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In this paper, we discuss a rapid‐fire study involving Indigenous and non‐Indigenous stakeholders from the urban Indigenous health sector who collaborated to produce an "Urban COVID‐19 Systems Map." The map outlines the behaviours, actions and responses that stakeholders identified as mitigating or exacerbating COVID‐19 risks in urban Indigenous communities. Data were collected and analysed during the height of the pandemic in 2021. We begin by introducing the characteristics of system thinking—the methodology that informed our research—and consider its use in Indigenous health research more broadly. We then outline our utilisation of system thinking and discuss how it was applied to the three workshops. System thinking contributes to collaboration and collective debate amongst stakeholders and aims to produce holistic understandings of complex problems, such as pandemics. This article provides a reflective overview of the benefits and challenges of applying system thinking in Indigenous health research whilst also sharing some of the research findings. We argue that centralising the voices of stakeholders, particularly Indigenous stakeholders, is critical to developing and implementing effective and culturally appropriate responses to pandemics and is equally as important to the preparedness for future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Discussion and Conclusions Evaluating progress towards hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is critical given the disproportionate burden of infection. We examined factors associated with current HCV infection and self‐reported treatment among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter referred to as Aboriginal peoples) and non‐Aboriginal peoples who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia.ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort study of PWID attending drug treatment and needle and syringe programs in Australia. Participants underwent point‐of‐care HCV RNA testing (Xpert HCV RNA Viral Load Fingerstick) and completed a questionnaire including self‐reported history of HCV treatment.Between May 2018 and June 2021, 2395 participants were enrolled and 555 (23%) identified as Aboriginal (median age 42 years, 58% were men, 63% injected drugs in last month, 76% ever incarcerated). HCV RNA prevalence was 23% among Aboriginal PWID (24% in 2018–2019 and 21% in 2019–2021; p = 0.44), and 21% among non‐Aboriginal PWID (24% in 2018–2019 and 16% in 2019–2021; p < 0.001). Self‐reported HCV treatment was 65% among Aboriginal PWID (63% in 2018–2019 and 69% in 2019–2021; p = 0.30), and 70% among non‐Aboriginal PWID (67% in 2018–2019 and 75% in 2019–2021; p < 0.001). Among Aboriginal PWID, current HCV infection was associated with recently injecting drugs and receiving opioid agonist treatment, and self‐reported HCV treatment was negatively associated with younger age, homelessness and recently injecting drugs.Equitable access to HCV care and prevention is needed to ensure Australia meets its elimination targets among Aboriginal PWID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on countering conspiracies and misinformation within Indigenous Communities in Australia. It mentions vaccination rates in some Indigenous communities, however, remain stubbornly low, with hesitancy coinciding with the spread of misinformation and amplification of conspiracy theories. It also mentions removal and institutionalisation of Aboriginal children, now known as the Stolen Generations, or the disproportionate rates of policing.