The Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Indigenous Youth: Reviewing and Extending the Evidence and Examining its Implications for Policy and Practice

Abstract

The aim of this project was to obtain a deeper and broader understanding of current knowledge in this area and translate this understanding into practical and useful information to enhance policy, resource allocation decisions and practice. The project involved four components with each informing the next, namely: a systematic review of the existing published and grey literature covering research on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth SEWB up to 2010; a review of current policies at national and jurisdictional levels and a review of programs and services specifically addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth SEWB; completion of in-depth case studies of six programs with evidence of success and capacity to inform across a range of settings and groups. These studies utilized a structured, focussed comparison and appreciative inquiry approach to capture insightful explorations by those with hands on experience. The data included program-specific documents, interviews with program participants, developers, deliverers, managers and stakeholders and participant observations; and cross-case analyses identifying themes and variations across the six case studies and a metasynthesis generating four sets of key distilled and cohesive messages to advance theory and assist policy and practice to foster program strength and impact