Overview
Dr Alana Gall is a proud Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) woman whose ancestral heritage links to the north-east coast of Lutruwita (Tasmania), and more recently, the Bass Strait Islands of Cape Barren and Flinders Island.
Alana is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the First Nations Cancer & Wellbeing Research team, and the Project Manager of the What Matters 2 Adults Implementation project. Alana’s research focusses on wellbeing and holistic health for Indigenous peoples globally. The aim of the WM2A-I study she is managing, is to test the most appropriate and effective methods for implementing the newly developed WM2Adults Wellbeing measure - the first nationally-relevant wellbeing measure developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.
Alana has a background in nutritional medicine and has more than 10 years’ experience in research, research translation, community engagement, health education and clinical consultation. Alana’s PhD thesis, titled Exploring Wellbeing from Indigenous Perspectives, centres primarily on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ wellbeing but also includes a focus on the domains of wellbeing for Indigenous peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States.
On a personal note, Alana is passionate about empowering others to take control of their own health and believes better health and wellbeing can be achieved at a population level through transdisciplinary approaches that adhere to holistic models of health and wellbeing. Alana is also passionate about education, understanding on both an academic and personal level, that this is one significant way to lift individuals, families and communities out of poverty – having hope for the future is imperative to good health and wellbeing. Due to this passion, Alana produced a free worksheet for children during the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with Wingaru Kids about antimicrobial bush medicines and would love to collaborate in this space more.
Research Interests
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Indigenous peoples health and wellbeing globally
- Holistic models of health and wellbeing - Traditional, Complementary and Integrative medicine - Nutritional and herbal medicine - Spirituality and connectedness to Country/land and people
Research Impacts
Alana's work looking at Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM), specifically the use of these by First Nations peoples with cancer/diabetes, the disclosure of their use from the perspectives of both patients and healthcare providers, and healthcare providers perspectives of TCIM, has garnered much media and education recognition. Alana performed interviews with Triple J Radio (included in hourly news alerts), ABC Radio Darwin, TSIMA IndigiTUBE radio, Bumma Bippera Media, the NT News (newspaper) and Charles Darwin University E-news. Alana partnered with Wingaru, a First Nations education provider for teachers nationally, on an information and activity worksheet titled Antimicrobial Bush Medicines that was freely available for students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Alana was engaged as the cultural advisor on a new complementary medicine textbook, providing cultural and traditional medicine advice, which is the core text for a graduate level program.
Alana has contributed as both an employee and leading research, from the inception of the What Matters research program. This body of work has revolutionised how First Nations Australians’ wellbeing is understood in research and practice, developed the first national and culturally relevant wellbeing measure for First Nations adults, and is currently implementing this measure into routine cancer care. Measures for youth and children are underway and planned. Alana's research exploring self-reported wellbeing and health-related quality of life of First Nations peoples pre and post the first wave of COVID-19 2020 pandemic, was the first to publish this data in Australia. Wiley Publishing Company included Alana and this article in their 2022 NAIDOC week special edition as one of five featured authors.
