Co-designing a place-based social and emotional wellbeing service model with young Aboriginal people in the remote Fitzroy Valley of Western Australia: the Bigiswun Kid project

The current study aimed to work with young Aboriginal people from the very remote Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia to (1) identify their social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) support needs, and (2) report how they would like these supports delivered.
We interviewed 83% (n = 94) of young people aged 16–19 from the Fitzroy Valley and 89% (n = 101) of their parents. Using anf Aboriginal Participatory Action Approach, we piloted some SEWB supports and worked with 10 young people to co-design the SEWB service.
Based on the interviews and co-design consultation with young people, we identified five supports to be provided in the SEWB service. These included mental health support, particularly clinical psychology for people with moderate mental illness; community wellbeing workshops; male- and female-specific wellbeing workshops; and support to access existing services.
Partnering with young people ensured that community strengths and challenges were incorporated in the service design. Study findings were used to secure funding for the implementation and evaluation of a SEWB service in the Fitzroy Valley. The process and lessons learned in the Project could be used to engage, consult and partner with young people to design services in other remote regions.
What is already known about this topic:

Through Closing the Gap Target 14, all Australian governments have committed to improving the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander People.
Nationally, this Target is worsening over time, with rates of suicide and self-harm particularly high in remote regions of Western Australia.
Place-based care models enable the strengths and complexities of remote Aboriginal communities, including culture, language, and geographical isolation, to be considered and utilised in service design, increasing the likelihood of service success.

Through Closing the Gap Target 14, all Australian governments have committed to improving the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander People.
Nationally, this Target is worsening over time, with rates of suicide and self-harm particularly high in remote regions of Western Australia.
Place-based care models enable the strengths and complexities of remote Aboriginal communities, including culture, language, and geographical isolation, to be considered and utilised in service design, increasing the likelihood of service success.
What this topic adds:
The Fitzroy Valley has a gap in mental health care for moderate mental illness, and young people feel this is best addressed with consistent access to clinical psychology.
To address this gap young people proposed a potential model for telehealth psychology in remote Aboriginal communities.
Young people requested that staff working in SEWB services in remote Aboriginal communities be consistent, efficient, open-minded, confidential, and provide support tailored to the young people's strengths and support needs.

The Fitzroy Valley has a gap in mental health care for moderate mental illness, and young people feel this is best addressed with consistent access to clinical psychology.
To address this gap young people proposed a potential model for telehealth psychology in remote Aboriginal communities.
Young people requested that staff working in SEWB services in remote Aboriginal communities be consistent, efficient, open-minded, confidential, and provide support tailored to the young people's strengths and support needs.