Responding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family aspirations to foster self-determination and social and emotional wellbeing

Project Details

Deficit based approaches to service provision have consistently failed to address the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing and health challenges experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families. This research involves a trial of a holistic Indigenous-led coaching intervention for tenants of social housing administered by Aboriginal Housing Victoria. This population are among the most disadvantaged in Victoria, and many live with multiple health and social issues. The coaching intervention provides an opportunity for culturally safe strengths-based conversations around goal setting and resourcing, drawing on a mix of disciplinary elements including from psychology, social work, community development and beyond. We are collaborating with Aboriginal Housing Victoria who are leading the implementation of the intervention, as well as with researchers from a range of institutions including: A/Professor Graham Gee and Professor Stephanie Brown (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute), Professor Yin Paradies (Deakin University), Prof Kelsey Hegarty (University of Melbourne), Professor Jan Nicholson (La Trobe University), Professor Lea Waters AM (University of Melbourne) and Dr Rebecca Ritte (University of Melbourne).

Researchers

Associate Professor Greg Armstrong (Project Lead)
g.armstrong@unimelb.edu.au

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council (Targeted Call for Research on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing)