

Michelle Bovill
Co-developing health information appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities.
A Wiradjuri woman, Ms Bovill says it is important to make sure smoking cessation information and tools are developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who are three times more likely to smoke during pregnancy than non-Indigenous Australian pregnant women.
By using yarning circles – an important style of conversation and story-telling used by Indigenous peoples from around the world for centuries to build respectful relationships, and to learn, preserve and pass on cultural knowledge – Ms Bovill was able to build trust with focus group participants and create a culturally safe, collaborative environment.
Her research forms part of an article she has co-authored in the current issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, while her article Wula (Voices) of Aboriginal women on barriers to accepting smoking cessation support during pregnancy was published in Women and Birth.
What area of research to you work in?
My research is conducted in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. My research focus is maternal smoking, but more specifically in articulating how we can develop culturally responsive supports and interventions to reduce the prevalence of maternal smoking in our communities.How did you get into research?
I saw a job advertised for a short term Aboriginal Research Assistant at the University of Newcastle, the role was conducting qualitative interviews and I already had experience with qualitative research in my honours and masters degrees, so I applied. I was in a place of transition after the sudden loss of an uncle and was looking for a new direction to help my healing journey.What are some of the key findings of your research to date?
My research found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who continue to smoke are significantly reducing their cigarette intake during pregnancy and most often this is on their health professionals advice. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women want help from their health professionals to quit smoking but this support is often inconsistent and weak.How important was funding from the Heart Foundation for your work?
As a mother of three young children the Heart Foundation support was crucial to ensuring I can reduce work hours and focus on completing my PhD in three years. I have also had more time to present my research at important National and International conferences for Tobacco Control and Indigenous Health.What are you currently researching?
I am in my final year of my PhD researching culturally responsive approaches for the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in smoking cessation care.What progress and discoveries have you made?
I have conducted individual yarning with Aboriginal women exploring barriers to accessing and excepting smoking cessation support during pregnancy, developed health education resources in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and communities, piloted an intervention of health provider training in 6 Aboriginal Medical Services in 3 states. I have discovered more needs to be done in the area of maternal smoking cessation care but it is a priority for Closing the Gap in health inequalities and a priority within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women want to quit smoking during pregnancy but need the right support. More program and intervention evaluations are needed to provide quality evidence on how smoking cessation during pregnancy can meaningful and successful in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.Do you have a message for Heart Foundation supporters?
Thank you so much for your generous support. Australia needs more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers to address our health inequalities bringing together Indigenous knowledges and voices to the health research space. Through your support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers can engage our communities in research on a new level built on respect, honesty and trust. Respectful and ethical research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities requires significant time, your generous scholarship offers us the ability to do this. Mandaang Guwu (Thank you).Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Full list of clinical guidlines and references for CVD, heart failure, ACS, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, SCAD and RHD...
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation programs and resources to support your recovery....
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Together, we can make heart disease history. Donate today to help fund ground-breaking heart research and keep families together this Christmas. ...
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Our range of clinical and patient support resources are available for you to use in your daily practice....
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Join the Heart Foundation community. Together, we can make a real difference for Australian hearts. ...
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Join the fight against Australia’s biggest killer by supporting the Heart Foundation. ...
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Visit the St Vincents Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information...
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
There is no single cause for any one heart condition, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing one. ...
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Sign up now and discover delicious, easy to follow dinner recipes. Plus shopping lists, tips and other helpful information to make healthy eating easy. ...
CVD risk assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
CVD risk assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
This consensus statement contains recommendations for assessing CVD risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged under 35....
Reading food labels
Reading food labels
Reading food labels
Nutrition information panels and ingredients lists are a good way of comparing similar foods so you can choose the healthiest option....
Baking recipes
Baking recipes
Baking recipes
Find heart healthy baking recipes ...
Fats, oils and heart health
Fats, oils and heart health
Fats, oils and heart health
Get the right balance of healthy fats in your diet ...
What is angina?
What is angina?
What is angina?
Angina is a type of chest pain or discomfort that’s a symptom of an underlying heart problem, usually coronary heart disease (CHD)....
Applying for research funding with the Heart Foundation
Applying for research funding with the Heart Foundation
Applying for research funding with the Heart Foundation
Discover more about our various funding programs, requirements, and application dates now....
What's your BMI?
What's your BMI?
What's your BMI?
Are you within a healthy weight range for your height?...
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
The fundraising race where you set the pace. Run, jog or walk MyMarathon at your own pace during October....
Hypertension clinical information and guidelines
Hypertension clinical information and guidelines
Clinical information for diagnosis and management of hypertension....
Healthy eating to protect your heart
Healthy eating to protect your heart
Healthy eating to protect your heart
What does a heart-friendly diet look like?...
CVD and COVID-19 Grant
CVD and COVID-19 Grant
Grants to support ground-breaking research focused on COVID-19 and its interaction with heart conditions....
What is a heart attack?
What is a heart attack?
What is a heart attack?
The most common cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease....
What is cardiac rehab?
What is cardiac rehab?
What is cardiac rehab?
Cardiac rehab is proven to keep you out of hospital and reduce your risk of death from heart conditions....
What is an arrhythmia?
What is an arrhythmia?
What is an arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia is a fault in the heart’s electrical system, which affects your heart’s pumping rhythm....
A nurse shares her top recovery tips for young cardiac patients
A nurse shares her top recovery tips for young cardiac patients
A nurse shares her top recovery tips for young cardiac patients
Pauline is a nurse and shares advice for young people who have had a heart event or are recovering from surgery....
Supporting local Councils in South Australia
Supporting local Councils in South Australia
Supporting local Councils in South Australia
Resources to help support your council region to be healthy, connected and safe....
Snack recipes
Snack recipes
Snack recipes
Search for healthy snack ideas...
Absolute CVD risk assessment resources
Absolute CVD risk assessment resources
Resources and clinical information for health professionals...
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Would you like to improve the cardiovascular health of your patients?...
How a pacemaker at 34 saved my life
How a pacemaker at 34 saved my life
How a pacemaker at 34 saved my life
Kim shares the emotional and physical upheaval experienced on her journey to diagnosis and recovery....
What is a healthy body weight?
What is a healthy body weight?
What is a healthy body weight?
Find out what a healthy body weight is and the steps you can take to achieve it. ...