Goldfields health researcher honoured for contributions to Indigenous health

A Goldfields Aboriginal health worker and medical researcher has received a doctorate in recognition of her contributions to Indigenous health and wellbeing. Annette Stokes was made an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Western Australia last week. A Wongutha-Ngadju woman from the Goldfields, Ms Stokes is an accomplished artist and musician with a background in early childhood education and Aboriginal health research. She was integral to several major health research projects including the Western Desert Kidney Health Project and the Kalgoorlie Otitis Media Research Project. Ms Stokes was awarded the doctorate during a graduation ceremony at UWA’s Crawley campus last Thursday. Ms Stokes said while she did not love to bring attention to herself, she was pleased her work had been recognised, and she hoped the honour would bring further attention to the Aboriginal health sector. “I’m not used to talking about myself . . . but I’m really happy I got this award, I’m really proud of it,” she said. “The Western Desert Kidney Health Project and the otitis media (middle-ear disease) research was very important to me because I was able to be among my people and . . . look after their health and encourage them about their health. “I love my job as a researcher and going out to communities, and because I (care) about my people.” At the age of 18, Ms Stokes began work as a teaching assistant at Mount Margaret Aboriginal Community, which sparked her interest in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal women and children. In 1997 she established WA’s first Aboriginal play group in Laverton to support Indigenous families. She went on to work with Aboriginal women’s health group Ngunytju Tjitji Pirni in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and trained as a maternal and child health worker with her sister-in-law Dr Christine Jeffries-Stokes, Professor Fiona Stanley, and Jan Payne. Ms Stokes soon moved into full-time medical research with Dr Deborah Lehmann on the Kalgoorlie Otitis Media Research Project. In 2004, she was awarded the Fiona Stanley Medal for her work on the project, which looked at potential causes for the prevalence of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear in children. Ms Stokes was the chief investigator for the Western Desert Kidney Health Project, which demonstrated high incidences of kidney disease in Goldfields communities could be linked to excessive levels of nitrates in drinking water. The heavily contaminated bore water was also found to cause other serious health implications such as type two diabetes, thyroid disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and increased risks of pregnancy complications and cancer. In 2018, Ms Stokes was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to Indigenous health, medical research, and to the Goldfields community. She is now the chief investigator for the Heavy Metal Tooth Fairy Project, which will start next year. The project will investigate evidence that elevated solute concentrations in groundwater-derived drinking water can generate toxic exposure and create adverse health outcomes. Researchers will use geochemical analysis of deciduous (children’s) teeth to search for evidence of heavy metal exposure in children living in remote areas. The study will compare baby teeth donated from Perth-based children to those living in remote Australia, from Wiluna to the Central Desert. Ms Stokes said the study aimed to identify childhood exposure to heavy metals in remote communities and provide residents with the skills to assess their drinking water so they could advocate for change. “They can’t (control) the water that they’re drinking in the communities,” she said. “So if we can (advocate) for filters, proper maintenance and things like that, it will help to improve health outcomes.” The project also aims to build awareness and knowledge of environmental health and dental hygiene in remote communities.