Indigenous Men Taking Their Rightful Place In Society?: A Participatory Action Research Process.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$705,750.00
Summary
Men's health groups are increasingly being accepted as important strategies in improving health and wellbeing, especially in Indigenous communities. However, it is hard to find systematic documentation and evaluation of such initiatives in the literature. Since August 2001, we have been facilitating and analysing a Participatory Action Research (PAR) process designed to support members of a men's health group in Yarrabah, a rural Aboriginal community near Cairns (north Queensland), take greater ....Men's health groups are increasingly being accepted as important strategies in improving health and wellbeing, especially in Indigenous communities. However, it is hard to find systematic documentation and evaluation of such initiatives in the literature. Since August 2001, we have been facilitating and analysing a Participatory Action Research (PAR) process designed to support members of a men's health group in Yarrabah, a rural Aboriginal community near Cairns (north Queensland), take greater control and responsibility for the factors influencing their health and wellbeing. The PAR process is providing initial evidence indicating that the development of men's health groups in Indigenous settings can lead to social and behavioural change and that PAR is potentially a useful tool in working towards social change. The current proposal is a joint initiative between the academic partners and the men's group leadership and proposes among other things to: a) consolidate and extend the existing PAR initiative with members of the Yarrabah Men's Health Group and their community; b) adapt and pilot the PAR model in another north Queensland community; and c) undertake a systematic and comparative evaluation across the two sites to determine the medium -long term usefulness of men's health groups as health promotion strategies especially in rural-remote Indigenous settings. These types of micro-level studies have important implications for the way community development is perceived and approached in Indigenous settings.Read moreRead less
A Comprehensive Self-Management Programme For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease In The Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,610.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of burden of disease in Australia. It has a major impact on sufferers, their carers and society. This study introduces a new model of community care, based on case management, mentoring to improve self-efficacy and information systems to deliver information and closely monitor disease status. This will improve the quality of life of sufferers, develop healthcare networks and decrease healthcare utilisation.
Empowerment As A Strategy For Wellbeing In Indigenous Settings: Developing Tools To Systematically Evaluate Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,100.00
Summary
This project will add significant strength to one of Australia's key initiatives in the promotion of health and well-being, namely the Family Well Being Program . This program was developed by a group of Aboriginal people based in Adelaide in order to specifically address the effects of colonisation on the emotional health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. It is a nationally accredited course and has been delivered in a wide variety of settings and participating groups. Previous evaluatio ....This project will add significant strength to one of Australia's key initiatives in the promotion of health and well-being, namely the Family Well Being Program . This program was developed by a group of Aboriginal people based in Adelaide in order to specifically address the effects of colonisation on the emotional health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. It is a nationally accredited course and has been delivered in a wide variety of settings and participating groups. Previous evaluation using in-depth interviews, focus groups and course evaluation forms have revealed long lasting increases in participants' life skills and problem-solving capacity, thereby making them better able to help themselves and the young people around them to deal with emotions and life's challenges. Changes are particularly profound among individuals who have completed the full Four Stage Program (40 week course) and their families and communities. Up to now, the impact and outcome of the Family Well Being Program has not had a way of being objectively measured in the way that other health promotion programs have. This is partly due to the complexity of its aims; empowering people to take control of their lives, as opposed to trying to directly change behaviours that place them at risk of illness. It is also because the definition, pathway and results of becoming an empowered person, group and community are not completely understood and are likely to be expressed differently from one social and cultural group to another. This current project aims to gain a clearer understanding of the meaning, experience, outcomes and values people attach to empowerment; then use this information to design tools to help assess the effectiveness of programs that seek to stimulate empowerment. Activities will include further analysis of existing qualitative data, workshop discussions, piloting tools and implementing them within communities with ongoing Family Well Being programs.Read moreRead less