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Instructions for authors and reviewers and current calls for papers

MJA instructions for authors and reviewers

The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) is Australia’s leading general medical journal.

We publish high quality research and commentary to inform health policy and influence medical practice in Australia.

The MJA expert Editorial team is led by Professor Virginia Barbour. We aim to provide authors with a constructive, collaborative process during peer review and publication.

Please read these instructions before submitting your paper.

Please read these guidelines if reviewing for the MJA

If you have questions about the process, please contact mja@mja.com.au

Special Call for papers MJA Indigenous Health Special Issue, July 2024

The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) is pleased to announce a special call for papers from Guest Co-Editors at the Lowitja Institute for the 2024 Special Issue on Indigenous Health.

The 2024 Indigenous Health Special Issue will be an inaugural collaboration between Lowitja Institute and the MJA. This partnership and publication will celebrate Indigenous leadership and excellence in health and medical research.

Lowitja Institute welcomes submissions from Indigenous researchers and communities on areas of health and wellbeing that are a priority to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This includes the broad definition of health and wellbeing and those outlined in the Closing the Gap priority reforms.

In this special issue, only submissions that are led by (first and/or last author) Indigenous authors will be considered for publication. All types of publications will be welcomed. All manuscripts must include an ethical research statement that addresses the Consolidated criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving indigenous peoples: the CONSIDER statement.

Manuscripts will be subject to an internal editorial review undertaken by Lowitja Institute’s Guest Editorial team prior to peer review. Manuscripts will undergo peer review and assessment through the MJA’s processes. The Lowitja Institute Guest Editorial team reserve the right to make final publication decisions in consultation with the MJA Editorial team. Please refer to the MJA submission guidelines, policies and processes, prior to preparing and submitting an article.

Submission deadline is 15 January 2024. Submissions received after this date will not be reviewed for consideration in this Special Issue.

 Manuscripts submitted must include a cover letter that addresses:

  1. The positionality of the research team

  2. How Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance was upheld in the research process

  3. How the research addresses an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community priority, and

  4. How Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research ethics was upheld in the research practice.

Lowitja Institute encourages submissions from community controlled organisations. Authors have the opportunity to reach out to Lowitja Institute’s Executive Manager of Research and Knowledge Translation, A/Prof Michelle Kennedy to discuss their manuscript ahead of submission: michelle.kennedy@lowitja.org.au

For any enquiries regarding the submission process for this special call for papers please forward these directly to MJA: mja@mja.com.au