Protocol to implement and evaluate a culturally secure, strength-based, equine-assisted learning program, “Yawardani Jan-ga” (horses helping), to support the social and emotional wellbeing of Australian aboriginal children and young people.

Overview

• The research article outlines a protocol for implementing and evaluating “Yawardani Jan-ga,” a culturally secure, strength-based equine-assisted learning program designed to support the social and emotional wellbeing of Australian Aboriginal children and young people.
• The study aims to address gaps in current wellbeing services by creating an Aboriginal-led intervention that aligns with Aboriginal worldviews and community needs.

Background and Rationale

• Australian Aboriginal communities face significant social determinants causing stress and disadvantage, including poverty, exclusion, and the enduring effects of historical trauma.
• There are disproportionately high rates of youth suicide, juvenile detention, and imprisonment among Aboriginal young people, indicating current social and emotional wellbeing programs are inadequate.
• Existing programs often reflect Western concepts of mental health, which creates barriers to engagement and uptake within Aboriginal communities.
• This mismatch highlights the need for wellbeing interventions that are culturally aligned and tailored to Aboriginal perspectives and lived experiences.

Yawardani Jan-ga Program Description

• Yawardani Jan-ga translates to “horses helping,” emphasizing the use of horses in the learning process.
• It is an Aboriginal-led and operated Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) initiative developed collaboratively with Aboriginal young people, community Elders, members, and experts in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
• The target group includes Aboriginal children and young people aged 6-26 years across multiple communities.
• EAL is a strength-based learning approach using horses’ natural behaviors and characteristics to teach life skills such as:
  • Communication skills
  • Self-awareness
  • Emotional regulation
• Through these skills, the program aims to foster social, emotional, and spiritual growth and wellbeing.
• Although EAL has been used internationally with Indigenous youth, it is less common in Australian Aboriginal contexts, creating a novel intervention opportunity.

Research and Evaluation Approach

• The study consists of three subcomponents focusing on:
  • Implementation science—how to best deliver and sustain the program in local contexts
  • Participatory Action Research—engaging community members actively in the research to ensure cultural relevance and responsiveness
  • Phenomenological methods—capturing the lived experiences and meanings participants derive from the program
• This multi-method design allows a thorough understanding of how the intervention works and its impacts.
• The project prioritizes culturally secure evaluation approaches to respect Aboriginal worldviews throughout data collection and interpretation.

Anticipated Outcomes and Significance

• The findings aim to build a robust evidence base informing policies and practices that support Aboriginal youth wellbeing more effectively.
• Key insights are expected on:
  • Essential elements of social and emotional wellbeing interventions for Aboriginal communities
  • Methods to incorporate Aboriginal cultural perspectives and values at different intervention stages
  • Appropriate ways to measure and capture the intervention’s impact using culturally respectful and meaningful tools
• The study addresses a critical gap by providing a model of intervention that is culturally grounded and potentially scalable within Aboriginal contexts in Australia.
• It contributes to the broader goal of reducing disparities in wellbeing and outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people by fostering culturally aligned support systems.