Impact of community-based employment on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing, aspirations, and resilience

Elizabeth Doery; Lata Satyen; Yin Paradies; Graham Gee; John W Toumbourou

doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17909-z

Impact of community-based employment on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing, aspirations, and resilience

BMC Public Health. 2024 Feb 16;24(1):497. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-17909-z.

Authors

Elizabeth Doery¹, Lata Satyen², Yin Paradies³, Graham Gee⁴, John W Toumbourou²

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. edoery@deakin.edu.au.
² School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
³ School of Humanities and Social Science, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
⁴ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated a research project that provided employment in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based setting and supported participants to identify and achieve their goals and aspirations. The evaluation examined changes in personal, relationship, community and cultural strengths and resources and explored empowerment and resilience, in terms of promoting wellbeing.

Methods: Ten Aboriginal people employed as life coaches and peer researchers participated in semi-structured interviews and also completed the Aboriginal Resilience and Recovery Questionnaire at the beginning of their employment and 6-months after employment. Interviews with the 10 participants explored changes in their wellbeing, relationships, resilience, opportunity to lead, aspirations, goal setting skills, connection to culture and community, and empowerment.

Results: Participants personal strengths, and cultural and community strengths, sub-scale scores showed improvements across the 6-month period, however these changes were not statistically significant. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we generated five themes including Aspirations; Personal capabilities; Constraints to wellbeing; Community engagement and cultural connection; and Employment facilitators. Overall, participants identified that despite the challenges of their work and the additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdowns, they were able to develop their skills to set and achieve goals. They reported feeling empowered and proud of their work, and engaged more frequently with their communities and culture.

Conclusions: The study outcomes evidence the role of employment in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based project in strengthening wellbeing, enhancing resilience, and supporting participants to advance their personal goals and aspirations. These findings reinforce the importance of supporting the aspirations and employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through employment.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; Aspirations; Employment; Empowerment; Resilience; Wellbeing.

MeSH terms

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Employment
Health Services, Indigenous*
Humans
Resilience, Psychological*
Surveys and Questionnaires