In 2019, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) began implementing the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) program for the first time in the NT. This model of care provides regular visits by a nurse and social care practitioner, supporting women and families from pregnancy to toddlerhood.
 
Drawing on experience and learning during the MECSH evaluation,this project extended the collaboration with partner health services and communities to design, test and refine new contextually appropriate resources to enhance home visiting programs. 
 
The resources were developed over three years (2022-2025), and were informed by:
  • 94 interviews with parents from remote communities in East Arnhem and Big Rivers regions in the NT
  • 47 interviews with practitioners in MECSH communities
  • 13 community consultation workshops
  • 29 Resource Development Group meetings with health services
  • 3 in-person, three-day Community of Practice workshops with practitioners. 
 
This project responds to the need for locally relevant, visual tools that foster meaningful conversations between practitioners and families. Grounded in deep engagement and two-way learning, these resources support relationship-building and genuine connection in home visiting and parenting programs.
 
Click on the resources tab above to see how they support relational models of care.
 

This project brought together parents, practitioners and researchers to co-create resources to strengthen home visiting and parenting programs with First Nations families in the Northern Territory.

From 2022–2025, we worked in partnership with three Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Katherine West Health Board and Sunrise Health Service and talked with parents across East Arnhem Land and the Big Rivers region. The result is a suite of new resources designed to harness parenting strengths, foster meaningful discussions and connections, and enhance responsive care.

Select an image below to download the resource and explore how they can support your work with families.

 

 Pathway to dreams brochure or poster - discussion tool for working with parents’ aspirations

         

            

 My baby is lovely - Stories from parents about ways they nurture their little ones

 

 

 I’m a Dad! - Comic book for engaging fathers and what they want for their family

 

 

 Talking about parenting discussion cards - picture cards to discuss parenting strengths and worries (coming soon)

 

 

 Home visiting NT Practice video series - insights from practitioners for working in partnership with families

 

 
 Program animation – Explaining the home visiting program
 
 
 
Acknowledgements:
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and people of Yolŋu, Jawoyn, Gurindji, Mangarayi, Mara, Ngalakan, Ngarinyman, Warlpiri and Larrakia countries, where these resources were developed and where we live, work and meet. We pay our respects to Elders, whose knowledge continues to guide and strengthen families and communities.
 
These resources were developed with communities and health services across these lands, and we are grateful for the generous insights and personal stories that were shared. Any traditional knowledge imparted in this work remains the cultural and intellectual property of the First Nations peoples to whom it belongs. We honour their custodianship and respect the responsibilities we hold in preserving and appropriately sharing this knowledge.
 

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Chief Investigator: 
Project Manager: 
Researchers:
HDR Students:

For more information about the project, please email.

Funders: 
  • Australian Government, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART) grant
 Collaborators:
  • Katherine West Health Board
  • Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
  • Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
  • Northern Territory Department of Health
  • University of Western Sydney