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» About » Strategic plan NCIG by 2027Strategic plan NCIG by 2027
NCIG is an initiative of Australia’s national university, nurtured from a place of innovation, excellence and commitment to leadership in Indigenous research and policy. NCIG rests on a unique biological collection, without parallel in Australia for its size, quality and significance. From its foundation collection, NCIG will build an Indigenous genomic data resource which will be a research infrastructure asset available, through the Board, for use by researchers nationwide and worldwide. Under Indigenous governance, NCIG will facilitate genomic research that provides benefits to Indigenous Australians.
The National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG) is established under The Australian National University Act (1991) as a safe, permanent, national keeping place for biological samples, genomic and related data, and documents/records related to Indigenous peoples of Australia. The NCIG Collection is based on material donated for research purposes in the second half of the 20th Century by approximately 7,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at 43 localities. Additional material has since been donated to the Collection or created within it.
“This is a reconciliation story. It also involves [white fellas] – their mob helping to put things right. A reconciliation story. I’ve been talking about the DNA project – people want to give saliva samples as well. I have been telling people that NCIG is an Aboriginal organisation that is not going to allow things to go off into [white fella’s] hands and used for wrong purposes.” Kimberley, WA
Over the next 5 years our Centre will focus upon:
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BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE - CARING FOR THE COLLECTION
Sustainability, Resource and Capacity Building - securing sustainable funding for core infrastructure and personnel resources. This will ensure NCIG’s capacity to meet custodial, community engagement, research and ethical responsibilities; minimise risk, and to realise the Centre’s vision and mission to advance Indigenous genomics and deliver health benefits to Indigenous Australians.
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DRIVING A RESEARCH AGENDA TO BENEFIT INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
Leading, Participating, Supporting Research – implementing a research strategy comprising three objectives - to Lead, to Participate and to Support high quality research that benefits Indigenous people in accordance with their priorities. During the next five years NCIG will determine key steppingstones - the core people, the core science and the research agenda to drive both the work of NCIG and support the national Indigenous genomic scientific agenda within this five-to-ten-year timeframe.
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GROWING OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAPACITY and OUTREACH
Indigenous Partnerships, Fulfilling Obligations and Commitments - building team capacity and financial resources to enable the Centre to fulfill its obligations and commitments to engage with and consult Indigenous Australians. Our Centre’s engagement objectives will align with Community needs and benefits, and research priorities. Incorporating Community Engagement in grant funding and forging research partnerships will enhance the Centre’s capacity and open opportunities for consultation with Communities. NCIG will deliver targeted, engaging digital communications and compelling philanthropic programmes to support and fund NCIG’s Community engagement objectives.