About The MJY Project
The Miyil-Janay Yundu (MJY) - Looking after yourself project aims to strengthen the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through achieving equity in cancer screening programs participation. The MJY Project will be five years in duration.
The project has three key areas:
- Consumers and community
- Health services
- Health systems.
In partnership with community stakeholders, the MJY Project aims to co-design culturally responsive interventions that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in cancer screening.
Cancer Screening Information
Screening regularly is part of looking after yourself. Screening doesn’t mean you have cancer, but it can find cancer early before symptoms appear and when it may be easier to treat.
For more Information visit:
Our Mob and Cancer or Cancer screening
Funding
The MJY Project is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NMHRC) Synergy Grant Scheme (ID 2027475)
Ethics
This research is guided by best practice Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research ethics frameworks and guidelines such as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research.
Miyil-Janay Yundu (Looking After Yourself) is a 5-year project that aims to improve the lives of First Nations peoples through supporting participating in cancer screening.
The Miyil-Janay Yundu Project team at the University of Queensland, led by Kamilaroi researcher Prof. Gail Garvey, will work in partnership with First Nations communities and services that support them to co-design local strategies to achieving equity in cancer screening.
We will support community-driven design and delivery of initiatives that enable First Nations people to participate in cancer screening.
Meet the team
Project Chief Investigator: The MJY Project is led by Professor Gail Garvey, a Kamilaroi woman and Aboriginal researcher, an NHMRC Research Leadership Fellow and Professor of Indigenous Health Research in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Science at the University of Queensland.
Investigators
Professor Gail Garvey AM, NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Professor in Indigenous Health Research, The University of Queensland.
Professor Kirsten Howard, Honorary Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland and The University of Sydney.
Professor Peter Baade, Cancer Council Queensland.
Dr Tamara Butler, Research Fellow, University of Queensland, and The Australian National University.
Professor Sheleigh Lawler, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Associate Professor Geoff Spurling, The University of Queensland.
Dr Abbey Diaz, Honorary Research Fellow, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland and The Australian National University.
Project team
Dr Cassandra Vujovich-Dunn, Research Fellow, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Elisha Clements-Anderson, Research Administration Assistant, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Lorraine Tutton, Senior Project and Engagement Officer, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Ms. Stella Boyd-Ford, Post-Doc Research Fellow, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Uheina McDonald, Project Engagement Officer, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Students
Ms. Clare Mangoyana, , Principal Project Officer and PhD Candidate, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
To find out more about the project, please email uqmjy-screenqld@uq.edu.au
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Marlon Riley, a Kuku Yalanji man from Northen Queensland has shared Miyil-Janay Yundu as a name for this project. It means ‘Looking after yourself’ in the Kuku Yalanji language of Far North Queensland.
The MJY Project artwork was created by Craig Carson, Wakka Wakka, Cobble Cobble, with the cancer screening journey for First Nations people in mind, capturing the importance of enabling screening whilst maintaining connection to community and loved ones.
The inner circle has four elements representing the different screening options: home (self-collection); clinics (GP); hospital and mobile clinics. The outer circle symbolises the patient journey - with land and sea elements to represent the different areas across Queensland from the Torres Strait Islands, mainland, urban and remote settings. The circle represents that the journey of looking after yourself is ongoing.
Artwork colours are bright and life affirming. Screening regularly is part of looking after yourself. Screening doesn’t mean that cancer will be found. If there is cancer, to find it and start care as early as possible.