Adapting the 'family wellbeing' empowerment program to the needs of remote Indigenous school children

Objective: To adapt the family wellbeing empowerment program, designed to support adults take greater control and responsibility for their affairs, to the needs of remote Indigenous school children. Method: At the request of two schools in remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland, a pilot personal development and leadership program based on the family wellbeing principles was developed, conducted and evaluated in the schools. The main aims of the program were to build personal identity, to encourage the students to think about themselves as people who have a future and to have a greater awareness about their place in their communities and the wider world. Results: Participation in the program resulted in significant social and emotional growth for the students. Outcomes identified included increased analytical and reflective skills, greater ability to think for oneself, sense of identity, setting goals, less teasing and bullying in the school environment, enhanced friendships and “social relatedness”. Conclusion: The findings of the study confirm the principles of school health promotion that teachers, parents, children and those in the wider community should all be involved in such a program. This is particularly critical in Indigenous settings experiencing high levels of alcohol and other related problems. Initiatives need to first empower and support adults to tackle endemic alcohol related problems, take greater charge of their own situation, so that they in turn can better support young people’s development. The complexities associated with delivering and sustaining school health promotion programs in remote settings are highlighted