Talk Description
Aboriginal communities in the remote Fitzroy Valley, Western Australia, have been internationally recognised for their leadership in supporting children with early life trauma (ELT) and other complex neurodevelopmental needs. Previous research has identified an increased prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, ELT, and developmental delays among children born in 2002/2003, with limited access to healthcare and supportive services in the Fitzroy Valley. In 2015, Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre invited Royal Far West, a specialist developmental paediatric health service, to the community. They formed the Marurra-U partnership, which implements a community-led, trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, wrap-around model of care for children with ELT and other complex neurodevelopmental needs, and their families. One aspect of the wraparound model is the Marurra-U Family Camp. The camp aims to improve therapeutic outcomes for children through recreation-based activities, alongside parent workshops focused on understanding children’s brain development, emotion regulation, and supporting child needs. The family-centred approach also aims to strengthen family relationships and child-parent interactions through dedicated time for connection and shared positive experiences. Parents and carers participated in yarning sessions at the end of the 2024 camp to capture their experiences. Results showed parents valued knowledge gained in understanding and responding to their children’s needs. Parents also felt the Marurra-U Family Camp created opportunities for their children to grow in confidence, independence, build social skills, and strengthen connections with other children, their siblings, and their parents. The Marurra-U partnership presents a unique model of care for supporting children with ELT that is community-led, culturally appropriate, and family-centred. The Marurra-U camp builds developmental paediatric allied health expertise into the recreation- and family-centered care evidence-base, and to the best of our knowledge, is the first family camp designed and delivered to support Aboriginal children and families with complex neurodevelopmental and psychosocial/emotional needs.