Qualifications
- Member, Public Health Association of Australia, Public Health Association of Australia
- Doctor of Philosophy of Research, Charles Darwin University
- Masters (Research) of Research, Charles Darwin University
- Bachelor of Nutritional Medicine
Publications
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Journal Article: Development of the what matters 2 adults (WM2A) wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Howard, K., Garvey, G., Anderson, K., Dickson, M., Viney, R., Ratcliffe, J., Howell, M., Gall, A., Cunningham, J., Whop, L.J., Cass, A., Jaure, A. and Mulhern, B. (2024). Development of the what matters 2 adults (WM2A) wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. Social Science & Medicine, 347 116694, 116694. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116694
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Journal Article: The suitability and acceptability of the think-aloud method to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Gall, Alana, Howard, Kirsten, Anderson, Kate, Diaz, Abbey and Garvey, Gail (2023). The suitability and acceptability of the think-aloud method to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22. doi: 10.1177/16094069231182007
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Conference Publication: Developing a critical global public health agenda for traditional, complementary and integrative health care
Wardle, Jon, Gall, Alana, Gallego, Daniel, James, Peter and Wardle, Jon (2023). Developing a critical global public health agenda for traditional, complementary and integrative health care. 17th World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy, 2-6 May 2023. Heraklion, Greece: EU European Publishing. doi: 10.18332/popmed/164562
Grants
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A First Nations Cancer Cohort Study (CanCo)
(2024–2028) NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
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(2023–2028) NHMRC-Canadian Institutes of Health Research Healthy Cities Implementation Science Team Grants
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(2022) Cancer Australia
Publications
Journal Article
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Howard, K., Garvey, G., Anderson, K., Dickson, M., Viney, R., Ratcliffe, J., Howell, M., Gall, A., Cunningham, J., Whop, L.J., Cass, A., Jaure, A. and Mulhern, B. (2024). Development of the what matters 2 adults (WM2A) wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. Social Science & Medicine, 347 116694, 116694. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116694
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Gall, Alana, Howard, Kirsten, Anderson, Kate, Diaz, Abbey and Garvey, Gail (2023). The suitability and acceptability of the think-aloud method to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22. doi: 10.1177/16094069231182007
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Schilstra, Clarissa Evelyn, Ellis, Sarah J, Cohen, Jennifer, Gall, Alana, Diaz, Abbey, Clarke, Kristina, Dumlao, Gadiel, Chard, Jennifer, Cumming, Terry, Davis, Esther, Dhillon, Haryana, Burns, Mary Anne, Docking, Kimberley, Koh, Eng-Siew, O'Reilly, Josephine, Sansom-Daly, Ursula M, Shaw, Joanne, Speers, Nicole, Taylor, Natalie, Warne, Anthea and Fardell, Joanna E (2023). The need for support to resume study and work in adolescents and young adults with cancer: An environmental scan of online information and resources (Preprint). JMIR Cancer. doi: 10.2196/47944
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Hewlett, Nicole, Hayes, Lorian, Williams, Robyn, Hamilton, Sharynne, Holland, Lorelle, Gall, Alana, Doyle, Michael, Goldsbury, Sarah, Boaden, Nirosha and Reid, Natasha (2023). Development of an Australian FASD Indigenous framework: Aboriginal healing-informed and strengths-based ways of knowing, being and doing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (6) 5215, 1-25. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20065215
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Anderson, Kate, Gall, Alana, Butler, Tamara, Ngampromwongse, Khwanruethai, Hector, Debra, Turnbull, Scott, Lucas, Kerri, Nehill, Caroline, Boltong, Anna, Keefe, Dorothy and Garvey, Gail (2022). Development of key principles and best practices for co-design in health with First Nations Australians. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (1) 147, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010147
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A comprehensive review of optimal approaches to co-design in health with First Nations Australians
Butler, Tamara, Gall, Alana, Garvey, Gail, Ngampromwongse, Khwanruethai, Hector, Debra, Turnbull, Scott, Lucas, Kerri, Nehill, Caroline, Boltong, Anna, Keefe, Dorothy and Anderson, Kate (2022). A comprehensive review of optimal approaches to co-design in health with First Nations Australians. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (23) 16166, 1-38. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192316166
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Aspects of wellbeing for Indigenous youth in CANZUS countries: a systematic review
Anderson, Kate, Elder-Robinson, Elaina, Gall, Alana, Ngampromwongse, Khwanruethai, Connolly, Michele, Letendre, Angeline, Willing, Esther, Akuhata-Huntington, Zaine, Howard, Kirsten, Dickson, Michelle and Garvey, Gail (2022). Aspects of wellbeing for Indigenous youth in CANZUS countries: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (20) 13688, 1-44. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013688
