Major Medical Research Future funding awarded to Dr Kootsy Canuto and Co-Investigators
Program responds to social and emotional wellbeing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men
Program takes research based recommendations and applies it by co-designing with Communities, and piloting a program across South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal Medical Services.
The Centre congratulates Dr Kootsy Canuto, head of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men's Health Unit and associate investigators on being awarded major funding from the Commonwealth Government's Medical Research Futures Fund to implement research into a co-ordinated response to the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
The project will be utilising Indigenous Research principles to drive community driven research; guide the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies to improve SEWB care referral pathways; and to facilitate the co-design and piloting of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men's SEWB program.
Members of the Warriparingga Aboriginal Men’s Group, with Dr. Canuto and Dougie Clinch (9th Feb 2021)
This project shifts away from describing the challenges to providing solutions for the primary health care service environment.
Expected outcomes include (a) the increased delivery of SEWB care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal Medical Services; and (b) improved SEWB of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men that participate in the co-designed SEWB program.
In accordance with the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing, this project aims to provide alternate solutions and guidance for primary health care services to create better access to culturally safe, responsive, person-centered SEWB services and programs to enhance the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
It is anticipated that evidence generated from this project will help guide and support future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health policy and practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.