BUSHkids Annual Report 2018-2019

Section

Adapting successful programs to further support even more Queensland families Starting school is an exciting time but can also be quite daunting for children and families of all backgrounds. BUSHkids is working to adapt some of our proven programs to make them more culturally appropriate and meaningful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in particular.

BUSHkids successfully secured grant funding through Perpetual’s IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program to adapt our internally-developed A Steady Start to School © (ASS2S) preparatory materials to become more culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This will extend the reach and relevance of ASS2S and ultimately increase the number of families feeling confident to support their children as they start school. The process began with our DSS Service Manager Marianne Taylor presenting the current ASS2S program to members of the Gladstone-based Nhulundu Health Service to seek their feedback and input. Nhulundu’s Marsha Corowa worked with us to effect the desired modifications. The program was then presented to a number of Gladstone agencies working with families, including UnitingCare Community , Central Queensland Indigenous Development and playgroup providers and therapists, as well as a local artist who provided further information to help the evolution of ASS2S materials. Tamera Craigie, a 19-year-old Indigenous artist, designed some preliminary concepts for posters and postcards, as bright artwork which storytells key learnings was identified as a most effective approach. Key learnings from the consultations were to make topics simply visual — ‘dot point rather than PowerPoint’ — in lieu of more comprehensive presentations and workbooks. The project will see two new formats developed:  A playgroup module with a key learnings model and conversation learning for parents over six sessions, the fundamental principles for modelling being: “I do”, “We do” and “You do”.  A community capacity-building model where BUSHkids trains those who work with the families in the evidence-based strategies so they can share in a culturally appropriate manner.

Trials of both formats began in the final term of 2019 with a SCORE outcome measure used to evaluate both of the new program formats. BUSHkids is also working with Parentshop founder Dr Michael Hawton to adjust the 1-2-3 Magic ® and Emotion Coaching program to make it more culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. We have a dedicated project worker closely liaising with Elders to create a culturally-sensitive approach to providing these parenting programs and, following this development, BUSHkids will support the delivery of training packages to ATSI health and wellbeing staff in a number of locations across Queensland during 2020.

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