Raising the voices of young people in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia to identify place-based support needs: The Bigiswun Kid Project

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Purpose</h3> Adolescence is a crucial developmental period that is distinct from childhood and adulthood. There is a global push for adolescent-specific services informed by young people; such services are crucial for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples because adolescents make up one-third of the population. The authors of this study worked with young people and their families to: identify the support that young people need to thrive in remote Aboriginal communities; report how young people and their parents would like this support to be delivered; and describe what was learned from piloting support during the research project. <h3>Methods</h3> Ninety-four (83%) of all young people born in 2002–03 (aged 16 to 19 years) who were living in the Fitzroy Valley at the time and 101 (89%) of their parents were interviewed. Using an Aboriginal participatory action approach, the authors worked with young people and local Aboriginal leaders to pilot some support. <h3>Main findings</h3> The seven most common supports that were requested were: opportunities to participate in cultural and on-Country activities, organised sports, community-based youth hubs/safe places, public transport, child development workshops, supported work programs, and supported tertiary education. Parents and young people wanted individual communities re-empowered to design and lead this support. <h3>Principal conclusions</h3> The learnings and recommendations described in this paper can be used by local services to enhance existing and develop new support that enables young people to successfully transition into adulthood. This approach could identify and pilot support needs in communities elsewhere.