Deadly imaging: Blending Indigenous culture and MRI to benefit all

This talk will outline our innovative “Deadly Images” project. The objective of Deadly Images is to utilise culturally appropriate multimedia content and protocols to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families during MRI scans. The project involves developing cultural protocols for medical staff to follow when working with Aboriginal children during MRI scans, including training on cultural competency and sensitivity. We also utilise multimedia developed by the investigator team that incorporates cultural themes and stories that are relevant and familiar to the children. The project is designed to build relationships between the child, their family and the medical team, which can improve the overall experience of the scan and lead to further benefit for the entire community.

The project involves working with local Aboriginal communities and elders to ensure that the multimedia content and protocols are culturally appropriate and relevant to the community. The project also involves collaboration with healthcare professionals, including radiologists, MRI technologists, and paediatricians, to ensure that the protocols are effective and safe. The success of the project will be evaluated by assessing the success and quality of MRI scans in Aboriginal children who have undergone the cultural multimedia content and protocols and comparing these results scans without multimedia.

The Deadly Images project has developed unique ways of creating culturally safe spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, which include our time spent yarning, developing protocol, the open day, on Country immersions with our team, the creation of multi-media audio-visual content for the MRI scanner, through cross cultural collaboration and the world first development of an Indigenous artwork which will be wrapped around our new CIMA.X MRI scanner.


The Deadly Images project has been two and a half years in its inception, we have worked flexibly within an Indigenous time perspective, which is circular and inclusive, aligning with the ebb and flow of Country and community. Additionally, using culturally appropriate content can help to build trust and relationships between the child, their family, and the medical team, which can improve the overall experience of the scan leading to further benefit for the entire community.