner.
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Projects
The DETECT-Schools Study was launched in May 2020 as a partnership between the WA Government Departments of Education and Health with the Telethon Kids Institute.
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Publications
January 2021
Addressing surgical inequity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia's universal health care system: a call to action
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience health inequity within the Australian health care system. Little research has examined how disparities in surgical care access and outcomes contribute to Aboriginal health. In this narrative review and call to action, we discuss five care points along the journey to high-quality surgical care: health care seeking, primary health care services, specialist services, surgery and surgical outcomes.
Published research Aboriginal Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young PeopleApril 2021The role of governance in Indigenous medical education research
This article considers the role of governance in Indigenous medical education research through the lens of an Australian Aboriginal research project titled Healing Conversations. The Healing Conversations project is developing and testing a targeted educational framework for improved clinical communication between healthcare practitioners and Australian Aboriginal peoples in regional and urban locations. It is proposed that an effective governance approach can support Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders to work together in decision-making structures to enable outcomes that promote and prioritise Indigenous worldviews and values in medical education research.
Published research Aboriginal Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young PeopleMay 2021Our journey, our story: a study protocol for the evaluation of a co-design framework to improve services for Aboriginal youth mental health and well-being
Mainstream Australian mental health services are failing Aboriginal young people. Despite investing resources, improvements in well-being have not materialised. Culturally and age appropriate ways of working are needed to improve service access and responsiveness. This Aboriginal-led study brings Aboriginal Elders, young people and youth mental health service staff together to build relationships to co-design service models and evaluation tools.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Youth Health Youth Mental Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young PeopleSeptember 2021The development of aboriginal brain injury coordinator positions: A culturally secure rehabilitation service initiative as part of a clinical trial
Brain injury, resulting from stroke and traumatic brain injury, is a common occurrence in Australia, with Aboriginal people affected at a significant rate and impact felt by individuals, families and communities. Access to brain injury rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people is reported to be often limited, with very little support outside the hospital environment.
Published research Aboriginal Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young PeopleSeptember 2021Healing Right Way: Study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial to enhance rehabilitation services and improve quality of life in Aboriginal Australians after brain injury
Despite higher incidence of brain injury among Aboriginal compared with non-Aboriginal Australians, suboptimal engagement exists between rehabilitation services and Aboriginal brain injury survivors. Aboriginal patients often feel culturally insecure in hospital and navigation of services post discharge is complex.
Published research Aboriginal Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young PeopleJuly 2020Tackling the Burden of Osteoarthritis as a Health Care Opportunity in Indigenous Communities-A Call to Action
Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent and disabling disease, causing a significant individual and socioeconomic burden worldwide. Until now, there has been a dearth of research exploring the impact of osteoarthritis in global Indigenous communities.
Published research Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young PeopleJanuary 2020Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women's management of chronic disease
The caring roles and responsibilities Aboriginal women have in their community impact on their health
Published research Aboriginal HealthMarch 2019Wongi mi bardup (doing it our way): Methodologies promoting Aboriginal knowledges and cultural practices for Birthing on Noongar Boodjar
This paper sets out the methodological and theoretical considerations which framed how the Birthing on Noongar Boodjar project was conducted
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Maternal Health & Child DevelopmentSeptember 2019SToP (See, Treat, Prevent) skin sores and scabies trial: study protocol for a cluster randomised, stepped-wedge trial for skin disease control in remote Western Australia
Skin infection burden in remote Aboriginal communities can be reduced by the See, Treat, Prevent (SToP skin sores and scabies) trial
Published research Skin Infections Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Skin HealthOctober 2019The Nguudu Barndimanmanha Project-Improving Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Through Equine Assisted Learning
We observed improvements in self-regulation, self-awareness, and socialization skills, evident from the photography recording and the questionnaire data
Published research Aboriginal HealthOctober 2019“Our culture, how it is to be us” — Listening to Aboriginal women about on Country urban birthing
The Birthing on Noongar Boodjar project Aboriginal women's data represents four generations of women's stories, experiences and expressions of childbearing
Published research Aboriginal HealthDecember 2019General practitioners’ perceptions of their communication with Australian Aboriginal patients with acquired neurogenic communication disorders
GPs report difficulty recognising acquired communication disorders and their lack of prioritising assessment and treatment of communication ability after brain injur
Published research Aboriginal Health