Staying Moving Staying Strong Project
A national program developing culturally informed arthritis resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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Background
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples face higher rates of arthritis and autoimmune conditions. The prevalence of arthritis conditions among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples is 17%, compared to 13% among non-Aboriginal Australians. They also experience poorer access to healthcare, with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples half as likely to access primary care or to receive hip or knee replacement surgery to address osteoarthritis than non-Aboriginal people. Culturally appropriate information, communication and healthcare delivery are essential to improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
Project Approach
The Staying Moving Staying Strong team is a national interprofessional team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health practitioners, health service staff, and research leaders, working alongside Aboriginal Community members with lived experience of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and/or gout.
The SMSS project team conducted research yarns (culturally appropriate interviews) with Aboriginal peoples about their arthritis information needs and preferences, and reviewed clinical practice guidelines to create culturally informed, evidence-based information resources. The easy-to-understand guides, videos and tools are shaped by community voices and health research. These resources have been designed to promote self-management, and support strong, healthy communities
The SMSS project team conducted research yarns (culturally appropriate interviews) with Aboriginal peoples about their arthritis information needs and preferences, and reviewed clinical practice guidelines to create culturally informed, evidence-based information resources. The easy-to-understand guides, videos and tools are shaped by community voices and health research. These resources have been designed to promote self-management, and support strong, healthy communities
Support
The resources have been developed by the SMSS project team, in partnership with Arthritis and Osteoporosis Western Australia, with the support of Arthritis Australia and funding from the Commonwealth Government.
Resources
A dedicated website is available with more details about the project, team members and more.
Staying Moving, Staying Strong
The information resources have been developed in the format of videos, downloadable and printed brochures and are available from our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples Hub. <Add link> Printed brochures have been distributed to health services nationwide and are available from <AOWA?>
Page reviewed and updated 14 May 2026