The Approach

Doing Research with Aboriginal Communities

Research done with Aboriginal communities should be:

  • ethical
  • consultative
  • of benefit to the community
  • sustainable
  • transferable
  • owned by the community

The Project Methods

In order to meet these criteria, the Safe Koori Kids project involves a scientific, consultative, public health approach.

The public health approach involves the following stages:

Healthy and Safe Koori Kids - circular diagram of stages joined by arrows. The stages are Consult, Review Literature, Review Policies, Collect and Analyse Data, Design and Develop Model, Implement and Test 10 Sites, Evaluate Program, Disseminate Advocate, Policy Change.

The scientific and consultative approach has involved the following steps:

  • The project commenced in 2006
  • Extensive consultation was undertaken with Aboriginal community and service providers in SW Sydney to develop the study.
  • A local Aboriginal Research Advisory Committee was established to guide the research.

The project uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods and will be undertaken over three phases:

  • Baseline Phase: Collect data on the extent and type of injury to Indigenous children and youth in the study area.
  • Intervention Phase: In collaboration with the Indigenous community, design and implement activities targeting Aboriginal primary school children, and their parents, carers and teachers; establish local safety partnerships; and develop safety promotion training.
  • Evaluation Phase: Evaluate the combined interventions and identify outcomes that can be integrated into policies to build more resilient Aboriginal families and communities.

Findings will be disseminated to the community and decision makers.