Alana Gall

Biography

Dr Alana Gall is a proud Truwulway woman, a Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) from the north-east coast of Lutruwita (Tasmania, Australia). Dr Gall is passionate about Indigenous peoples' holistic health and wellbeing, globally. She believes that the wellbeing and identity of Indigenous peoples are strongly centred around strong connections to Country/land, culture, spirituality and each other.

Dr Gall is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, in the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, at Southern Cross University, and an Honorary Research Fellow at both the University of Queensland and Menzies School of Health Research. She is Vice Chair of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, Indigenous Working Group, and the Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) at the Public Health Association of Australia. Dr Gall is also the Indigenous Traditional Medicines representative in the TCIH Coordination Council for the TCIH Coalition of The People's Declaration for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare.

Research

At Southern Cross University, Dr Gall leads a research program that centres around First Nations Australians traditional medicines, with the aims of protecting and preserving these medicines for future generations and improving accessibility for all First Nations communities across Australia.

Dr Gall has over a decade of experience in research, research translation, community engagement, health education and a background in Nutritional Medicine. She has an extensive and broad knowledge in First Nations health and wellbeing; First Nations Traditional Medicines; qualitative, Indigenous and decolonising methodologies and methods (including co-design methods/methodology); PROMs/PREMs measure development, and; systematic, comprehensive and policy reviews. Dr Gall pioneered the use of individual yarns with a think-aloud component, called the ‘think-aloud yarn’, and co-developed the Key Principles to Co-Design with First Nations peoples, which have informed the development of Cancer Australia's Australian Cancer Plan and will underpin its implementation (p.29, Cancer Australia Annual Report 2022-23).

Current projects:

1. Lead Chief Investigator - Harnessing traditional medicines to support First Nations Australians holistic health and wellbeing – a policy targeted approach 
2. Lead Chief Investigator - Australian First Nations traditional medicine’s role in improving utilisation of palliative care for First Nati