Rapid qualitative assessments of COVID-19 health needs in three Aboriginal communities in NSW

In NSW, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and other Aboriginal services have responded rapidly and effectively to the COVID-19 threat by drawing on the strengths in Aboriginal communities to care for and protect each other. This research provides evidence to support community-controlled and other organisations in their responses to COVID-19. It uses an innovative peer-interviewing method to collect information about the strategies that families and communities use to protect themselves and reduce the risks attached to COVID-19, and assess their health service needs. Using this method, we invite a small group of six to eight Aboriginal young people to take part in two days of research training, after which they recruit and interview five people from their local community (from a variety of age groups) about their experiences and perspectives of COVID-19. We use the ‘third person’ interviewing technique which enables us to document shared views rather than individual experiences.

The research is taking place in three communities in NSW: the Campbelltown, Cranebrook and Lithgow areas. We are providing research briefs for each research site, which permits localised and context-specific feedback and focused response planning and implementation. Knowledge exchange activities include small group in-person meetings with local health service providers, webinars, research summaries and other activities as requested by local communities and health service providers. Please see below for the most recent outputs.