About Us
The What Matters Research Program comprises a suite of innovative, high-quality, applied research wellbeing studies conducted by and in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities.
The What Matters Research Program is co-led by Professor Gail Garvey, a senior Aboriginal researcher from The University of Queensland and Professor Kirsten Howard from the School of Public Health, The University of Sydney.
Our research team is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous researchers from across Australia.
About the Artwork
The What Matters Research Program’s in-house design team worked together to create our artwork and graphic elements. Aboriginal artist Craig Carson a Wakka Wakka / Cobble Cobble man, with graphic/communications designer Colleen Lourenco, who has worked alongside Australia’s First Nation’s peoples for over 25 years.
The logo includes the long held tradition of weaving to represent the strength and resilience of First Nations people. This ties in with What Matters’ structure of the research, weaving in family, community and culture to ensure the best research outcomes for Indigenous people. The Bottle tree in the middle provides shelter for First Nations people to sit, communicate and rest. The tree also holds water within the trunk and food within the roots. It is a holistic view to overall wellbeing for kids, youth and adults.