Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future: trauma-aware, healing-informed care to improve support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families – implementation and evaluation study protocol

Raymond Lovett; Helen Herrman; Catherine Chamberlain; Rhonda Marriott; Graham Gee; Judith Atkinson; Yvonne Clark; Caroline Atkinson; Tanja Hirvonen; Tess Bright; Jane Fisher; Alison Elliot; Leonie Segal; Sandy Campbell; Amanda Jones; Della Anne Forster; Kimberley Ann Jones; Helen Henderson; Olivia Mauerhofer; Katherine Jane Lake; Rebakah Julian; Jhodie Duncan; Anita Raymond; Danielle Cameron; Doseena Fergie; Shawana Andrews; Skye Stewart; Belinda Crawford; Janine Mohammed; Gina Bundle; Emmanuel Gnanamanickam; Elise Davis

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085555

BMJ Open (Jul 2024)

Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future: trauma-aware, healing-informed care to improve support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families – implementation and evaluation study protocol

Raymond Lovett,
Helen Herrman,
Catherine Chamberlain,
Rhonda Marriott,
Graham Gee,
Judith Atkinson,
Yvonne Clark,
Caroline Atkinson,
Tanja Hirvonen,
Tess Bright,
Jane Fisher,
Alison Elliot,
Leonie Segal,
Sandy Campbell,
Amanda Jones,
Della Anne Forster,
Kimberley Ann Jones,
Helen Henderson,
Olivia Mauerhofer,
Katherine Jane Lake,
Rebakah Julian,
Jhodie Duncan,
Anita Raymond,
Danielle Cameron,
Doseena Fergie,
Shawana Andrews,
Skye Stewart,
Belinda Crawford,
Janine Mohammed,
Gina Bundle,
Emmanuel Gnanamanickam,
Elise Davis

Affiliations

Raymond Lovett: National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Helen Herrman: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and Centre for Youth Mental Health, Orygen Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Catherine Chamberlain: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Rhonda Marriott: Ngangk Yira Institute for Change, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Graham Gee: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Judith Atkinson: We Al-li Pty Ltd, Goolmangar, New South Wales, Australia
Yvonne Clark: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Caroline Atkinson: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Tanja Hirvonen: College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Tess Bright: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Jane Fisher: Global and Women’s Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Alison Elliot: The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Leonie Segal: Health Economics and Social Policy Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Sandy Campbell: Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Amanda Jones: Victoria Aboriginal Child and Community Agency, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Della Anne Forster: Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Kimberley Ann Jones: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Helen Henderson: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Olivia Mauerhofer: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Katherine Jane Lake: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Rebakah Julian: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Jhodie Duncan: Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon, Victoria, Australia
Anita Raymond: Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon, Victoria, Australia
Danielle Cameron: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Doseena Fergie: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Shawana Andrews: Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Skye Stewart: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Belinda Crawford: Latrobe City Council, Morwell, Victoria, Australia
Janine Mohammed: Lowitja Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Gina Bundle: Royal Women`s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Emmanuel Gnanamanickam: Health Economics and Social Policy Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Elise Davis: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Onemda, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085555
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 7

Abstract

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Introduction Complex trauma can have serious impacts on the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The perinatal period represents a ‘critical window’ for recovery and transforming cycles of trauma into cycles of healing. The Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future (HPNF) project aims to implement and evaluate a programme of strategies to improve support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander families experiencing complex trauma.Method The HPNF programme was codesigned over 4 years to improve awareness, support, recognition and assessment of trauma. Components include (1) a trauma-aware, healing-informed training and resource package for service providers; (2) trauma-awareness resources for parents; (3) organisational readiness assessment; (4) a database for parents and service providers to identify accessible and appropriate additional support and (5) piloting safe recognition and assessment processes. The programme will be implemented in a large rural health service in Victoria, Australia, over 12 months. Evaluation using a mixed-methods approach will assess feasibility, acceptability, cost, effectiveness and sustainability. This will include service user and provider interviews; service usage and cost auditing; and an administrative linked data study of parent and infant outcomes.Analysis Qualitative data will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Quantitative and service usage outcomes will be described as counts and proportions. Evaluation of health outcomes will use interrupted time series analyses. Triangulation of data will be conducted and mapped to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance frameworks to understand factors influencing feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, cost and sustainability.Ethics and dissemination Approval granted from St Vincent’s Melbourne Ethics Committee (approval no. 239/22). Data will be disseminated according to the strategy outlined in the codesign study protocol, in-line with the National Health and Medical Research Council Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Excellence criteria.

Published in BMJ Open

ISSN: 2044-6055 (Online)
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://bmjopen.bmj.com

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