Poster Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

Communicating research findings as recommended by Aboriginal participants (128032)

Stephanie Smith 1 2 3 , Tania Harris 4 , Stephen Paull 1 2 3 , Yvonne C Anderson 1 2 3
  1. Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  2. Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
  3. The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  4. Health Consumers' Council, Perth, WA, Australia

This study evolved from the Healthy Lifestyle Program for children and young people who are above a healthy weight in Boorloo, Perth, WA.1 Previous workshop findings, conducted with 29 Aboriginal advisors in April 2024, covered cultural and place-based considerations, including barriers, enablers, and mitigation strategies for adapting the program. From this workshop, it was identified that researchers need to ‘close the loop’ on findings to participants in a meaningful way. Further, guidelines for communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants remain limited.2 The Aboriginal advisors recommended a book to communicate workshop findings to participants.

The study aimed to develop an output reporting cultural and place-based considerations of the Healthy Lifestyle Program for Aboriginal participants that meets their expectations, and to more broadly understand ways of communicating research outcomes with participants.

A workshop was conducted in June 2025 with the Healthy Lifestyle Program Cultural Advisory Group (9 Aboriginal Elders) to understand how best to share these findings with the original participants. An Aboriginal facilitator conducted the workshop, and original study findings were presented. The workshop was audio-recorded, transcribed, and data underwent reflexive thematic analysis.

Themes include ensuring the context and lived realities of participants are recognised when presenting findings, using artwork to further tell participants’ stories (including artwork from children involved in the program), and the need for multiple modes of feedback. Tips for researchers working with Aboriginal participants and the book will be presented. The book was noted to have the dual purpose of reporting findings and leaving a legacy for future generations to learn from Elders’ views of healthy living.

Ensuring research includes consumer and community involvement is paramount to enabling unique research recommendations to be actioned. Prioritising Aboriginal and community voice in how findings are communicated is critical to genuine partnership in the research process.

  1. Smith, S., Paull, S., Iwanowski, K.M., Harris, T., Moullin, J. C., Jane, M…Anderson, Y. C. (2025) Acceptability, feasibility and program outcomes of an equity-focused, adapted community-based healthy lifestyle program for children, young people and their families in Perth, Western Australia: an implementation hybrid research protocol. Frontiers in Health Services – Implementation Science [accepted for publication 29/05/2025, in press]
  2. Huria T, Palmer SC, Pitama S, Beckert L, Lacey C, Ewen S, et al. Consolidated criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving indigenous peoples: the CONSIDER statement. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2019;19(1):173.