Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Communicating research findings of adapting a Healthy Lifestyle Program with Aboriginal Elders (143863)

Stephanie Smith 1 2 3 , Tania Harris 4 , Kelli Savietto 5 , Mel Robinson 6 , Glenn Pearson 3 , Stephen Paull 1 2 3 , Yvonne Anderson 1 2 3
  1. Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  2. Child and Adolescent Community Health, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
  3. The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  4. Health Consumers WA, Mount Lawley, WA, Australia
  5. Kelli Savietto, Indigenous Artist & Graphic Designer, Boorloo (Perth), WA, Australia
  6. Child and Adolescent Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia

Background

International guidelines for conducting ethical research recognise that research participants should have the opportunity to be informed about the study's findings.1 Guidelines for communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants are not widely adopted in practice.2 This study evolved from the Healthy Lifestyle Program for children and young people above a healthy weight in Boorloo/Perth, Western Australia.3 Previous workshop findings, conducted with 29 Aboriginal advisors in April 2024, covered cultural and place-based considerations, including barriers, enablers, and mitigation strategies for adapting the program to the Perth context.4 Aboriginal advisors recommended a book to communicate the workshop findings to participants.

The study explored Aboriginal Elders’ experiences of receiving study findings, guidance for researchers, and co-created a book reporting cultural and place-based considerations of the Healthy Lifestyle Program.

Methods

Participatory action research guided co-design and implementation of the book. The Cultural Advisory Group participated in a co-design workshop (June 2025) and had participated in the prior workshop. An Aboriginal facilitator led the session with researcher support. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.5 Consumer and community involvement throughout informed the book development, refinement, and implementation.

Findings

Nine Aboriginal Elders participated. An overarching theme of knowledge sharing across research partnerships, community and family connected the two themes identified. Working in partnership highlighted cultural accountability, trust, and reciprocal communication as essential to enabling effective partnerships. Leaving a legacy emphasised how multimodal formats, artwork, and intergenerational relevance can enhance accessibility, reach and sustained engagement.

Conclusion

Ensuring research includes consumer and community involvement is paramount. Prioritising Aboriginal and community voice in how findings are communicated is critical to genuine partnership in the research process. Through this work, hardcopies were made available to the April 2024 participants, and an online version is available.6 Future research and practical tips for researchers are provided.

  1. World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki. Accessed 17 January, 2025. https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/
  2. Huria T, Palmer SC, Pitama S, et al. Consolidated criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving indigenous peoples: the CONSIDER statement. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2019/08/09 2019;19(1):173. doi:10.1186/s12874-019-0815-8
  3. Smith S, Paull S, Iwanowski KM, et al. Acceptability, feasibility, and program outcomes of an equity-focused, adapted community-based healthy lifestyle program for children, young people, and their families in Perth, Western Australia: an implementation hybrid research protocol. Study Protocol. Frontiers in Health Services. 2025;5:1604809. doi:10.3389/frhs.2025.1604809
  4. Paull S, Smith S, Bill J, Moullin JC, Harris T, Anderson YC. Being Heard, Being Valued, Being Understood—Aboriginal Community Perspectives on Adapting a Healthy Lifestyle Program for Boorloo/Perth, Western Australia: A Qualitative Study. Health Expectations. 2026;29(4):e70754. doi:10.1111/hex.70754
  5. Braun V, Clarke V. Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2019/08/08 2019;11(4):589-597. doi:10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
  6. Healthy Lifestyle Program Team & Aboriginal Advisors. Like a river, from the Elders to the youth and in-between. Aboriginal community perspectives on adapting a Healthy Lifestyle Program for Boorloo (Perth). Curtin University; 2025.doi:10.25917/hg2a-9v74