title: The Halls Creek Community Families Program: Elements of the role of the child health nurse in development of a remote Aboriginal home visiting peer support program for families in the early years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To undertake an evaluation of elements of the role of the child health nurse in the development of peer support for Aboriginal families with young children in a remote setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Halls Creek Community Families Program uses expertise of peer support workers to support parents of young families. In stage one, participatory action research was used. The program facilitator, who was a child health nurse, undertook action learning sets where issues were explored relating to home visiting strategies to families. Additionally, the facilitator maintained a reflective practice diary. Outcomes contributed to stage two, where an independent researcher evaluated program changes.This report relates to stage one, which used descriptive qualitative data from interviews with peer support workers and community support agencies, and the facilitator's reflective diary. Data were analysed by thematic analysis, focusing on elements of the role of the facilitator in program development.
  
  
  METHODS
  A remote Aboriginal community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight peer support workers and five health and welfare professionals from community support agencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study measures changes in participants' understanding of the role and scope of practice of the child health nurse facilitator, thereby supporting improved support for Aboriginal families with young children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thematic analysis identified three major changes in understanding the child health nurse facilitator role: working in partnership, communication strategies and education and organisational strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest empowering benefits for Aboriginal peer support workers from the facilitating role of the child health nurse.
authors: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Ailsa
authors: A
authors: Munns
authors: University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.|Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, Telethon Kids Institute, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Roz
authors: R
authors: Walker
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Aboriginal health; action research; child health nurse; community health model of care; rural community development; service delivery to Indigenous populations