GG2 — Gaawaadhi Gadudha

The Gaawaadhi Gadudha logo artwork is by Laurance Magick Dennis. It represents the meeting of fresh (Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay) and salt (Yuin-Djirringanj) water. The horseshoe-like shapes are people sitting around a fire. The oval image at the centre is a coolamon (traditional carrying vessel). The dots around the image are ancestors looking on.

While we use the word ‘Aboriginal’ to explain the terminology of ‘the health gap’ in current research and policy, we would like to acknowledge it as a colonised term. We advocate for shifting to the use of cultural group names as identifiers. Where this is not possible, we use ‘Indigenous’.

Co-designing and trialing a cultural health program
2023-2027

The program
Since the study began in 2023, our Cultural Knowledge Holders have led the co-design of a unique and evidence–informed cultural health program.

The program aims to address worsening social and emotional wellbeing among Indigenous adults by improving cultural health. It does so by providing activities that enable people to strengthen their connection to culture and Country in a culturally safe way. These practices are seen as protective factors for social and emotional wellbeing.

120 participants will take part in the program in two NSW communities: Tamworth and Wallaga Lake. Camps will be held in Dharriwaa at Narran Lakes (Yuwaalaraay Country) and Gulaga National Park (Yuin Djirringanj Country) as part of the program.

Measuring wellbeing
We are measuring the impact of the program using a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial. This means that the program will be introduced gradually across different groups. This approach allows us to assess the effectiveness of the program by comparing outcomes for those who haven’t yet received it with those who have, while ensuring that all study participants receive the program.

Measuring the program using a control trial will produce rigorous evidence about the impact of cultural participation on the social and emotional wellbeing and cultural health of Indigenous people. To understand cultural health, we will use a new psychometric measure. This measure was co-designed with our cultural governance group and validated in a pilot study with Aboriginal adults in NSW. We will measure social and emotional wellbeing using several existing scales that are validated and culturally appropriate.

We will also evaluate the delivery of the program, so these learnings are available for any other groups looking to run a cultural health program.

This study is funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRF2025330).
Ethics approval to conduct this study was obtained from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (#2257/24).

Image: Dancer on Yuin Country (photo by Anthony Zwi)