Professor Garvey is a proud Goori woman from NSW, a NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Professor of Indigenous Health Research in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland.
Professor Garvey was among the first researchers to recognise the substantial impact of cancer on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and her work has contributed greatly to key policy and practice change to improve their cancer outcomes.
She has established an extensive and targeted research program focused on cancer and the wellbeing of Australia’s First Nations people.
Professor Garvey currently leads TACTICS, a National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in targeted approaches to improve cancer services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities. Her research into the psychosocial aspects of cancer care for First Nations cancer patients and their caregivers is a critical component to improving cancer outcomes.
Her research program of work also focuses on understanding and measuring the dimensions of wellbeing important to and valued by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the life course, which is important for developing/evaluating health interventions.
Along with her research expertise, Gail’s strengths lie in her leadership and her collaborative approach to bringing key stakeholders – First Nations people affected by cancer, researchers, and clinicians – together to achieve common goals.
Her research has attracted over $35 million in funding, and she has published over 190 peer-reviewed publications.