September 2, 2025
Insights, decisions and recommendations from First Nations community panels during the COVID-19 pandemic show how governments and health authorities can improve outcomes for First Nations peoples in future health emergencies.
The early success of the First Nations COVID-19 response in Australia – with low case numbers and deaths – was widely credited to strong leadership and coordination by First Nations peoples, for First Nations peoples. Communities acted quickly to keep families safe, guided by cultural knowledge and priorities.
Community panels can lead to more effective, inclusive and equitable responses to infectious disease emergencies – ones that are meaningful and reflective of First Nations people’s lives.
Research during the COVID-19 pandemic and recently published aimed to engage First Nations peoples to make decisions on how public health authorities and government departments should support families and communities.
Community panels were held across Australia and online in 2020 but the perspectives offered remain relevant for future infectious disease threats.
A consistent message across all panels was the importance of embedding First Nations worldviews in health policy.
Participants stressed that self-determination must be supported and resourced in preparing for future health emergencies, warning of negative impacts if First Nations peoples are not intentionally included and actively engaged.
The panels gave recommendations across the following priorities and perspectives:
- Public health communication
- Education support during pandemics
- Community engagement and empowerment
- Cultural safety and competence
- Public health workforce
- Building community trust and strengthening governance
- Targeted public health strategies
- Pandemic preparedness and response
The research highlights that engaging First Nations peoples through methods such as community panels provides governments and health authorities with a deeper understanding of contextual challenges.
Original research article
Kristy Crooks (Euahlayi), Kylie Taylor (Gamilaroi), Jody Hansen (Wangkatja, Mirning, Wudjari), Jacynta Savo (Gooreng Gooreng, Yidinji), Sandy Campbell (Mandandantji), Adrian Miller (Jirrbal), Peter D Massey, Ross M Andrews, Chris Degeling. “No one ever comes back and asks us how could we do it better”: findings from First Nations community panels about ways to keep First Nations peoples safe from COVID-19. AlterNative, first published online April 30, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/11771801251334916