RecruitingACTRN12625000982415

Dance2Kinnect: What is the impact of a cultural dance program on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children?

Dance2Kinnect: Assessing the impact of a cultural dance program on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

Sponsor

The George Institute for Global Health

Enrollment

90 participants

Start Date

Jul 29, 2024

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Summary

The Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program at The George Institute has been awarded a grant over three years to develop a new approach to reducing early life preventable disease risk and improve the health and wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The funding - part of the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund Indigenous Health Research round - will support a contemporary cultural dance pilot program to enhance cultural identity, cultural connectedness, self-esteem and physical fitness of children on the Central Coast and in Moree, a remote community of NSW. The program will be led by the Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program in partnership with Aboriginal youth, Elders and communities. It will be offered to children between the ages of 8 and 15 yrs and families experiencing economic disadvantage to address modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular and mental health conditions. To ensure ongoing community involvement and that communities’ priorities are met, our partners Barang Regional Alliance, Yulugi Marumali (Moree) NAISDA dance college, Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health services, Darkinjung Aboriginal Land council and Moree SHAE Academy will support the dance project. We also will have a youth group to ensure cultural safety for the kids. NAISDA and Barang Regional Alliance will be holding youth meetings that the children participants will be attending.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 8 YearssMax Age: 15 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This program brings together cultural dance, community connection, and health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The Dance2Kinnect program is rooted in the understanding that cultural identity and connection to community are fundamental to the health and wellbeing of First Nations children. By participating in contemporary cultural dance led by Elders and community leaders, children have the opportunity to build self-esteem, strengthen their cultural identity, stay physically active, and connect with their heritage in a supportive, culturally safe environment. The program will be offered in two communities — on the Central Coast and in Moree, NSW — to children aged 8–15 from families experiencing economic disadvantage or living in out-of-home care. It is a collaboration between The George Institute for Global Health and Aboriginal community organisations including Barang Regional Alliance, NAISDA Dance College, and Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services. Researchers will evaluate the program's impact on cultural connectedness, self-esteem, and physical fitness. Your child may be eligible if they identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, are aged 8–15, live on the Central Coast or in Moree (NSW), and their family is experiencing low socioeconomic resources or they are in out-of-home care. Non-Indigenous children or children younger than 8 or older than 15 would not be eligible for this program.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

Aboriginal contemporary and cultural dance classes will be held for two hours, once weekly during the school term for 3 years (40 classes per year) in Moree and Gosford, New South Wales. The specific

Aboriginal contemporary and cultural dance classes will be held for two hours, once weekly during the school term for 3 years (40 classes per year) in Moree and Gosford, New South Wales. The specific content of the program has been developed in consultation with local Elders and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Reference Group who are assisting in identifying the main cultural elements for the local community. The program is holistic, incorporating multiple cultural elements to develop cultural identity and connectedness. The program is contextualised to reflect and respect the culture of the local community and will include elements of song, dance, language, and storytelling. The two-hour classes incorporate cultural activities like painting, weaving and native food workshops. The program also includes traditional dance, song, storytelling, contemporary dance, yarning sessions to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and others. The dance classes at the Central Coast are facilitated at National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Deveopment Association (NAISDA) by their dance assistants and supervised by members of the Guunu-maana team. At Moree the dance classes are facilitated by NAISDA graduate and founder of Yulugi Marumali. At both sites cultural activitites like native food workshops, weaving, yarning circles, cultural experiences on Country and a visit from cultural advisors from the Northern Territory, are facilitated by local elders and community members and supervised by the research team. Class attendance has been recorded and will continue throughout the project.

Locations(1)

NSW, Australia

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ACTRN12625000982415