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The Her Tribe and His Tribe Aboriginal-Designed Empowerment Programs

Author

Listed:
  • Graham Gee

    (Intergenerational Health Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
    School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Sarah Sheridan

    (Clothing The Gaps Foundation, Melbourne, VIC 3056, Australia)

  • Lena Charles

    (Clothing The Gaps Foundation, Melbourne, VIC 3056, Australia)

  • Lana Dayne

    (Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia)

  • Lisa Joyce

    (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Jack Stevens

    (Murrup Barak, Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Yin Paradies

    (Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Humanities and Social Science, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia)

  • Carol Hulbert

    (School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Nick Haslam

    (School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Reg Thorpe

    (Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia)

  • Lisa Thorpe

    (Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3074, Australia)

  • Alister Thorpe

    (Moondani Balluk Indignenous Academic Unit, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia)

  • Paul Stewart

    (Lowitja Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia)

  • Lionel Austin

    (Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia)

  • Louise Lyons

    (National Indigenous Genomic Program, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia)

  • Mary Belfrage

    (The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia)

  • Ruby Warber

    (Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Ashley Paxton

    (Monash Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia)

  • Laura Thompson

    (Clothing The Gaps Foundation, Melbourne, VIC 3056, Australia)

Abstract

This study documents evaluation of the Her Tribe and His Tribe Aboriginal-designed empowerment pilot programs. The programs were designed to support Victorian Aboriginal people to strengthen mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, community connection, and to reduce psychological distress. A second aim was to explore participants’ experiences of the programs, including the feasibility and acceptability of the evaluation component. Her Tribe ran for 16 weeks and His Tribe for 12 weeks. In total, 43 women and 26 men completed assessments at pre- and post-program completion, and 17 and 10, respectively, participated in yarning circles at the 6-month follow up. For both programs, there were significant increases in participants’ access to personal strengths and resources, relationship–community–cultural strengths and resources, and decreases in psychological distress. These changes were associated with small to moderate effects that were maintained at the 6-month follow up. There was a significant increase in aerobic fitness for female but not male participants, and no significant changes in weight for either group. Participants described a range of benefits from the programs, including positive elements and areas for improvement. They also viewed the evaluation as feasible and acceptable, and the findings of value. The outcomes from both pilot programs provide evidence that Aboriginal-designed programs, with a focus on physical and cultural activities, can help to strengthen mental health and wellbeing, community connection, and reduce psychological distress in Victorian Aboriginal communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Gee & Sarah Sheridan & Lena Charles & Lana Dayne & Lisa Joyce & Jack Stevens & Yin Paradies & Carol Hulbert & Nick Haslam & Reg Thorpe & Lisa Thorpe & Alister Thorpe & Paul Stewart & Lionel Aus, 2022. "The Her Tribe and His Tribe Aboriginal-Designed Empowerment Programs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2381-:d:752918
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Markwick, Alison & Ansari, Zahid & Sullivan, Mary & McNeil, John, 2015. "Social determinants and psychological distress among Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander adults in the Australian state of Victoria: A cross-sectional population based study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 178-187.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tara Flemington & Jennifer Fraser & Clinton Gibbs & Joanne Shipp & Joe Bryant & Amanda Ryan & Devika Wijetilaka & Susan Marks & Mick Scarcella & Dimitra Tzioumi & Shanthi Ramanathan & Liesa Clague & D, 2022. "The Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (Safe Children) Model: Embedding Cultural Safety in Child Protection Responses for Australian Aboriginal Children in Hospital Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-23, April.

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