* PhD research explores why Aboriginal men of Albury-Wodonga under-utilise the local Aboriginal Health Service * Culturally appropriate exercise and health education program achieved an 85 per cent attendance rate for the 10-week program * Aim is for program to be transferable to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communitiesA Charles Sturt University (CSU) student and academic has been awarded the CSU Albury-Wodonga 2018 NAIDOC Scholar of the Year Award for his PhD research project.Mr Brett Biles (pictured), a PhD student and lecturer in Indigenous health in the CSU School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health in Albury-Wodonga, received the award for his PhD research project titled, ‘An exploration of a tailored cardiovascular exercise and education program for Aboriginal men in a regional centre’.“It is humbling to receive this award as recognition for community-driven research,” Mr Biles said.“It has been an amazing experience to research within my community and privilege the voices of local Aboriginal men.”The award citation notes the three-pronged research was developed to explore the reasons why Aboriginal men of Albury-Wodonga under-utilise the local Aboriginal Health Service, to evaluate the effectiveness of a cardiovascular exercise and health education program, and to explore the men’s experience of this program.As background, the citation notes that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.It states Mr Biles’ research has developed a culturally appropriate and respectful tailored exercise and health education program, that achieved an 85 per cent attendance rate for the 10-week exercise and health education program, which highlights the cultural appropriateness of the program.Mr Biles aims for his culturally-appropriate and respectful tailored exercise and health education program to be transferable into other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.The research is in its final stages of his PhD and Mr Biles looks forward to disseminating the findings of the research.