Funders:
- Northern Territory Government Department of Health
Collaborators:
- Charles Darwin University, College of Indigenous Futures, Arts and Society
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI).
Chief investigator:
Project coordinator:
Researchers
HDR Students
For more information about the project, please email.
Aim:
The aim of this project is to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the MECSH sustained nurse home visiting program in East Arnhem and Katherine regions. MECSH is being implemented as part of the NT Government’s early childhood plan.
A team of researchers from Menzies CCDE and CDU’s College of Indigenous Futures the Arts and Society is working with the NT Health and three health services, Katherine West Health Board, Sunrise Health Service and Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation and in consultation with AMSANT, to develop appropriate strategies for evaluating the MECSH program.
MECSH aims to implement a new model of antenatal care and support for parenting in the first three years of life. The evaluation team will work with participating health services to monitor and evaluate the implementation of MESCH in their communities, to explore effective practices of engagement and support for mothers and their families to get the best possible care and to raise their babies and small children. The team will gather information from practitioners as well as from parents to find out how the service works best. It will also gather data on other important health and social outcomes for child development and wellbeing, both short and long term, up to 3 or 4 years of age.
Implications for policy and practice:
The evaluation will help to answer questions about sustainability and effectiveness of the MESCH program in the NT.
Project dates:
The project commenced on 14 October 2019 and is due for completion on 18 October 2024.