Annette Stokes

Annette Stokes is a Wonguthqa, Ngadju, Mirning woman of the Goldfields serving as an Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia's School of Earth and Oceans. She maintains a significant research presence through the Rural Clinical School of WA, with her email affiliation at rcswa.edu.au indicating her connection to this clinical school.

Her research interests focus on Aboriginal health, particularly addressing nephropathy, diabetes, and renal disease in remote Indigenous communities. Stokes uniquely integrates arts and health methodologies, leveraging her talents as a musician and artist to develop culturally appropriate health interventions. Her work prominently features participatory approaches that center Indigenous knowledge systems and community engagement.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on health disparities affecting Aboriginal communities, with particular emphasis on kidney disease and diabetes. Her research demonstrates innovative integration of arts-based methodologies with clinical research, creating culturally safe approaches to health promotion in remote settings. The Western Desert Kidney Health Project represents a major through-line in her scholarly work.

• Fiona Stanley medal (2005)
• Member of the Order of Australia (2017)

Stokes currently serves as Investigator 04 on the HMTF - Minara Community Foundation project (2025-2026) funded by Glencore, and as Investigator 02 on the Heavy Metal Tooth Fairy project (2025-2030) funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation. These active grants demonstrate ongoing research commitment despite her honorary status. Her work significantly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and wellbeing.

As a senior Indigenous researcher, Stokes bridges Western scientific approaches with traditional knowledge systems, creating unique pathways for health improvement in Aboriginal communities through her dual expertise in health and the arts.