Programs to increase patients' capacity to manage their chronic disease are growing in popularity
with policy makers, health professionals and the general public. However, until this pilot in
regional South Australia, Indigenous people rarely participated in such programs. The pilot
included extensive consultations with the Indigenous community, ownership of the program by
an Aboriginal community-controlled health service, and a key role for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health Workers as the main coordinators of self-management support. The result
was that 60 Aboriginal people participated and achieved notable improvements in health
outcomes and personal goals. This pilot demonstrates that mainstream programs are relevant for
Aboriginal communities as long as Aboriginal people lead the adaptation process
