Bigiswun Kid Research
Bigiswun Kid Project
Community leaders raised concerns about the children in the Lililwan research and wanted us to look at where they were now, what were protective factors and strengths and what challenges are they facing 10 years in from the original study. Some adolescents from the Lililwan cohort are doing well despite difficulties in early childhood. However, others are struggling with poor health and educational outcomes reported incidence of self-harm and suicidal ideation, substance use and contact with juvenile justice. Leaders want to identify supports, what helped in early childhood, what are their needs now and how can we ensure a trajectory to a happy and healthy adolescence. Also, what supports are needed to help them transition into adult life.
Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre (MWRC) partnered with University of Sydney researchers to follow-up the Lililwan cohort at age 17-18 years, ten years after the Lililwan Project. The community have called this project The Bigiswun Kid Project (Bigiswun Kid means “adolescent” in Kimberley Kriol). The overarching aim is to identify the needs and build knowledge to improve the health and wellbeing of adolescents in the Fitzroy Valley and honour the families that participated in the original study by understanding the changing needs and advocating for appropriate services. We are committed to ensuring the information gained from parents, carers and the young people themselves who contribute to the Bigiswun Kid research informs services, shapes how we work in the Valley and highlights positive outcomes as well as gaps that we need to create a tailored solution. |
