Strong Families Study: protocol for a co-designed birth cohort study with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...

Australian studies investigating parental factors often lack meaningful inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, limiting our understanding of current influences on positive developmental trajectories within communities. There is growing recognition of the need for culturally safe and responsive longitudinal research that is co-designed and co-led by the community for the community. An Indigenous-led birth cohort study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Queensland, Australia, has therefore been developed to better understand health across generations.

The Strong Families Study is a co-designed prospective longitudinal birth cohort study that will follow 400 Indigenous families in Queensland from pregnancy until the child reaches 5 years of age. Eligible participants include pregnant individuals (<28 weeks' gestation) whose children may identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, along with their partners (if applicable). Data will be collected at multiple timepoints: during gestation, at delivery, postpartum, every 6 months until the child is 36 months (corrected age, CA) and annually until age 5 years. These will be collected by Aboriginal health workers using validated and culturally appropriate tools across different health themes. The study will incorporate health literacy throughout, as well as referrals to two nested family support programmes to support families and assist with the developmental outcomes of their children when and if required. Effects across health themes will be analysed with a focus on strengths, positive trajectories and holistic well-being of Indigenous families, moving beyond deficit-based narratives.

This study was approved by the Mater Misericordiae Ltd Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/MML/105191) and ratified by the University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (2025/HE001924). Endorsement letters were secured from partner services at each study site. Findings will be shared with partnering hospitals and funding bodies at conferences and through reports and peer-reviewed publications.