Wellah Together

This study is an evaluation of the Wellah Together Program, an Aboriginal designed online 6-week program that uses physical activity, interactive health education sessions, weekly challenges, social media peer support groups and cultural activities to build resilience and improve the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families. The program was designed by Clothing the Gaps Foundation (CTGF) founder/Managing Director, Gunditjmara woman, Laura Thompson and co-founder, Sarah Sheridan, Director of Operations. The program evaluation will contribute to the development of program resources that will enable Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations and community groups to deliver the program in their local areas.

What is already known?

Wellah Together builds on findings from the #HerTribe and #HisTribe programs that were run by the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS). Developed by Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan in their previous roles at VAHS, these programs focused on physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices and empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and men. Evaluation of the programs found that these activities, delivered by Aboriginal health promotion experts, were associated with increases in personal, relationship and cultural resilience and decreases in psychological distress for women and men from the Melbourne Aboriginal Community. You can read more about the programs in the Her Tribe His Tribe publication listed below.

What does this study add?

The evaluation has shown that Wellah Together Online is an innovative, strengths-based program that supported the health and wellbeing of participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The evaluation has highlighted the links between health and wellbeing, Community and cultural connection, and broader social and historical issues.

We hope the findings contribute to evidence for the effectiveness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-designed programs. These types of programs are examples of self-determination in action.

What’s next?

Researchers from the MCRI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program have partnered with CTGF and Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative to conduct this study.

You can read the evaluation reports below.