In early 2025, a national health survey in Niue, a small and remote Pacific Island country, trialled a new way of working. For the first time, infectious disease surveillance was integrated into the country's planned STEPS survey for non-communicable disease risk factors. Led by Dr Adam Craig from The University of Queensland’s Operational Research and Decision Support for Infectious Diseases (ODeSI) program, in collaboration with the Niue Department of Health, the project aimed to improve efficiency and reduce duplication by collecting data on fifteen infectious diseases during a single village visit.
The approach was technically successful, but the team knew that lasting change requires more than just operational success. With funding now provided through the UQ’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences’ Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) Kickstart Grant scheme, the focus has shifted to what matters most: community voices.
Listening to lived experience
The new phase of work will support three respected Niuean public health leaders, Misima Nicholl, Patricia Tatui and Grizelda Mokoia, to lead local engagement activities. These sessions will bring together community members, village health committees, and church groups to share their views on how future integrated surveillance efforts could be improved.
“We want to understand how people experienced the survey, what made sense and what didn’t, and what could be done differently in the future,” said project lead Dr Craig. “This is about co-developing something that works for everyone, not just ticking a research box.”
Community engagement that emphasises storytelling, relationship-building, and respect is core to Niuean society. Sessions will be held in familiar settings like village halls and churches, with local leaders guiding the conversations.
Strengthening future research
The insights gathered will inform the next round of research. According to Dr Harriet Lawford, a Research Fellow with the ODeSI team and collaborator in this project, this early and authentic engagement is critical to ensuring future projects are acceptable, ethical and meaningful.
“Research should reflect the realities of the communities it’s meant to serve. That’s why we’re investing time in these conversations,” she said. “The feedback we receive will shape our work going forward, helping us build more relevant and impactful studies.”
For Niue, this process represents greater community leadership in shaping national public health priorities. For the research team, it is a chance to demonstrate what good practice looks like when it comes to involving consumers and communities from the beginning; lessons that will inform future research in Niue and elsewhere.
