Helping Spirits Stay Strong: Footprints in Time: The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children Social and Emotional Wellbeing Summary Report

The Centre for Indigenous Policy Research at POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research, the Australian National University was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS) to deliver a Research Report which analyses the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Youth (the Research Report, https://doi.org/10.25911/6KGK-RG76), as recorded in Footprints in Time: The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC).

This Summary Report, which sets out the high-level methods, findings, and implications of the analysis of LSIC data in relation to the social and emotional wellbeing of LSIC Study Children or Study Youth, is part of a suite of materials that accompany the Research Report, which also includes a series of Factsheets, describing our analysis and findings.

This Summary Report outlines the key methods, findings, research, and policy implications of our analysis. Comprehensive and detailed descriptions can be found in the Research Report, which is organised into six sections:
1. The conceptual model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and
emotional wellbeing.
2. Adapting the Gee et al. (2014) framework for social and emotional
wellbeing to LSIC data using structural equation modelling.
3. Examining culture as a determinant of social and emotional wellbeing for
LSIC Study Children.
4. Conducting a longitudinal analysis of factors associated with social and
emotional wellbeing in LSIC Study Children.
5. Investigating self-harm and suicidal behaviours among LSIC Study Youth.
6. Understanding the trajectories of social and emotional wellbeing and
related outcomes.

Each section provides in-depth insights into the relevant topics.