'We walked side by side through the whole thing': A mixed-methods study of key elements of community-based participatory research partnerships between rural Aboriginal communities and researchers

Abstract

Objectives: To advance the rural practice in working with Aboriginal communities by (a) identifying the extent of community partners' participation in and (b) operationalising the key elements of three community-based participatory research partnerships between university-based researchers and Australian rural Aboriginal communities.

Design: A mixed-methods study. Quantitative survey and qualitative one-on-one interviews with local project implementation committee members and group interviews with other community partners and project documentation.

Setting: Three rural Aboriginal communities in New South Wales.

Participants: Thirty-seven community partners in three community-based participatory research partnerships of which 22 were members of local project implementation committees and 15 were other community partners who implemented activities.

Intervention: Community-based participatory research partnerships to develop, implement and evaluate community-based responses to alcohol-related harms.

Main outcomes measures: Community partners' extent of and experiences with participation in the community-based participatory research partnership and their involvement in the development and implementation processes.

Results: Community partners' participation varied between communities and between project phases within communities. Contributing to the community-based participatory research partnerships were four key elements of the participatory process: unique expertise of researchers and community-based partners, openness to learn from each other, trust and community leadership.

Conclusion: To advance the research practice in rural Aboriginal communities, equitable partnerships between Aboriginal community and research partners are encouraged to embrace the unique expertise of the partners, encourage co-learning and implement community leadership to build trust.

Keywords: Aboriginal Australians; alcohol; community-based participatory research; mixed methods; partnerships; rural.