Co-designing a place-based social and emotional wellbeing service model with young Aboriginal people in the remote Fitzroy Valley of Western Australia: the Bigiswun Kid project.

Objectives: The current study aimed to work with young Aboriginal people from the very remote Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia to (1) identify their social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) support needs, and (2) report how they would like these supports delivered.

Methods: We interviewed 83% (n = 94) of young people aged 16-19 from the Fitzroy Valley and 89% (n = 101) of their parents. Using anf Aboriginal Participatory Action Approach, we piloted some SEWB supports and worked with 10 young people to co-design the SEWB service.

Results: Based on the interviews and co-design consultation with young people, we identified five supports to be provided in the SEWB service. These included mental health support, particularly clinical psychology for people with moderate mental illness; community wellbeing workshops; male- and female-specific wellbeing workshops; and support to access existing services.

Conclusions: Partnering with young people ensured that community strengths and challenges were incorporated in the service design. Study findings were used to secure funding for the implementation and evaluation of a SEWB service in the Fitzroy Valley. The process and lessons learned in the Project could be used to engage, consult and partner with young people to design services in other remote regions.