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 ACCHS 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.
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 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) 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.
Explore the resources via the resources portal or select an image below to see how they can support your work with families.
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.
Copyright and Terms of Use
This website and the resources linked within are copyright © Menzies School of Health Research 2025.
- You are welcome to download, print, use and distribute the resources under the following terms:
- Acknowledgement: You must give appropriate credit to the authors and provide a link to the original resource.
- Non-commercial use: The material may not be used for commercial purposes.
- No modifications: You may not modify or adapt these resources without prior written permission from Menzies School of Health Research. For permissions or inquiries, contact communications@menzies.edu.au
Chief Investigator:
Project Manager:
Researchers:
HDR Students:
For more information about the project, please email.
