Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42757106›Full record

ArticleThe Lancet regional health. Western Pacific2026

Family-centred, therapeutic camps for Aboriginal children with complex neurodevelopmental needs and early life trauma in remote Australia: a qualitative study of the Marurra-U family camp.

Anita Pickard, Thomas Stubbs, Jadnah Davies, Sharanya Napier-Raman, Emily Carter, Sue Thomas, Vondella Berringal, Zarema Johnson, Jeanette Pindan, Clare Hickey and 5 more

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In one paragraph

Article in The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Anita PickardFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Thomas StubbsFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Jadnah DaviesMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Sharanya Napier-RamanFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Emily CarterMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Sue ThomasMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Vondella BerringalMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Zarema JohnsonMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Jeanette PindanMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Clare HickeyRoyal Far West, Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
Rosemary EvansRoyal Far West, Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
Kim CasburnRoyal Far West, Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
Tuguy EsginFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Elizabeth J ElliottMarninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Marulu Team, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Australia.
Alexandra MartiniukFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in the Fitzroy Valley are internationally recognised for their leadership in supporting children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and early life trauma, and their families. This study investigates the design and parent-reported impact of the Marurra-U family camp, a family-centred, therapeutic, recreational camp for Aboriginal children with complex neurodevelopmental or social-emotional needs. Methods: An Aboriginal Participatory Action Approach was used. Nine yarning sessions with 13 Aboriginal parent/carers who attended the Marurra-U family camp in 2024 or 2025 were conducted. Researchers also conducted ethnographic observations whilst participating in the camps. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Four themes were constructed: 1) The unique characteristics and design of the Marurra-U family camp, 2) Children actively engaged in camp activities, leading to improved individual, family, and social wellbeing, 3) Parents were motivated and empowered to support their children and communities to thrive, 4) Two-way teams were effective in delivering child and family support. Interpretation: Parents reported that the camps supported emotion regulation, social skills, confidence, and behaviour in children, and empowered, built knowledge, and skills in parents to support their children. This demonstrated that family-centred, therapeutic, recreational camps provide a unique opportunity to support Aboriginal children with complex neurodevelopmental or social-emotional needs. Local leadership, combined with a two-way, trauma-informed, strengths-based approach was key to the success of the family camps. This approach could be adopted by similar communities elsewhere. Funding: This study was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Partnership grant (#APP1171880).

Indexed as

Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs)Allied healthELTFamily-centred careFASDNeurodevelopmental disordersParent-childTherapeutic recreation campTwo-way teams

Identifiers

PMID42757106
PMCPMC13584108

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.