Inclusive clinical research is not a box to tick. It is a way of working.

In this episode of the Cognitio Podcast, Tim Boyle is joined by webinar presenters Jane Gaunson, Olivia Payne, Mariam Hachem and Bernard Kelly-Edwards to explore practical strategies for partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in clinical research.

The conversation highlights the role of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and the guiding principles of marra mgarrgoo, marra goorri — the Victorian Aboriginal Health, Medical, and Wellbeing Research Accord — as a pathway to embed cultural safety and self-determination in research practice. The team also shares lessons from the Flash GM study, including what co-design looks like on the ground, why relationships and trust must come first, and how culturally informed consent approaches can strengthen participant understanding and engagement.

Whether you’re a sponsor, CRA, site leader, investigator, ethics professional or work in governance, this episode offers grounded insights to help clinical trials deliver research that is respectful, relevant, and genuinely impactful.

Brought to you by ARCS Australia.