Co-designed sleep health program for First Nations adolescents: Insights from the Let’s Yarn About Sleep program

Abstract

Adolescence is a sensitive developmental period marked by biological, social, and emotional changes that increase vulnerability to poor sleep. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents, the impacts of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, and systemic inequities further exacerbate sleep challenges. Despite the growing evidence linking poor sleep to mental health, education, and wellbeing outcomes, culturally appropriate sleep health programs remain largely absent.

Let’s Yarn About Sleep is Australia’s first co-designed sleep health program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents. Developed in Mount Isa through extensive consultation with over 200 stakeholders, the program privileges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and integrates Traditional and Western knowledge to offer a culturally and contextually responsive approach to improving sleep awareness, behaviours, and practices. This session will outline the co-design process, provide an overview of the program, and present program data and feedback from community Elders, families, and service providers.

This presentation will also share key learnings and reflections from the Let’s Yarn About Sleep program, highlighting the crucial role of strengths-based, culturally grounded models for supporting youth wellbeing initiatives.

Bio

Professor Yaqoot Fatima is a social epidemiologist, sleep scientist, and specialist in co-designing First Nations sleep health programs and services. Her research is dedicated to advancing sleep health equity in First Nations communities through multidisciplinary and translational research and co-designed initiatives. Professor Fatima is based at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast.

Fatima leads the "Let’s Yarn About Sleep” program. The program, developed in partnership with community members and service providers, is revolutionising sleep health care for First Nations communities by enhancing local capacity, empowering end-users, and creating place-based service models.