The Nguudu Barndimanmanha Project-Improving Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Through Equine Assisted Learning.
Abstract: Background: Recent statistics have painted a grim picture for Australia's Aboriginal youth, with reports of higher levels of almost every health indicator, including depression, sexual and emotional abuse, unemployment, and incarceration. Traditional western based therapies have proven to have limited effectiveness in engaging this group as they can often be culturally inappropriate. International studies have provided promising results using equine assisted learning, with a sound methodological basis underpinned by Indigenous ways of being and doing. In Australia Aboriginal people have strong historical ties to horses through their work on stations and were often considered some of the country's best horsemen and women. While equine assisted learning programs exist in Australia there are currently none catering specifically to Aboriginal youth, run and staffed by Aboriginal staff and provided in a culturally secure manner. Aims: Alternative therapy for Aboriginal youth in the areas of grief, loss, and trauma, through an equine assisted learning program that focussed on self-concept, self-regulation, self-awareness, anxiety and depression, and sense of connectedness. Methods: Participants (N = 270) aged 6-25 years old engaged in a minimum of 6-weeks of equine assisted learning. Each session was 45-50 min duration and occurred on a weekly basis. Sessions were undertaken individually, in pairs and in groups, depending on the needs of the participant and the focus of the session goals. Qualitative examination of the participants included photography to capture the lived experiences of the participants throughout the program. In addition an cultural and age appropriate adaptation of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was trialed to track changes quantitively. Conclusion: We observed improvements in self-regulation, self-awareness, and socialization skills, evident from the photography recording and the questionnaire data. In addition parent and/or caregiver and teacher reported changes in behavior, self-regulation, and socialization skills were recorded.
Copyright © 2019 Coffin.
Publication Date: 2019-10-10 PubMed ID: 31649910PubMed Central: PMC6795701DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00278Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research discusses a project, Nguudu Barndimanmanha, that utilized equine assisted learning to improve social and emotional wellness in Aboriginal youth who have traditionally been underserved by Western therapeutic techniques.
Background of the Study
- This study is centered around the alarming health statistics pertaining to Aboriginal youth in Australia which include high levels of depression, emotional and sexual abuse, unemployment, and incarceration.
- The research addresses the inadequacy of traditional Western therapies for this group, often due to cultural inappropriateness.
- The choice to use equine assisted learning in this project is informed by international studies that show promising results using this method. It aligns with Indigenous ways of being and doing, making the intervention culturally suitable.
- In Australia, Aboriginal people can relate to the method due to their historical ties to horses.
The Study Design
- The researchers designed an equine assisted learning program to address problems related to grief, loss, and trauma in Aboriginal youth. The program aimed to improve self-concept, self-regulation, self-awareness, anxiety, depression, and connectedness.
- The study involved 270 participants aged between 6 and 25 years, with each participant attending a minimum of 6 weeks of the program.
- Each equine learning session lasted between 45 and 50 minutes and took place weekly. The sessions were conducted individually or in pairs or groups, based on the participant’s needs and the session’s focus.
Measurements
- The study employed both qualitative and quantitative measures. For qualitative assessment, the researchers used photography to capture the lived experiences of the participants throughout the program.
- An age and culturally appropriate version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was also used for quantitative analysis to track changes in participants over the course of the program.
Findings
- Based on the photographic evidence and the questionnaire data, the research observed improvements in self-regulation, self-awareness, and socialization skills.
- Changes in behavior, self-regulation, and socialization skills were also reported by parents and/or caregivers, and teachers, further supporting the observed improvements.
Overall, the study demonstrated that equine assisted learning, which is rooted in Aboriginal culture, is a promising method for improving the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal youth in Australia.
Cite This Article
APA
Coffin J.
(2019).
The Nguudu Barndimanmanha Project-Improving Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Through Equine Assisted Learning.
Front Public Health, 7, 278.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00278 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
- Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, Rangeway, WA, Australia.
- The University of Notre Dame Australia, Broome, WA, Australia.
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