Community-Led Health Project Makes a Difference for Men in Nauiyu
At a recent Lowitja Conference held on Kaurna Country, a powerful story emerged — one not only about health care, but also about culture, community, and the transformative power of grassroots leadership.
It was told through the Enough Talk, Time for Action (ETTA) project, presented by Cameron Stokes and Mick Heelan, and it struck a deep chord. The program aims to improve Primary Health Care engagement and address the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through innovative, strengths-based approaches, co-designed with local communities and health services.
Backed by a research team from Flinders University and guided by the Nauiyu Men’s Group, ETTA designed and delivered a model of health care that’s culturally safe, deeply respectful, and entirely community-led.
Over a short period, 34 men from Nauiyu – a remote community on the banks of the Daly River in the Northern Territory – took part in male-only, private health checks, facilitated by familiar, trusted local faces. That amounts to more than 30 per cent of the community’s adult male population.
Indigenous advocate Nicole Brown, writing for the National Indigenous Times, found the reflections from Nauiyu deeply moving. “What stands out isn't just the increase in service uptake; it's the way community trust has been restored through respect, cultural safety, and local ownership,” she reported.
Many of the men hadn't had a health check in years – some not at all. When asked why they came this time, they said things like: "It's the right thing to do." "I wanted to see if I'm okay." "I feel more comfortable here."
“This project didn't just tick boxes. It shifted the way health care is seen and felt in community. It showed that when our people design the system, they show up. When services are shaped by culture, they work," said Ms Brown.
Dr Brickley and Mr Bonson shared insights on the project and other initiatives facilitated through ETTA “that directly responded to community-identified needs.”
“Their work reinforced the central principle behind the project; that solutions should emerge from, and be led by, community,” says Nicole Brown.
“There's a message in this for health services and government bodies across the country: stop trying to fix our communities without us. Listen. Partner. Hand over the reins,” she added, describing ETTA as a blueprint.
“I hope it's just the beginning of a much bigger shift toward health care that our mob can truly trust and lead.”