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Problem: An important aspect of the work that takes place in and across our Aboriginal Health and Ageing research group is about building partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‐Indigenous people. Partnerships are created between colleagues and co‐researchers as well as with community Elders, Aboriginal community‐controlled organisations, community groups and associations and individuals. Setting: To fully realise this has required an introspective look at the way we function as a team of Aboriginal researchers and non‐Indigenous researchers working together. It has challenged us to explore and determine our shared visions and shared outcomes and to develop strong, enduring and authentic partnerships by putting culture at the centre of everything we do. Key measures for improvement: This wisdom‐led approach has fostered the development of a shared narrative about research WITH Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and a shared language of research collaboration. Strategies and effects of change: This paper aims to provide an opportunity to reflect on the key elements of co‐design which have underpinned our work together across cultures both within team and within community. Lessons learnt This paper will provide lived examples of the co‐design and co‐creation process utilised by our team in working with community. It will further share a model which underpins these experiences. It provides a framework to refer to and reflect upon, which commits to working with shared respect, shared meaning, shared knowledge and an enriched experience of collaboratively working and walking and learning together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia prevalence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is three to five times higher than the general Australian population. A better understanding of the underlying biomedical and social risk factors is needed to guide dementia prevention in Aboriginal Australians. The current study is the first to examine potential risk factors for dementia in the majority urban and regional population, with a representative sample of 336 Aboriginal Australians aged 60 years and older. Participants included 45 people with a dementia diagnosis (n = 27 probable/possible Alzheimer's disease); and 286 people without dementia. Univariate logistic regression analyses (controlling for age) identified childhood trauma, mid-life factors (history of unskilled work, past high-risk alcohol use), and medical factors (history of stroke, head injury with loss of consciousness, epilepsy) as risk factors for dementia. Multivariable analysis revealed age, childhood trauma, unskilled work, stroke, and head injury as independent predictors of all-cause dementia. A range of comorbid factors related to dementia was also identified (i.e., functional impairment, incontinence, recent hospital admission, low body mass index, living in residential care, depression, current high-risk alcohol use, social isolation, low physical activity levels). These findings extend previous outcomes in a remote Aboriginal population by highlighting that life-course social determinants of health, in addition to neurological disorders, likely play an important role in elevating dementia risk. Certain psychosocial and medical exposures are highly prevalent in Aboriginal Australians, similar to other indigenous populations, and should be considered when designing targeted and culturally appropriate prevention initiatives to reduce the burden of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]