The Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin Project: Elder and Community Led Resources Strengthen Aboriginal Voice for Skin Health

In partnership with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, the Elder-led co-designed Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin project is guided by principles of reciprocity, capacity building, respect, and community involvement. Through this work, the team of Elders, community members, clinicians and research staff have gained insight into the skin health needs of urban-living Aboriginal koolungar (children); and having identified a lack of targeted and culturally appropriate health literacy and health promotion resources on moorditj (strong) skin, prioritised development of community-created healthy skin resources. Community members self-appointed to Aboriginal Community Advisory Groups (CAG) on Whadjuk (Perth) and Wardandi (Bunbury) boodjar (land/place) provided local leadership and led the development of moorditj skin resources. Over several online and face-to-face meetings facilitated by an Aboriginal project officer, CAG members shared local perspectives and cultural knowledge to develop and inform the messaging, medium, and dissemination of health literacy and health promotion resources for healthy skin. All CAG-created research approaches, resources and materials were presented to the Elder Researchers for discussion, final review, and implementation by the project team. Culturally appropriate moorditj skin resources, designed by community for community, build on knowledge of healthy skin to achieve moorditj skin and moorditj health for urban-living Aboriginal koolungar