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Gall, Alana, Diaz, Abbey, Garvey, Gail, Anderson, Kate, Lindsay, Daniel and Howard, Kirsten (2022). Self-reported wellbeing and health-related quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people pre and post the first wave of the COVID-19 2020 pandemic. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46 (2), 170-176. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13199
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Anderson, Kate, Gall, Alana, Butler, Tamara, Arley, Brian, Howard, Kirsten, Cass, Alan and Garvey, Gail (2021). Using web conferencing to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in research: a feasibility study. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 21 (1) 172, 172. doi: 10.1186/s12874-021-01366-y
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Gall, A., Diaz, A., Garvey, G., Anderson, K., Lindsay, D. and Howard, K. (2021). An exploration of the sociodemographic and health conditions associated with self-rated wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. BMC Research Notes, 14 (1) 386, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s13104-021-05794-3
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The fabric of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing: a conceptual model
Garvey, Gail, Anderson, Kate, Gall, Alana, Butler, Tamara L., Whop, Lisa J., Arley, Brian, Cunningham, Joan, Dickson, Michelle, Cass, Alan, Ratcliffe, Julie, Tong, Allison and Howard, Kirsten (2021). The fabric of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing: a conceptual model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (15) 7745, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18157745
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Garvey, Gail, Anderson, Kate, Gall, Alana, Butler, Tamara L., Cunningham, Joan, Whop, Lisa J., Dickson, Michelle, Ratcliffe, Julie, Cass, Alan, Tong, Allison, Arley, Brian and Howard, Kirsten (2021). What Matters 2 Adults (WM2Adults): understanding the foundations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (12) 6193, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18126193
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Gall, Alana, Anderson, Kate, Howard, Kirsten, Diaz, Abbey, King, Alexandra, Willing, Esther, Connolly, Michele, Lindsay, Daniel and Garvey, Gail (2021). Wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (11) 5832, 1-31. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115832
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Gall, Alana, Butler, Tamara L., Lawler, Sheleigh and Garvey, Gail (2021). Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine use among Indigenous peoples with diabetes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45 (6), 664-671. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13120
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Gall, Alana, Law, Charlee, Massey, Peter, Crooks, Kristy, Andrews, Ross and Field, Emma (2020). Outcomes reported for Australian First Nation populations for the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 pandemic and lessons for future infectious disease emergencies: a systematic review. Global Biosecurity, 1 (4). doi: 10.31646/gbio.76
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Using telehealth to support self-management of lymphoedema: clinicians’ and patients’ perspectives
Gall, Alana, Bradford, Natalie and Finnane, Anna (2020). Using telehealth to support self-management of lymphoedema: clinicians’ and patients’ perspectives. Journal of Lymphoedema, 15 (1), 29-35.
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Gall, A., Anderson, K., Adams, J., Matthews, V. and Garvey, G. (2019). An exploration of healthcare providers' experiences and perspectives of Traditional and complementary medicine usage and disclosure by Indigenous cancer patients. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19 (1) 259, 259. doi: 10.1186/s12906-019-2665-7
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Gall, A., Anderson, K., Diaz, A., Matthews, V., Adams, J., Taylor, T. and Garvey, G. (2019). Exploring traditional and complementary medicine use by Indigenous Australian women undergoing gynaecological cancer investigations. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 36, 88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.06.005
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Gall, Alana, Leske, Stuart, Adams, Jon, Matthews, Veronica, Anderson, Kate, Lawler, Sheleigh and Garvey, Gail (2018). Traditional and Complementary Medicine Use Among Indigenous Cancer Patients in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States: A Systematic Review. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 17 (3), 568-581. doi: 10.1177/1534735418775821
Conference Publication
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Wardle, Jon, Gall, Alana, Gallego, Daniel, James, Peter and Wardle, Jon (2023). Developing a critical global public health agenda for traditional, complementary and integrative health care. 17th World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy, 2-6 May 2023. Heraklion, Greece: EU European Publishing. doi: 10.18332/popmed/164562
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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A First Nations Cancer Cohort Study (CanCo)
(2024–2028) NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
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(2023–2028) NHMRC-Canadian Institutes of Health Research Healthy Cities Implementation Science Team Grants
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(2022) Cancer Australia
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(2021–2022) Cancer Australia
