S03 EP 03: Whose data, whose story? Indigenous health in digital systems

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health relies on more than just clinical data - it depends on community, culture, and a holistic view of wellbeing. In this episode, it explores why Indigenous data sovereignty is critical to digital health reform and how current systems often fail to capture what matters in First Nations care. **Guests:** Danielle Dyall & Dr Andrew Goodman **Key topics discussed:** - **Holistic health and social emotional wellbeing** - Detailing how Indigenous health includes cultural, community, and spiritual factors, and why electronic medical records rarely reflect this full picture. - **Indigenous data sovereignty -** Both guests explain the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ownership and control of their data, highlighting practical movements and policy reforms supporting this. - **Co-design and trust -** The need for genuine co-design with communities is emphasised as essential for creating culturally safe, effective digital health systems and standards. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear practical examples of how decontextualised data can misrepresent patient needs and why systems change must centre Indigenous perspectives from the start. Discussing the importance of aligning digital reforms with national policy commitments such as Closing the Gap, which prioritises data access and sovereignty for First Nations communities.