→ Apunipima Cape York Health Council, QLD

"People say they feel stronger in themselves, more confident," says Teresa Gibson, from the Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Far North Queensland.

The strength and confidence she describes are just some of the "transforming" results that have come from a Family Well Being program run by Apunipima with adults and children in Hopevale and Wujal Wujal.

Family Well Being was originally started in 1998 by a group of Stolen Generations based in Adelaide and has been adapted to suit local needs.

As one of the Adelaide group said at the time: "The question we were all asking is: 'How did we survive?' If we can understand that, then we can help other people."

Held over a number of months, Family Well Being gets people sharing stories about who they are, their relationships and their goals for the future. By identifying their strengths, people are challenged to determine the changes they want to make in their lives and with their families.

This initial focus on empowerment and personal development is followed by structured community development workshops that generate discussion about the major health and social issues facing the community and the steps that participants can take to make a difference. "Some have used the skills they learnt to deal with violence at home and create a safer environment for their kids," says Teresa. "Others have gone on to do more learning."

"It's very powerful when people learn they can change things in their life. They start to see that they can also take a stand against those things that are hurting our Aboriginal culture, like the alcohol and the drugs."

The Family Well Being program was first run in Far North Queensland in 2001. Since then more than 88 adults and 70 children in Hopevale and Wujal Wujal have taken part in workshops hosted by Apunipima.

An evaluation has been carried out by researchers from the University of Queensland and James Cook University over the past five years. In particular, the research has looked at the contribution that programs that foster empowerment and control can make towards addressing the social determinants – or underlying causes – of health and well-being for Indigenous Australians.

"The results from the evaluation were conclusive," says Teresa. "Not only does the program help strengthen individuals in their own lives, it's an effective way to engage Aboriginal communities to address issues like health, education and family violence.

"When the solutions come from the grass roots, when they're owned by the whole community, that's when things really start to change."

And the changes have already been significant. For instance, participants from a Family Well Being program conducted in Yarrabah worked with local partners to successfully lobby for improved housing in their community. Action from Hopevale participants has seen Queensland Health begin trialling a new child health screening tool to look at ear, throat and skin infections.

In another major step, starting in 2007 these skills will be passed on to a new generation.

With support from Education Queensland, a 'well being' unit within the New Basics will be included in the curriculum of primary schools in Hopevale and Bloomfield River (Wujal Wujal), with plans to expand the program to run in primary schools across Cape York. A longitudinal study will follow the young people over the coming years to track their physical, social and emotional health.

"None of this is rocket science," says Teresa. "If you build the capacity of individuals, show them their strengths and resilience, then they'll have the skills they need to take control of their lives and make a positive contribution to their community."

Find out more

Apunipima Cape York Health Council
Phone: 07 4051 7450
Web: www.apunipima.org.au