I had the privilege of joining colleagues at the annual HMRI Awards Night, where our Imaging Centre received the “Greater than the Sum of Our Parts” Award. It was a really meaningful moment for our team and for the work we are trying to do in Aboriginal-led, culturally respectful imaging and research.

The award recognises collaboration, inclusivity and the ability to bring different strengths together to create something larger than any one person or discipline could achieve. That is exactly what our Imaging Centre represents. Working alongside Associate Professor Saad Ramadan, Professor Michael Breakspear, Shiamii Luchow, Kristen Fisher, Emily Grellman and Dr Jennifer Rumble, and partnering closely with researchers across the University of Newcastle, we have built a space where advanced MR imaging meets culturally informed practice.

For me, the most powerful part of this award is that it acknowledges the importance of Aboriginal-led research. Our team has been working to embed respectful imaging methods, strengthen trust and create meaningful outcomes for community. Seeing this recognised publicly felt huge. It also highlights the shift we are trying to influence in medical research where community priorities, culture and scientific excellence sit side by side.

Awards nights are usually fast paced but standing together on stage, I felt genuinely proud of the work that has gone into building this capability. From technical innovation to cultural guidance to the day-to-day effort behind the scenes, everyone in the Imaging Centre contributed to this achievement.