YArnhem Digital Stepped model of care

(Artwork by Vanessa Marika)

Our research

Our project

Featured publications

Resources

Group members

Work with us

The North East Arnhem region of the Northern Territory, Australia covers over 33,000 square kilometres and is the traditional land of the Yolŋu people, who have occupied this land for over 40,000 years . Many Yolŋu young people experience barriers when they need to access Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) care.

The ‘YArnhem Model’ uses a broad, holistic and widely accepted approach to SEWB that links cultural, community, clinical, and allied health services under a single multidisciplinary mode to provide a responsive screening and referral pathway for young people to seek care in a way that is meaningful to them.

OUR RESEARCH

The ‘YArnhem Model’ is a co-designed digital (app) stepped care model for young Yolŋu people seeking SEWB care across five levels of need, ranging from healthy individuals (step 1), to those in need of acute mental health or SEWB care (Step 5).

The implementation trial commencing in 2025 aims to embed the YArnhem digital model of care (app) within the service provision of community-controlled health services in East Arnhem to support young Yolŋu access to SEWB Care.

Monitoring and evaluating activities will be guided by an implementation science approach (RE-AIM) informed and adapted by Yolŋu ways of learning, working and knowing to measure important indicators of a successful implementation, including engagement levels, likelihood of sustainability and utility in the field.

Research project

The trial will:

Promote and monitor the YArnhem Model as used by organisations and agencies as part of their resource pool and service delivery models.
Include workshops and interviews with young people, service providers and families in the community settings to support the partners to understand and shape the progression of trial activities and the nature of the implementation.
Adapt implementation activities using workshop and interview information to ensure the model provides the best support possible to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of young Yolŋu.

Featured publications

Funders / partners

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

The YArnhem model was developed under a Primary care Rural Innovative Multidisciplinary Model (PRIMM) project by Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation and Flinders University.

The YArnhem Implementation study is a continuing collaboration between Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation and Flinders University funded under the Innovative Models of Care (IMOC) program.

Resources

GROUP MEMBERS

Professor Robyn Aitken

Project Co-Lead
(Flinders University)

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Dr Bronwyn Rossingh

Project Co-Lead
(Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation)

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Ms Vanessa Marika

Project Co-Coordinator
(Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation)

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Professor Yalmay Yunupingu

Senior Yolŋu Advisor

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WORK WITH US

Join the Yolŋu Youth Advisory to represent youth in your community: Nhulunbuy, Galiwin’ku, Gapuwyiak, Garrthalala and Gäṉgaṉ
Download and use the YArnhem digital stepped care (app)
Participate in workshops and meetings to provide feedback
See timeline for consultations here