Co-designing & co-evaluating and integrated physical activity & psychosocial education program targeting the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander females : the Tidda Talk program
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2025
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Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women face unique challenges to their mental health and social and emotional wellbeing, shaped by the complex interplay of gender, cultural identity, and the enduring socio-historical impacts of colonisation. Leveraging physical activity and sport has been identified as a promising and culturally relevant strategy for supporting wellbeing in this context. The aim of this thesis was to collaboratively develop, deliver, and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of Tidda Talk, a bespoke physical activity and psychosocial education program designed to enhance the mental, social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The co-design process for the Tidda Talk program and its associated evaluation components began with a focus on aligning with best-practice principles for engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in health services and research. Pragmatic details of this process were documented against the Consolidated Criteria for Strengthening the Reporting of Health Research Involving Indigenous Peoples statement, and lessons learned identified to inform future health and research initiatives. A two-phase multi-method evaluation strategy was then implemented to assess the quality of co-design processes and the Tidda Talk’s overall feasibility and effectiveness. Self-report questionnaires and body mapping explored changes in physical activity attitudes and mental, social, and emotional wellbeing outcomes in culturally resonant ways. Yarns with program participants further assessed program feasibility, acceptability, and areas for refinement. Findings highlighted the Tidda Talk program as a feasible and acceptable method of enhancing physical, social and emotional skills, however, more intensive versions with greater links to localised support are needed to optimise its impact. The thesis concludes with recommendations for refining and scaling the Tidda Talk program, emphasising its potential as a model for culturally responsive health promotion. Future research directions include larger-scale evaluations of the program and validation of the Cultural Wellness Index used in the quantitative assessment component of this thesis. This research contributes to the growing evidence base on culturally safe interventions, underscoring the importance of community-driven approaches in addressing mental health and social and emotional wellbeing inequities and fostering empowerment among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
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