The Aboriginal Families Study was designed keeping policy and community goals in mind right from the start. The study team worked with Aboriginal communities in urban, regional and remote areas of South Australia to engage diverse Aboriginal families in the study. The goal has been to enable the voices of diverse Aboriginal women and families in South Australia to inform policy and practice in health, education and social care settings. Publications and policy briefs to date focus on social determinants of women’s and children’s physical and mental health; identifying gaps in access to pregnancy, postnatal and primary care; and evidence that Aboriginal-led services in South Australia have improved women’s experiences and access to antenatal care.

The Aboriginal Families Study is a prospective mother and child cohort study investigating the health and wellbeing of 344 Aboriginal children and their mothers living in urban, regional and remote areas of South Australia.

Major areas of focus include:

• maternal health and wellbeing
• children’s health, wellbeing and development
• engagement with health services
• connections to family, community, culture and language.