Anita Pickard, Thomas Stubbs, Jadnah Davies, Sharanya Napier-Raman, Emily Carter, Sue Thomas, Vondella Berringal, Zarema Johnson, Jeanette Pindan, Clare Hickey, Rosemary Evans, Kim Casburn, Tuguy Esgin, Elizabeth J Elliott, Alexandra Martiniuk
Parents reported that the camps supported emotion regulation, social skills, confidence, and behaviour in children, and empowered, built knowledge, and skills in parents to support their children. This demonstrated that family-centred, therapeutic, recreational camps provide a unique opportunity to support Aboriginal children with complex neurodevelopmental or social-emotional needs. Local leadership, combined with a two-way, trauma-informed, strengths-based approach was key to the success of the family camps. This approach could be adopted by similar communities elsewhere.
BACKGROUND: Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in the Fitzroy Valley are internationally recognised for their leadership in supporting children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and early life trauma, and their families. This study investigates the design and parent-reported impact of the Marurra-U family camp, a family-centred, therapeutic, recreational camp for Aboriginal children with complex neurodevelopmental or social-emotional needs.
METHODS: An Aboriginal Participatory Action Approach was used. Nine yarning sessions with 13 Aboriginal parent/carers who attended the Marurra-U family camp in 2024 or 2025 were conducted. Researchers also conducted ethnographic observations whilst participating in the camps. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
FINDINGS: Four themes were constructed: 1) The unique characteristics and design of the Marurra-U family camp, 2) Children actively engaged in camp activities, leading to improved individual, family, and social wellbeing, 3) Parents were motivated and empowered to support their children and communities to thrive, 4) Two-way teams were effective in delivering child and family support.
INTERPRETATION: Parents reported that the camps supported emotion regulation, social skills, confidence, and behaviour in children, and empowered, built knowledge, and skills in parents to support their children. This demonstrated that family-centred, therapeutic, recreational camps provide a unique opportunity to support Aboriginal children with complex neurodevelopmental or social-emotional needs. Local leadership, combined with a two-way, trauma-informed, strengths-based approach was key to the success of the family camps. This approach could be adopted by similar communities elsewhere.
FUNDING: This study was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Partnership grant (#APP1171880).