Ironbark: Developing a healthy community program for older Aboriginal people

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health
• Community Program Development
• Gerontology

Background:

• Culturally safe and relevant programs are crucial for Aboriginal older people.
• Successful programs are often Aboriginal-specific, group-based, and co-designed.
• Developing such programs requires deep engagement with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the co-design process of the Ironbark: Healthy Community program.
• To ensure the program is culturally safe and relevant for Aboriginal older people.
• To integrate Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing into program development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing, and yarning conversational methods.
• Conducted a desktop review of group characteristics and stakeholders.
• Engaged stakeholders and gathered views from Aboriginal Elders through yarning circles, employing a grounded theory approach.

Main Results:

• Engaged with 13 community stakeholders across three Australian states.
• Held three yarning circles with 24 Aboriginal Elders from diverse locations.
• Identified six key themes (Knowing, Being, Doing) reflecting Elders' needs and preferences for culturally safe, community-controlled programs.

Conclusions:

• A co-designed community program, featuring weekly yarning circles and social activities, was developed through stakeholder feedback and Elders' perspectives.
• Co-design, guided by Aboriginal principles, is effective in creating relevant programs for Aboriginal people.
• The Ironbark: Healthy Community program was finalized with stakeholder and steering committee approval.