The Indigenous Health Research Priorities Report for Townsville 2024

The Health Research Priorities Study aimed to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (herein respectfully referred as Indigenous) communities in Queensland through a co-designed and collaborative process. The goal of this research study was to work in partnership with local Indigenous community-controlled health services to co-identify health research priorities for families and communities during the perinatal period. It is hoped that these priorities can inform future health programs, services and research projects which have been chosen by communities.

Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, yarning sessions and a Delphi workshop were held with clients and staff of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS), TAIHS Family Wellbeing team, and Townsville Hospital and Health Service in and around Townsville from July to November 2023.

This report presents findings from the yarning sessions and Delphi workshops, with the Top 10 health research priorities identified for each health service site, and overall, for Townsville communities. It also included participant demographic information, feedback on the research process and reactions to participating in the nine yarning sessions and the two Delphi workshops, involving a total of 95 participants. The qualitative analysis identified at least 157 themes and subthemes based on initial yarning sessions. The themes were considered from a strengths-based perspective, focusing on the resilience and inherent strength of communities amidst the challenges faced.

Identification of health research priorities will allow each Indigenous community-controlled organisation and region of Queensland to develop research initiatives and the translational outcomes that are a focus for their community members. Recommendations for the direction of future studies include ensuring more wide-spread engagement with Townsville communities, by modifying some approaches including holding male-specific focus groups; and reflecting on the most salient themes for the region to consider collaboration on future programs, services, and research.

This study has helped to inform the Strong Families Study, a First Peoples’ longitudinal pregnancy cohort study inclusive of mothers, partners and their children to be implemented in five Queensland regions.

Full report: https://doi.org/10.14264/a166664

Authors: Smith, Davina,Ahmed, Salma M.,Massi, Luciana,Weatherall, Loretta,Wheeler, Kai,Dorey, Emily,Friday, Rhiannon,Thorogood, Mieka,Fredericks, Bronwyn,Toombs, Maree,andRae, Kym M.