DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

There are few good examples in the available literature of effective health research feedback. This is a particular issue within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. However, it is increasingly being recognised that the involvement of the Aboriginal community in the design, implementation and conduct of research is essential for successful Aboriginal community based research.

One of the most significant aspects of the development of the WAACHS was the level of community support it received through the advocacy of the WA Council of ATSIC Commissioners and the WA Council of Aboriginal Elders. One of the conditions for this support was that the communities and families who were part of the survey would be given back information about the survey outcomes.

Whilst the writing and publication of each of the volumes of findings from the WAACHS is important to inform policy and service development, it has also been recognised that this must be accompanied by a culturally consultative and relevant communication and dissemination strategy which reports the findings of the survey back to the Aboriginal families and communities at both a local and regional level.

Community dissemination strategy aims

This strategy aims to develop a communication and dissemination model that will be transferable to other large scale Aboriginal research projects and can be used as a tool to assist in the feedback and dissemination of their results.

The overall objective was to develop an effective communication and dissemination process for the findings of the WAACHS that is acceptable and appropriate for Aboriginal communities throughout Western Australia. The strategy has been shaped by the Fitzroy Valley Pilot Feedback Project funded by Healthway.

Specifically this process will:

• Assist community groups, families and individuals involved in the survey to have the opportunity to access, understand and utilise the results of the survey for the benefit of Aboriginal children, families and communities.
• Engage Aboriginal communities in collaborative and consultative processes.
• Increase knowledge and awareness of the findings of the survey to both the Aboriginal and wider communities.
• Increase knowledge and awareness of the aims and scope of the WAACHS and its potential value in informing decision-making.
• Increase knowledge and awareness of implications of the findings and what the findings mean to both the Aboriginal and wider communities.
• Develop evaluation measures for strategic processes.
• Engage Aboriginal communities in committed action, using the data as a catalyst for collaborative political and community action and social change.

The communication and dissemination strategy aims to ensure that the survey findings are made available to Aboriginal and wider communities in a form which enables optimal uptake and translation of these findings into healthy public policy and practice at the community, regional, state and national level of governance.