The voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the Community Controlled Health Sector in Queensland are being privileged through the leadership and governance of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). QAIHC leads and governs the national Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE), which has a focus on circulatory and associated conditions in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The establishment of the CCRE under the Community Controlled model of governance is unique and presents both opportunities and challenges for innovative partnerships between universities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations. It additionally presents the capacity to privilege Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in research and to develop the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people as researchers.