Care and Connect Pathways

There are 4 main aims of the study:

Aim 1: Co-develop of novel care and connect pathways

Aim 2: Service delivery to enhance, embed and address implementation barriers

Aim 3: Evaluation of feasibility, cultural acceptability, value and outcomes

Aim 4: Establishing data governance systems and benchmarks for monitoring long-term impacts

The study will address three streams being Adolescents and Parents/Caregivers; Early Parenting Years and the SEWB Workforce.

There are also several studies that are under development and awaiting commencement under Care and Connect Pathways.

Below is a selection of studies that are underway across each stream:

Title: Lateral Violence and Lateral Empowerment in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth in South Australia

Aim: The project aims to listen to a collective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people within metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia to identify their strengths and the ways that they nurture or want to nurture their social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), when confronted with lateral violence in the community.  Moreover, the project seeks to explore the ways that young people stay strong and feel empowered to contribute to the future development of intervention models and resources to address lateral violence and promote lateral empowerment.

Timeline – 2024-2029

Funding – NHMRC Investigator Grant

Principle Investigator – Associate Professor Yvonne Clark

Aim: The quality of parent-infant interaction has a significant role in the child’s development and life trajectory. Building and strengthening the mother child relationship and connectedness at an early age leads to strong, connected and well-adjusted adults later in life. Gumnut Babies aims to support Aboriginal mothers and their support person to strengthn themselves and their bonds with babies from birth to two years of age through activities based on connections to communities, relationships and culture. The Gumnuts program will provide activity and reflective based interventions that effectively support mother-infant relationships and harness Aboriginal cultural parenting practices associated with the development of early connectedness. The Gumnuts program is a 16-week program that will be piloted across both metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia in 2027.

Partners - Gumnut Babies will run in collaboration with Kaurna Plains Children’s Centre, for Early Child Development and Parenting and Kornar Winmil Yunti (KWY) Aboriginal Corporation.

Timeline – 2025-2030

Funding – MRFF grant

Investigators - Associate Professor Yvonne Clark, Principle Investigator

Principal Research Fellow, Karen Glover, Co-Investigator

Aim: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dad’s wish to offer enhanced support to their partners during pregnancy; however, they often find themselves lacking the essential resources and confidence to fulfill this role.The aim of the study is to yarn to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dads to find out what their experience of being a dad is like, what keeps their social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) strong as dads and what type of support they need to stay strong for their families as dads to be able to provide support for their partners and family.

Findings from the yarning circles will be used to create a culturally safe program aimed at enhancing the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dads. This program will encompass cultural activities such as wood carving, fishing, and being on country, alongside education on fathering and child development, in addition to, practical assistance related to job searching/opportunities and navigating the Department for Child Protection (DCP). At the heart of the program will be the establishment of a safe space for fathers to come together, share their experiences, learn from one another, and empower each other to become the strong fathers they aspire to be for their families.

Keeping Dad’s Strong for Families program will run in collaboration with Aboriginal Community Organisations Naporendi Aboriginal Forum, Tiraapendi Wodli, and Flinders University at the Flinders Wellbeing Centre, Aboriginal Sobriety Group (ASG) and Kornar Winmil Yunti (KWY) Aboriginal Corporation.

Timeline – 2025-2030

Funding – MRFF Grant

Investigators - Associate Professor Yvonne Clark, Principle Investigator

Principal Research Fellow, Karen Glover, Chief Investigator

Project contact - Senior Project Officer, Michael Collard