Ricky Spencer hosts a thought-provoking discussion about the role of health research in promoting health equity, particularly for marginalized communities in Australia, featuring two distinguished researchers, Dr James Fowler and Sarah Warzywoda, who share their insights and experiences.

A research fellow at the University of Queensland, Dr Fowler highlights the importance of recognizing individual experiences within the broader LGBTIQ+ community, discussing his work on the ‘Blak and Proud’ project at UQ Poche, which focuses on working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIASGBB+ peoples to develop the ‘BLAK PRIDE’ Model of Care, emphasizing the need for tailored healthcare models that address unique community needs which are Indigenous led, controlled, and governed.

Sarah Warzywoda, a research associate at the Kirby Institute, focuses on the critical issue of HIV prevention among young people, particularly the access and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the rising HIV notifications among youth, the stigma that often accompanies PrEP, and introduces some of the research findings that explain what can deter individuals from seeking necessary healthcare.

Both guests stress the importance of community-based participatory research, where community voices are integral to the research process, and the ethical considerations, such as data sovereignty, in conducting research with marginalized populations.