Aboriginal Families Study – Wave 3

The Aboriginal Families Study is a prospective mother and child cohort study investigating the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and their mothers living in urban, regional and remote areas of South Australia.

The study was developed in response to gaps in the available evidence to inform health policy and services, and was preceded by extensive consultation with Aboriginal communities and services in South Australia. 

The study is being conducted by SAHMRI, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia. Major areas of focus include: maternal health and wellbeing; children's health, wellbeing and development; engagement with health services; and connections to family, community, culture and language.

AFS Wave 3 builds on Waves 1 and 2 to further understand the health and wellbeing of 344 young people and their mothers, and to identify and strengthen factors influencing young people’s social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB).

Aims/Objectives:

The Aboriginal Families Study was designed to align with policy priorities and community goals, informed by ongoing partnership with Aboriginal communities in urban, regional and remote South Australia. The study aims to amplify the voices of Aboriginal women, children and families to inform policy and practice across health, education and social care.

The primary objectives of Wave 3 are to:

• Co-design a multi-domain measure of Aboriginal young people’s social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) suitable for use in routine primary care, education and social care settings; and
• Produce evidence on the benefits of strengths-based approaches fostering Aboriginal children and young people’s connections to key domains of SEWB.

Outcomes

Longitudinal follow-up with women and young children in the cohort will generate new knowledge about factors promoting children and young people’s social and emotional wellbeing. Findings will directly inform policy and practice at state and federal levels, spanning the Aboriginal community‑controlled sector, primary care, mental health, education, child protection and youth justice.

This wave will provide critical evidence to support stronger pathways for Aboriginal children, young people and families affected by social and political determinants of health, including trauma, historical loss, social inequity and racism. Our goal is to build stronger understanding about the potential for key domains of social and emotional wellbeing (e.g. connection to community, family and kin, Country and spirituality) to buffer the impacts of social determinants of health, including intergenerational trauma and social inequity.

For further information or enquiries, please contact Arwen.Nikolof@sahmri.com.

Partnering Institutions

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) - Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia

This project is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council