Rate My Professor Karla Canuto

Professor Karla Canuto is a Torres Strait Islander, descendent of the Naghir Tribe of the Kulkalgal Clan with blood line to Panai, Mabuyag Island. She holds the position of Professor, Indigenous Health Promotion at James Cook University within the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences. With over 20 years of experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and research, her work focuses on improving health through preventative strategies, empowering communities, and strengthening the research capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Canuto earned her PhD from the University of South Australia in 2013, a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion from the University of Sydney in 2007, and a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Science from James Cook University in 2000.

Her research specializations include health promotion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, physical activity interventions, maternal and child health, cardiac rehabilitation access in rural areas, and chronic disease prevention. Key publications encompass 'Identifying barriers and facilitators to physical activity and perceptions of Traditional Indigenous Games among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: a qualitative study' (Thorne, Taylor, Canuto, Leicht; Health Promotion International, 2024), 'How and why do women’s groups (WGs) improve the quality of maternal and child health (MCH) care? A systematic review of the literature' (Canuto et al.; 2022), 'Importance of cardiac rehabilitation in rural and remote areas of Australia' (Field, Franklin, Barker, Ring, Leggat, Canuto; Australian Journal of Rural Health, 2022), 'Investigating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male health and wellbeing programs and their key elements: A scoping review' (Canuto et al.; Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2025), 'Embedding culture in co-designed chronic disease programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people' (Macniven, Canuto; Medical Journal of Australia, 2025), 'Colorectal cancer screening using faecal occult blood tests for Indigenous adults: a systematic literature review of barriers, enablers and implemented strategies' (D'Onise, Iacobini, Canuto; Preventive Medicine, 2020), and 'Implementing the Baby One Program: a qualitative evaluation of family-centred child health promotion in remote Australian Aboriginal communities' (Campbell et al.; 2018). Canuto's contributions influence community-led initiatives such as the Tidda Talk programme, male health programs, and running groups for health and wellbeing evaluation.