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Connecting our Way (CoW) will help to establish and maintain the connections to family, culture, country and community that are essential for strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s cultural and social and emotional wellbeing through to adulthood. CoW will offer an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led, placed-based program that enhances children’s SEWB through culturally-led activities.
The project is funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
Three-year project currently underway (2023-2025)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have practiced holistic wellbeing approaches for generations that acknowledge the effects of cultural and socio-economic determinants in shaping the health of individuals and communities. Social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is a multi-dimensional concept of health that encompasses connection to body, mind and emotions, connection to family, kinships and community, and connection to spirituality, land, and culture. Improving SEWB is about strengthening capacity across each of these domains, including a focus on health and mental health not only at an individual level, but also for family and the whole community.
CoW will offer culturally-led activities that build confidence in emotional regulation, social skills, mindfulness and managing emotions at high-risk times. CoW will provide Aboriginal children and families with access to resources and cultural connections in a safe environment and, inventively, the CoW model will allow for local community adaptation, engaging community strengths and assets specific to the community it serves.
CoW is a codesigned, customised program.
Some of the aims of this project include:
