Developing a community rehabilitation and lifestyle service for a remote Indigenous community

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cairns, Alice;Geia, Lynore;Kris, Sylvia;Armstrong, Elizabeth;O'Hara, Amy;Rodda, Danielle;McDermott, Robyn;Barker, Ruth
Abstract

Purpose: Community rehabilitation is an essential health service that is often not available to remote Australians. This paper describes the first cycle of a collaborative project, between local community members, allied health professionals and a university, to co-design a community rehabilitation and lifestyle service to support adults and older people to stay strong and age well in place. Methods: An action research framework was used to develop the service for adults in two remote communities, one being a discrete Aboriginal community. The first cycle involved planning for, and trialling of a service, with observations, reflections and feedback from clients, community members, university students and health service providers, to inform the subsequent service. Results: Over two years, stakeholders worked collaboratively to plan, trial, reflect and replan an allied health student-assisted community rehabilitation service. The trial identified the need for dedicated clinical and cultural supervision. During replanning, three key elements for culturally responsive care were embedded into the service: reciprocity and yarning; holistic community-wide service; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mentorship. Conclusions: An action-research approach to co-design has led to the establishment of a unique community rehabilitation service to address disability and rehabilitation needs in two remote Australian communities.

Journal

Disability and Rehabilitation

Publication Name

N/A

Volume

44

ISBN/ISSN

1464-5165

Edition

N/A

Issue

16

Pages Count

9

Location

N/A

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1080/09638288.2021.1900416