Director of First Nations Strategy and Leadership
BA (Education) PhD Candidate
Area of research expertise: Aboriginal health and emotional wellbeing; Aboriginal research methodologies; policy and advocacy
Associate Professor Glenn Pearson is a Nyoongar and the Director First Nations Strategy and Leadership at the Telethon Kids Institute which is located on Nyoongar Whadjuk boodjar. A member of the Executive Team his position leads the implementation of the Institute’s Commitment to Aboriginal Children and Families (2020-2023) Statement. The Commitment drives the integration of Indigenous health across all operations of Institute and specifically the Institute’s research program. A trained primary school teacher, he has 15 years of experience in senior positions within the Australian and State Governments in a range of areas including health, education and child protection including almost 10 years with the now, Department of Communities (formerly Child Protection).
Since joining the Institute in 2005 he has established a broad program of research including in the areas of youth suicide and mental health, child development and FASD. Glenn led the establishment of the Institute’s Telethon Kids Kimberley Office to enable the Institute to establish a permanent ongoing presence across the Kimberley working in collaboration with key stakeholder organisations such as KAMS and its member organisations. This approach provides a model for conducting Aboriginal research in other regions such as the Pilbara and Perth Metropolitan areas.
Currently, Glenn’s primary area of research is in Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) where he is the Indigenous Lead for the Institute’s END RHD Program as well as the Australian Strep A Vaccine Alliance (ASAVI). The Australian Strep A Vaccine Initiative (ASAVI) is an Australian-led global initiative with the goal of reducing the disease burden caused by Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) infection through effective vaccination.
Glenn is an Associate Professor at The University of Western Australia.
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Projects
In partnership with Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service and the Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, we aim to improve Aboriginal lung health by determining for the first time the baseline lung function of Aboriginal Australians.
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Publications
December 2023
The landscape of genomic structural variation in Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians harbour rich and unique genomic diversity. However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestries are historically under-represented in genomics research and almost completely missing from reference datasets. Addressing this representation gap is critical, both to advance our understanding of global human genomic diversity and as a prerequisite for ensuring equitable outcomes in genomic medicine.
Published research Aboriginal Health Genomics Indigenous GenomicsMay 2023“Ngany Kamam, I Speak Truly”: First-Person Accounts of Aboriginal Youth Voices in Mental Health Service Reform
Aboriginal young people are experts in their own experience and are best placed to identify the solutions to their mental health and wellbeing needs. Given that Aboriginal young people experience high rates of mental health concerns and are less likely than non-Indigenous young people to access mental health services, co-design and evaluation of appropriate mental health care is a priority.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Mental Health & Wellbeing Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthApril 2023“Sometimes Our Mob Don't Really Take It Serious Until It's Serious”: The Experiences of Western Australian Aboriginal Adolescents Living With Type 2 Diabetes, Their Parents, and Their Family Members
In Australia, Aboriginal children experience disproportionate rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with non-Aboriginal children. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Aboriginal adolescents with T2D and their family members to better understand the influences of T2D on self-management, with findings used to inform an enhanced service model of care.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: DiabetesNovember 2022Invasive Infections Caused by Lancefield Groups C/G and A Streptococcus, Western Australia, Australia, 2000–2018
Epidemiologic data on invasive group C/G Streptococcus (iGCGS) infections are sparse internationally. Linked population-level hospital, pathology, and death data were used to describe the disease burden in Western Australia, Australia, during 2000-2018 compared with that of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) infections.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: END RHD Invasive Streptococcus A DiseaseSeptember 2022Assessing The Validity Of A Culturally Modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire For Use In Aboriginal Communities
Alcohol related harms disproportionately affect Aboriginal people in Australia. Motives to drink have been identified as the most proximal factor to alcohol consumption.The aim of this study is to assess the validity of a culturally modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised (DMQ-R) (Cooper, 1994) with Aboriginal participants. The study was cross sectional, utilising data collected via face-to-face surveys with a sample of adult Aboriginal participants.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Child DisabilityAugust 2022Investigating disparity in access to Australian clinical genetic health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Globally, there is a recognised need that all populations should be able to access the benefits of genomics and precision medicine. However, achieving this remains constrained by a paucity of data that quantifies access to clinical genomics, particularly amongst Indigenous populations.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health GenomicsJuly 2022Building a Nyoongar work practice model for Aboriginal youth mental health: prioritising trust, culture and spirit, and new ways of working
Mainstream youth mental health services struggle to comprehend the connection between colonisation and service provision for Aboriginal young people. This is the consensus agreed by Aboriginal Elders from Perth, Western Australia and young Aboriginal leaders within their communities.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthMarch 2022Improving primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever in Australia: consensus primary care priorities identified through an eDelphi process
To establish the priorities of primary care providers to improve assessment and treatment of skin sores and sore throats among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Rheumatic Heart Disease Aboriginal Health Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Subsite: END RHD Healthy Skin and ARF PreventionAugust 2021The Development and Implementation of a Culturally Safe Survey for Measuring Knowledge, Attitudes and Values around FASD and Alcohol Use During Pregnancy in a Remote Australian Aboriginal Community Setting
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Subsite: Alcohol and PregnancyJuly 2021Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <50 nmol/l) is recognised as a public health problem globally. The present study details the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged >/=18 years.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Vitamin D and Sunlight Aboriginal HealthSeptember 2021Searching for a technology-driven acute rheumatic fever test: the START study protocol
The absence of a diagnostic test for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a major impediment in managing this serious childhood condition. ARF is an autoimmune condition triggered by infection with group A Streptococcus.
