Medical Research

What are your research interests?

I am interested in the reproductive health of Indigenous Australians – the factors that influence the health of Indigenous babies as well as interventions to encourage healthy approaches for the long-term health of both mother and baby.

Why did you get into research?

Both my children were born prematurely so I have experienced first-hand the complications that can occur from a preterm birth. My daughter suffered significant health issues as a result of her early birth. This was been extremely challenging for myself and my family, but it made me consider how much more difficult it would be for people who are disadvantaged.

The Indigenous community have a significantly greater rate of preterm birth in their communities. Combine this with lower socio-economics and remoteness from medical assistance and I could see how disadvantaged these babies can be before they have even entered the world.

I was drawn to work with these communities to make a difference in improving birth outcomes and improving the health of the mother and their babies.

What would be the ultimate goal for your research?

To lower the rate of preterm births in the Indigenous community – healthy women having healthy babies for the long-term better health of the Indigenous community.

Biography

Associate Professor Kym Rae began her career as a school teacher in Tamworth before pursuing an interest in reproductive health. Her PhD studies, completed in 2007 at the University of New England, examined the complexities of predicting the onset of labor.

Employed by the Department of Rural Health, her work naturally progressed towards reducing premature and low birth weight deliveries in Indigenous communities. Associate Professor Rae has since been a driving force and Director for the University of Newcastle Gomeroi gaaynggal research and Arts-Health programs in Tamworth that engages Indigenous women during their pregnancy and beyond.

Art sessions and doll making coincide with ongoing health education and checks where researchers monitor everything from mental health to cardiovascular and renal health. Mothers and babies are then followed up until the age of 5.

Associate Professor Rae has mentored Indigenous staff involved in Gomeroi gaaynggal to enhance their research skills and return research capacity to disadvantaged communities. She has personally mentored five Indigenous women through to the successful completion of the Indigenous Research Capacity Building Cert IV.

She has published over 70 conference and journal papers while being involved with grant funding exceeding $4 million.

Future Focus

• Extend the Gomeroi gaanyggal research project to follow babies through to the age of 10
• Form international collaborations with other Indigenous health studies

Specialised/Technical Skills

• Indigenous health
• Longitudinal cohort studies

Affiliations

• Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science
• Department of Rural Health
• Priority Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing
• Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition
• Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education (CEEHE)
• Wollotuka