Status/timing
The project commenced in 2018 and has been funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council to continue to 2025.
What does the Project focus on?
The objectives of the project are to:
- Document perspectives of Aboriginal people living in Bundjalung and Yaegl country on their community health research priorities.
- Hold community forums across the region (Grafton, Yamba/Maclean, Casino/Coraki, Lismore, Ballina, Tweed Heads) to prioritise the top issues per region for action with respect to development of research projects and/or advocacy to relevant agencies.
- Develop pilot research projects with community addressing the priority issues within and/or across region.
The project brings together culture and research. By centralising Indigenous perspectives in research processes, promoting a process of change we hope to build on the limited evidence about how to develop processes for community-led systems change.
What have we found so far?
During the project several community members have been trained to facilitate workshops and talk with local participants. Community thoughts and ideas have been gathered by conducting surveys and yarning circles. Over 200 participated in surveys and four workshops held across the region. This information told us what the key areas for a healthy future are, what’s already working well and what needs improving. Top priority areas for action across the regions varied, but commonly included mental health and wellbeing, prevention and management of substance use and healthier lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, moving more and eating better. Community perspective often put young people as the focus for these health concerns, highlighting the need for more education and preventative activity programs targeted at youth.
Notable insight?
Based on these community priorities and ideas for what needs to change, we are working to secure funding to facilitate local Aboriginal community-led action to improve health and wellbeing services across the Northern Rivers. For example, due to a community identified need for suicide, grief and loss support and in partnership with a local Aboriginal health service, we have submitted a funding application to bring community and service providers together to share stories and experiences, talk about what’s not working so well, what is working well and to build on these to improve accessibility of wellbeing support for community.
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