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Journal article
Oombarl Oombarl Joorrinygor-Slowly Slowly Moving Forward: Reflections From a Cross-Cultural Team Working Together on the See, Treat, Prevent (SToP) Trial in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia
Health promotion journal of Australia, Vol.36(2), e70025
2025
PMID: 40033676
Abstract
Introduction
Reflexivity is crucial for researchers and health professionals working within Aboriginal health. Reflexivity provides a tool for non-Aboriginal researchers to contribute to the broader intention of reframing historical academic positivist paradigms into Indigenous research methodologies (IRM) to privilege Aboriginal voices in knowledge construction and decision-making. This practice requires researchers to transition from safe and familiar research environments into unfamiliar and uncomfortable spaces. This uncomfortable space is often referred to as the ‘third space’—the ‘in-between’ space that can be turbulent and difficult to navigate. However, it is also a productive space where new collaborations are created, and ideas can emerge. This manuscript provides reflections from a cross-cultural team working on a transdisciplinary healthy skin program—the See, Treat, Prevent (SToP) Trial in Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA). Cultural mentors guided our team to work in an Oombarl Oombarl (steady steady) way to navigate the cultural interface between familiar biomedical elements and unknown health promotion activities. Our third space was the intangible space in-between the S, T and P of the SToP Trial.
Methods
Narratives were collected through semi-structured interviews and yarning sessions. All participants provided written consent for audio recording; in one instance, consent was provided to record graphically. A thematic analysis aligning with the question guide was conducted.
Findings
Reflections include team members' experiences of learning the Oombarl Oombarl way, individually and collectively. Initially, most team members revealed it was challenging to work in an Oombarl Oombarl way, having to move out of the safe, familiar research environment into the unknown community-led health promotion space. This in-between space became our third space—the uncomfortable space where we relinquished ‘control’ of research agendas and learnt to work to the rhythm of Aboriginal communities in WA's Kimberley region.
Conclusion
Reflexivity is necessary when working in a cross-cultural context. In Aboriginal homeland communities situated in remote settings, researchers benefit from being ‘on the ground’ to enable trust and genuine relationships to be developed. Visits on Country provide a rich experiential learning experience and a space for story sharing and yarning. Cultural guidance and two-way learning partnerships with cultural mentors assist non-Aboriginal researchers in understanding and adhering to cultural protocols and community processes. Allowing sufficient time to build relationships and flexible timelines are important considerations when developing research grants and protocols.
So What?
Our findings demonstrate the importance of building genuine relationships and yarning on Country with Aboriginal communities to build health promotion knowledge together. Making meaning of health literacy can only evolve through two-way learning partnerships where Aboriginal people guide the process. Our research reveals a novel approach to developing meaningful health promotion initiatives and resources on Country that centralise local Aboriginal language, artwork and community context.
Details
- Title
- Oombarl Oombarl Joorrinygor-Slowly Slowly Moving Forward: Reflections From a Cross-Cultural Team Working Together on the See, Treat, Prevent (SToP) Trial in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- Tracy McRae - Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, AustraliaJanella Isaac - Environs KimberleyHannah Thomas - Murdoch UniversityStephanie Enkel - The University of Western AustraliaAbbey Ford - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaJohn Jacky - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaSlade Sibosado - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaKelli McIntosh - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaMarianne Mullane - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaAlexandra Whelan - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaRebecca Dalton - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaJuli Coffin - Murdoch University, Ngangk Yira Institute for ChangeJonathan Carapetis - Princess Margaret Hospital for ChildrenRoz Walker - Murdoch University, Ngangk Yira Institute for ChangeAsha C Bowen - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Health promotion journal of Australia, Vol.36(2), e70025
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Health Promotion Association. This is an open access art; HOBOKEN
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- 113932 / Health Outcomes in the Tropical NORTH GNT1175509 / National Health and Medical Research Council APP1153727 / Australian Centre for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases ACE-NTD Department of Health, Government of Western Australia 33088 / Healthway GNT1128950 / National Health and Medical Research Council
- Identifiers
- 991005750230107891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Ngangk Yira Institute for Change
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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