Inside-out approaches to promoting Aboriginal Australian wellbeing: evidence from a decade of community-based participatory research

Much documentation exists regarding the causes and contemporary circumstances of Aboriginal Australian health; measurements of compromised health and wellbeing are abundant and longstanding. However, there is little published evidence-based research that captures the intricacies of the processes involved in promoting initiatives to enhance Aboriginal health and wellbeing. Advocacy by international development and aid communities over recent decades has supported ecological bottom-up solutions, including participatory and empowerment strategies to promote sustainable social development and change. In reality, the approach represents a major challenge to implement. This presentation illustrates the approach taken by a multi-disciplinary research team in Far North Queensland, Australia. Over the past decade, the research team has operationalised an Aboriginal developed empowerment education program at the personal/family, group/organisational and community/ structural levels to reveal what capacity the program holds in contributing toward improving the social determinants of health and wellbeing for Aboriginal people. The paper relates how perceptions of control and choice in life play an important influential role in addressing the social determinants of health. It shares some important reflections from the field and communicates the importance of strengths-based approaches to working with Aboriginal partners. Discussed in particular is how researchers’ expertise can be relevant to Indigenous community priorities, people’s daily lives, needs and aspirations.