About the project

Whilst co-design has been identified as a clear way forward to Closing the Gap, most non-Aboriginal people have little or no understanding of what co-design means from an Aboriginal worldview. Through meaningful engagement in a co-design process grounded in Aboriginal ways of working, this research aims to deliver improved mental health and wellbeing for Aboriginal peoples living in Western Australia. The co-designed ethical decision-making framework—directed and held by the cultural wisdom of Elders—will inform culturally appropriate responses to mental health issues.

This Aboriginal-led research project is a dynamic collaboration between Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, drawing on the substantial expertise of Aboriginal health researchers across both universities. The project will involve significant engagement and collaboration with Elders and Communities, who will provide the cultural authority and knowledge essential to the co-design process.

Project Aims

The project will:
1. Deliver a co-designed ethical decision-making framework developed with Elders, young people and senior staff in non-government community organisations.
2. Pilot and evaluate the implementation of the co-designed ethical decision-making framework in nominated region/s based on the co-design efforts of all participants.
3. Provide the Western Australian Government and mainstream non-government community services with a clear process for meaningful co-design with relevance to all departments and organisations delivering services to Aboriginal peoples.
4. Very importantly, the co-design process will provide a significant professional and personal development opportunity for senior non-government staff, building their confidence and capacity to build relationships with Aboriginal Communities to deliver on Community identified priorities.
5. Ultimately, the project aims to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people, their families, and Communities in Western Australia.

Impact

Watch this space… Our team are busy working on this!

Project Team

Project leads
Associate Professor Michael Wright
Professor Pat Dudgeon
Professor Helen Milroy
Professor Sandra Eades

Project Staff
Cheryl Davies
Beverley Councillor
Ashton Ramirez Watkins
Dr Michelle Webb

About the project leads

Associate Professor Michael Wright is a leader in drug and alcohol and mental health research and has, with Nyoongar Elders, developed a culturally secure co-design process held by Aboriginal ways of working. Michael is a Yuat Nyoongar man from the Moora and New Norcia area of WA.

Michael will lead the project alongside Professor Pat Dudgeon, Director of the Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project and UWA’s Centre for Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, Professor Helen Milroy, Chair in Child Mental Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Psychiatry, UWA and National Mental Health Commissioner, and Professor Sandra Eades from Curtin University.

Professor Dudgeon is is from the Bardi people of the Kimberley in Western Australia and is a leading Indigenous mental health expert whose strengths include Participatory Action Research. As the Director of the Centre for Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention her work has focused on community empowerment and establishing Indigenous governance systems in suicide prevention.

Professor Milroy brings extensive expertise in the application of Indigenous knowledge, cultural models of care, Aboriginal health and mental health, and developing and supporting the Aboriginal medical workforce.

Professor Sandra Eades, Dean of Curtin Medical School is a physician and epidemiologist. Professor Eades is a Nyoongar woman from Mount Barker, Western Australia. Professor Eades’ focus on child and family health will bring a great deal to the co-design process, ensuring that the public health implications for Aboriginal families are accounted for in the study.