Moordidjabiny Moort (Stronger Families) program: 'we sat together as one family'

INTRODUCTION: Strong family networks or kinships are integral for overall health and wellbeing, and it is important for families to have the opportunity to build positive and supportive relationships together. In Australia, culturally safe and appropriate programs have the potential to help Aboriginal families to strengthen connections and improve overall physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing. The Moordidjabiny Moort (Stronger Families) program was a place-based, culturally appropriate, family-determined health and wellbeing program, where families chose, planned, undertook and evaluated an activity with the aim of creating positive outcomes for their family. The program was delivered by the South West Aboriginal Medical Service, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation that delivers a range of comprehensive primary healthcare services throughout the South West region of Western Australia. Central to this program was a holistic approach to support families and community by providing culturally responsive, community-led health promotion and prevention programs. However, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are often limited due to funding constraints and reporting requirements that often do not cover outcome-based program evaluations. Thus, in addition to examining the impacts of the Moordidjabiny Moort (Stronger Families) program, the evaluation reported here also seeks to provide evidence to advocate for funding for similar programs in the future. METHODS: Conducted as part of an internal program evaluation and culturally safe research-capacity-building learning experience for staff, the study implemented an evaluation design with embedded participatory action research and Aboriginal Data Sovereignty principles. Evaluation data included family activity grant application information and participant activity reports. Yarning circles and individual yarns were conducted with available program participants and staff and thematically analysed. A program logic model guided the development of outcome measures. RESULTS: The activities provided healing, connection, and improved social and emotional wellbeing, and highlighted the importance of self-determination and cultural ways of working. Findings also show the value of a program logic that connects purposes and outcomes in program planning and evaluation. Added costs, organisation stresses and limited planning lead time are potential barriers to the implementation of this type of program. CONCLUSION: Both the organisation and the families involved in the project were able to determine how the project would be implemented and therefore ensured the needs and priorities of those involved were identified and met. Allowing families to determine their own outcome measures demonstrates on a small scale the empowering value of applying Aboriginal Data Sovereignty principles. Connecting purpose, planning and evaluation highlighted the value of self-determination, and the application of Aboriginal Data Sovereignty 'governance of data' principles. Comprehensive primary healthcare services that provide a holistic range of services in a culturally sensitive manner are particularly valued by Aboriginal people living in regional, rural and remote areas who would otherwise have been difficult to access. Aligned with the principle of 'data for governance' it is hoped that the learnings from this evaluation will inform funding models to allow Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations greater determination regarding ways to deliver and evaluate programs using the methods and measures they choose.