Mr David MEHARG

Dr David Meharg is an Aboriginal academic with extensive experience across Aboriginal health service delivery, leadership, policy, research and education. His work focuses on strengthening culturally safe and community-led approaches across public health systems, policy and practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

David’s research focuses on respiratory health, chronic disease, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and implementation research. His doctoral research examined the implementation and cultural adaptation of pulmonary rehabilitation in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services for Aboriginal adults living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This work was undertaken as part of the NHMRC/GACD-funded BE WELL project and contributed to research focused on culturally centred models of care, co-design and the translation of evidence into practice. Through this work, David co-chaired the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases Indigenous Populations Working Group and led the development of an international position statement on conducting research with Indigenous peoples. This work informed a statement published in The Lancet Global Health and broader guidance for global chronic disease research.

David’s research interests include Aboriginal health and wellbeing, cultural safety, implementation science, chronic disease prevention and management, health equity and health professional education. He is a Chief Investigator on several NHMRC and MRFF-funded studies, with collaborations spanning Aboriginal health in Australia and Indigenous communities internationally. His work is grounded in relational, strengths-based and community-informed approaches that support Indigenous self-determination and culturally safe health care.

David is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health at UNSW Sydney and Population Health Lead within Blakcademy in the Faculty of Medicine & Health. He contributes to Aboriginal curriculum development, cultural capability, postgraduate teaching and work to embed Indigenous knowledges and perspectives across health education. He convenes PHCM9636 First Peoples’ Health Systems, Policy and Practice. David completed his PhD at the University of Sydney in 2024 and also holds a Master of Public Health, Master of Health Service Management and Bachelor of Health Science in Community and Public Health.