Summary
Social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is a holistic understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people’s health that centres a collective sense of self as defined by connections to body, mind & emotion, family, community, culture, Country, and spirituality. Progress in understanding and improving First Nations people’s wellbeing is hindered by a lack of focus on and use of, available culturally relevant SEWB measures.
There have been attempts at cultural adaptation of standard instruments for use with First Nations populations, to varying degrees of success, some of which continue to be used. There have also been several new culturally appropriate instruments developed specifically for use with First Nations people, and many of these have been developed by First Nations people and/or in consultation with First Nations communities.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SEWB measures project is a collaboration between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing Measurement Consortium and the AIHW’s First Nations Health and Welfare Group. The project has researched over 30 SEWB measures, which are grouped into three categories: culturally derived, culturally informed and culturally adapted. There are 17 culturally derived measures, 2 culturally informed measures, and 16 culturally adapted measures.
SEWB measures
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Culturally derived
Unique instruments specifically designed for use among First Nations people, for which development was led by or involved First Nations clinical or cultural experts.
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Culturally informed
Informed by First Nations worldviews and experience or have sought to centralise and be led by community voices and priorities.
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Culturally adapted
Standard instruments initially developed for the general population but have been adapted and evaluated for use with First Nations people.
Information on these SEWB measures have been collated and presented in the following formats: