title: Listening, sharing understanding and facilitating consumer, family and community empowerment through a priority driven partnership in Far North Queensland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper provides an example of a mental health research partnership underpinned by empowerment principles that seeks to foster strength among community organizations to support better outcomes for consumers, families and communities. It aims to raise awareness among researchers and service providers that empowerment approaches to assist communities to address mental health problems are not too difficult to be practical but require long-term commitment and appropriate support.
  
  
  METHODS
  A collaborative research strategy that has become known as the Priority Driven Research (PDR) Partnership emerged through literature review, consultations, Family Wellbeing Program delivery with community groups and activities in two discrete Indigenous communities. Progress to date on three of the four components of the strategy is described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following key needs were identified in a pilot study and are now being addressed in a research-based implementation phase: (i) gaining two-way understanding of perspectives on mental health and promoting universal awareness; (ii) supporting the empowerment of carers, families, consumers and at-risk groups through existing community organizations to gain greater understanding and control of their situation; (iii) developing pathways of care at the primary health centre level to enable support of social and emotional wellbeing as well as more integrated mental health care; (iv) accessing data to enable an ongoing process of analysis/sharing/planning and monitoring to inform future activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One of the key learnings to emerge in this project so far is that empowerment through partnership becomes possible when there is a concerted effort to strengthen grassroots community organizations. These include social health teams and men's and women's groups that can engage local people in an action orientation.
authors: Collaborative Research on Empowerment and Wellbeing North Queensland Health Equalities Promotion Unit, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Carins, QLD, Australia. melissa_haswell@health.qld.gov.au
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Haswell-Elkins
authors: Lyndon
authors: L
authors: Reilly
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Fagan
authors: Valmae
authors: V
authors: Ypinazar
authors: Ernest
authors: E
authors: Hunter
authors: Komla
authors: K
authors: Tsey
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Gibson
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Connolly
authors: Arlene
authors: A
authors: Laliberte
authors: Rachael
authors: R
authors: Wargent
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Gibson
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Saunders
authors: Janya
authors: J
authors: McCalman
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Kavanagh
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011793:Queensland