UCRH PhD candidate Caroline Deen has been awarded a Diabetes Australia grant to support her research on developing better ways to understand and measure food security for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Caroline is a Kamilaroi researcher whose PhD is supervised by Associate Professor Veronica Matthews (UCRH), Simone Sherriff (University of Sydney), Professor Julie Brimblecombe (Monash University) and Dr Alana Gall (Southern Cross University). Her work is grounded in partnerships with CSIRO and two communities whose voices have historically been underrepresented in food security research: Masig Island (Yorke Island in the Torres Strait region) and Bundjalung Country (Northern Rivers).
Her project uses Indigenous research methodologies and systems thinking to co-create meaningful measures of success that reflect the priorities and knowledge of community members. These measures will help guide local food security strategies and strengthen state and national policy, monitoring and evaluation.
Caroline says the postgraduate award ($40,000 over two years) will allow her to progress this important work in partnership with communities.
“This grant enables me, as a Kamilaroi researcher, to progress my PhD in partnership with communities, supporting research that centres lived experience and strengthens the evidence needed for more equitable diabetes prevention and management.”
She says improving how food security is understood and measured is essential to addressing diabetes risk in ways that reflect everyday realities.
“Improving how food security is understood and measured helps ensure initiatives are grounded in the lived realities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, strengthening diabetes prevention and management through more targeted, equitable and effective action.”
This project highlights the role of community driven research in shaping healthier futures and reflects UCRH’s commitment to health equity, cultural strength and research that responds directly to local priorities.
Image above: Caroline pictured with Masig Island Food Security Indigenous Governance Group and community members, September 2025
