New Fellowship to empower India’s healthcare workforce

The University of Adelaide’s JBI is proud to partner with the Australia Awards Fellowships, Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust (MANT), and the Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR) to help bridge the healthcare gap between Tribal and non-Tribal communities in West Bengal, India.

The Health Workforce Development in Evidence Implementation Fellowship will equip 15 mid-career researchers, policymakers and health practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to develop and implement sustainable and culturally appropriate evidence-based healthcare policy and practices.

These skills will address the unique healthcare needs of India’s Tribal community, a marginalised group currently facing a quadruple burden of diseases.

"This Fellowship is a significant step towards improving healthcare outcomes for India’s Tribal community," said Associate Professor Craig Lockwood, Implementation Science Director at JBI.

"Through this program, mid-career professionals will gain the necessary skills to address the unique healthcare needs of marginalised communities and lead evidence-based healthcare transformations."

JBI will work closely with CPHR, which addresses Tribal health inequities through evidence-based practice. This partnership ensures the program is tailored to local contexts and priorities while aligning with international best practices through the world-class training from JBI.

By focusing on intersectionality, equity, and evidence-based health interventions, the Fellowship will support healthcare practitioners in designing, implementing, and evaluating culturally appropriate evidence-based policy and healthcare interventions for Tribal communities.

"By addressing healthcare gaps between Tribal and non-Tribal communities, this Fellowship will empower policymakers and healthcare practitioners to become agents of change," said Australia Awards Fellow Dr Nirmalaya Mukherjee.

“A participatory approach is central to the Fellowship, where Tribal health priorities and local insights play a pivotal role in designing and implementing interventions.” 

"The skills and knowledge gained will enable us to implement evidence-based policies and practice changes with the potential to significantly improve health outcomes for Tribal communities."

Fellows will be engaging with First Nations researchers and clinicians from across Adelaide during their visit to Australia through a dedicated yarning session focused on knowledge exchange and capacity sharing for evidence-based healthcare approaches in India and Australia.

This Fellowship reflects JBI’s commitment to addressing global health disparities and promoting equity in healthcare. The networks and collaborations established through this program will create lasting impacts on healthcare systems in India.

Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Fellowships funded by the Australian Government. Australia Awards Fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region.

Fellowships target senior and mid-career officials and professionals who can advance development outcomes in priority areas and increase the institutional capacity of partner countries through their leadership.