Published research Rheumatic Heart Disease Systems Immunology Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Computational Biology Systems VaccinologyAugust 2021Co-Designing Health Service Evaluation Tools That Foreground First Nation Worldviews for Better Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes
It is critical that health service evaluation frameworks include Aboriginal people and their cultural worldviews from design to implementation. During a large participatory action research study, Elders, service leaders and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers co-designed evaluation tools to test the efficacy of a previously co-designed engagement framework. Through a series of co-design workshops, tools were built using innovative collaborative processes that foregrounded Aboriginal worldviews.
Published research Aboriginal Health Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Youth Mental HealthJune 2021Increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcal disease in Western Australia, particularly among Indigenous people
The incidence of invasive GAS disease in WA increased between 2000 and 2018, particularly among Indigenous Australians. Mandatory notification of invasive GAS disease would therefore be appropriate. The social determinants of differences in incidence should be addressed, and other relevant host, pathogen, and health system factors investigated.
Published research Aboriginal Health Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart Disease Subsite: END RHD Invasive Streptococcus A DiseaseMay 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 PeopleApril 2021Are outcomes for childhood leukaemia in Australia influenced by geographical remoteness and Indigenous race?
Presenting features, biology and outcome for childhood leukaemia are known to vary by ethnic origin, geographic location and socioeconomic group. This study aimed to compare presentation patterns, follow-up and clinical outcomes in Indigenous and non-Indigenous children with acute leukaemia in Australia, and to assess the impact of remoteness and area-based socioeconomic disadvantage on outcome.
Children's Cancers Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Leukaemia Translational ResearchOctober 2020Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <50 nmol/l) is recognised as a public health problem globally. The present study details the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample (n 3250) of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged ≥18 years. We used data from the 2012-2013 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem MS.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Vitamin D and Sunlight Aboriginal HealthNovember 2019Eighth annual conference of in VIVO planetary health: From challenges to opportunities
Here, we present the abstracts and proceedings of our 8th annual conference, held in Detroit, Michigan in May 2019, themed "From Challenges, to Opportunities"
Published researchOctober 2019Delivering Elder- and Community-Led Aboriginal Early Childhood Development Research: Lessons from the Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort Project
We describe the application of a participatory action research methodology that is grounded in Aboriginal worldviews
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal HealthOctober 2019Overcoming the challenges of caring for a child with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a Pilbara community perspective
The caregivers in this study have gained valuable knowledge and wisdom through caring for a child with FASD
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchMarch 2019Epidemiology of gastrostomy insertion for children and adolescents with intellectual disability
Gastrostomy is increasingly used in multiple neurological conditions associated with intellectual disability, with no apparent accessibility barriers
Published research Intellectual Disability Child DisabilityOctober 2017Hospital use in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients with chronic disease
Aboriginal people use health services in a different manner when compared to non-Aboriginal people
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal HealthOctober 2017The rationale for action to end new cases of rheumatic heart disease in Australia
The choice of RHD is telling: the disease is a marker of inequality, a novel lens for considering health systems and a feasible target for disease control.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Group A Streptococcal & Rheumatic Heart DiseaseJuly 2017Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and child sexual abuse in institutional settings
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse commissioned the Telethon Kids Institute to collaborate on a report
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Mental Health & WellbeingFebruary 2016Improving access to primary care for Aboriginal babies in Western Australia: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
A population-based, stepped wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial of an enhanced model of early infant primary care
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Academic Biostatistics Aboriginal HealthJanuary 2016Translating aboriginal genomics — four letters closing the gap
Establishing a genomic reference for Australian Aboriginal populations
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Genetics and HealthApril 2015Environmental health challenges in remote Aboriginal Australian communities: clean air, clean water and safe housing
A considerable health disparity exists between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, including a higher incidence and severity of cardiovascular and...
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Maternal Health & Child DevelopmentJanuary 2015Reduced forced vital capacity in Aboriginal Australians: Biology or missing evidence?
This editorial article addresses chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung function testing in Aboriginal Australians.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Children's Lung HealthApril 2014Early Vocabulary Development of Australian Indigenous Children: Identifying Strengths
The current study sought to increase our understanding of the factors involved in the early vocabulary development of Australian Indigenous children.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Early Childhood Development Language Development Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Maternal Health & Child DevelopmentJanuary 2014Evidence for the use of an algorithm in resolving inconsistent and missing Indigenous status in administrative data collections
We found that algorithms reduced the amount of missing data and improved within‑individual consistency.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human Development and Community WellbeingDecember 2012Genetic Research and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Human genetic research promises to deliver a range of health benefits to the population. Here we consider how the different levels of Indigenous research...
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Genetics and HealthJuly 2012Adjusting for under-identification of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander births in time series produced from birth records
Statistical time series derived from administrative data sets form key indicators in measuring progress.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human Development and Community WellbeingFebruary 2010Awareness and impact of the ‘Bubblewrap’ advertising campaign among Aboriginal smokers in Western Australia
Antismoking mass media campaigns have been shown to reduce smoking prevalence in the mainstream community.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health -
Education and Qualifications
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Active Collaborations