Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience some of the highest rates of chronic illness in Australia, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes and kidney disease. Yet too often, digital health tools fail to meet their needs. Low trust, poor usability, and a lack of cultural alignment have left Indigenous patients excluded from the digital health revolution.

That is set to change with a new project funded by the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC), in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), iyarn, Indigenous-owned digital agency NGNY, and the Heart Research Institute’s Djurali Centre. The project will co-design and validate a culturally informed onboarding experience within the iyarn digital platform, making it easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients to engage with digital health services from their very first interaction.

“Digital health has incredible potential, but only if people feel safe and supported in using it,” said Lachlan Cooke, CEO of iyarn. “This project is about ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients living with chronic conditions start their digital journey with trust and confidence. By listening to communities and embedding their voices, we’re building technology that is genuinely useful and sustainable.”

The onboarding model will be developed in partnership with Aboriginal Medical Services and guided by Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles. It will feature plain-language consent, role-based data access, and integration of patient-reported outcomes and experiences (PROMs and PREMs) to provide clinicians with more meaningful insights to support care.

“At NGNY, we’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes when Indigenous people lead the design of technology,” said John Saulo, Director of NGNY. “Our role is to ensure the onboarding process reflects Indigenous knowledge systems, language, and ways of engaging. When technology is built in this way, it doesn’t just improve usability – it empowers communities.”

The project also integrates scientific rigour with cultural leadership. “Chronic illness care depends on meaningful engagement and the ability to track outcomes over time,” explained Dr. Malav Trivedi, Fractional Chief Scientist at iyarn. “By aligning cultural safety with robust science, this project creates a blueprint for how digital platforms can improve equity in health. It sets a new benchmark for digital health innovation.”

DHCRC CEO Annette Schmiede said the DHCRC is a strong advocate for indigenous voices in co-design, and trials like this ensure the implementation of digital health solutions that are fit for purpose among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander users.

“Working in genuine partnership with communities, researchers and experts, like iyarn, ensures the digital tools we create are culturally safe, trusted, and support better health outcomes,” Ms Schmiede said.

“Digital technology has a vital role to play in delivering innovative, culturally informed care to communities right across Australia – from major cities to the most remote regions – placing culture, connection, and community at the centre of healthcare.”

With co-design workshops, technical development led by Indigenous experts, and pilot testing planned at AMS sites, the project will deliver a trusted, culturally governed digital onboarding model ready for real-world impact.