We’ve tried and failed to Close the Gap for 15 years. Research shows what actually works

Expert commentary by CQUniversity Jawun Research Institute Associate Professor Leslie Baird, Professorial Research Fellow Komla Tsey, with James Cook University's Dominic Orih, for The Conversation.

Every year, we hear the same story about addressing Indigenous disadvantage. Closing the Gap targets remain unmet, incarceration and suicide rates continue to rise, and children are removed from families at alarming rates.

Despite these persistent failures, governments continue to fund programs that don’t work.

But for nearly three decades, a program has quietly delivered measurable change in communities too often overlooked by policymakers.

The Family Wellbeing Program is a proven blueprint for healing, empowerment and generational transformation for Indigenous people. Here’s how it works and why governments nationwide should be taking notice.

What is the program?
Family Wellbeing is an empowerment program created by Aboriginal Australians in the early 1990s. It was designed to respond to the challenges many communities faced, including colonisation, discrimination, loss and rapid social change.

It’s currently available in northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, mostly in-person but also online.

The program brings small groups together in a safe, respectful space to reflect on life, share stories and learn practical skills for dealing with everyday struggles.

Topics include managing emotions, coping with grief and loss, strengthening relationships, addressing family violence and planning for personal change.

Family Wellbeing is a flexible program. It can be run as a short 30-hour foundation course, a longer staged course, or as facilitator training so participants can pass it on.

Sessions are interactive and hands-on, using storytelling, journaling and group discussions. As one graduate explained:

before family wellbeing I was stuck in anger and grief - now I’ve found my voice and can be there for my kids.

The program stems from the idea that before all else, First Nations people must be emotionally healthy in order to thrive. Without it, efforts in education, employment, physical health and justice are unlikely to succeed.

Over the past 25 years, nearly 6,000 people have taken part in the program’s workshops.

A Deloitte pilot analysis of 20 years of evidence estimated a social return of A$4.60 for every A$1 invested. This is an outcome few social programs can match.

New research
In the last four years, more than 800 people have come together to help analyse and evaluate the program.

This has culminated in two new studies. One is a qualitative study showing how the initiative supports ongoing community wellbeing.

The other looks at the potential role the Family Wellbeing Program can play in Queensland correctional facilities.

When taken together, alongside a recent doctoral study, the reports show the benefits the program can have across a variety of different settings.

1. In the community

The first report shows Family Wellbeing consistently sparks life-changing outcomes in communities.

Participants spoke of greater emotional strength, healthier relationships, renewed cultural identity, and a stronger sense of self. These outcomes have been consistently reported over many years.

These changes flowed from a simple but powerful process: guided reflection on life’s challenges and strengths, combined with practical skills for communication, problem-solving and future planning. As one participant asked, “why didn’t anyone teach us this when we were younger?”.

2. In prison

At Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in Queensland, the Family Wellbeing program took inmates on a journey of self-discovery, learning to manage emotions, build resilience and find renewed purpose.

As one participant put it, “[the program] showed me I could control my anger, think about my future and be a better dad”.

These shifts not only transformed personal relationships but also sparked peer mentoring, creating a culture of support that strengthens reintegration and lowers the risk of reoffending.

3. Universities

In an era marked by climate anxiety, rising mental health challenges, youth unemployment and social media, universities are recognising that technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient to prepare students to navigate the world.

Many institutions in Australia, Papua New Guinea and China have adopted the Family Wellbeing empowerment framework to foster the “21st century soft skills” students need to navigate life’s complexities with confidence and purpose.

By embedding the program’s emphasis on emotional awareness, effective communication, and personal agency into their curriculums, universities are helping students grow not just intellectually, but holistically.

Some educators were initially sceptical of the idea. But once they experienced it, attitudes shifted dramatically. Educators and students alike reported improved wellbeing, stronger relationships and greater respect for Indigenous knowledge.

Turning practice into policy
Governments have, at times, turned to the Family Wellbeing Program in shaping policy.

In 2017, the Queensland government invested A$150 million to establish Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services, informed in part by our research.

Dozens now operate across the state, providing important, culturally-tailored support for families and children. Communities were encouraged to design services in ways that suited local needs, avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” model.

However, what was largely adopted was the name, rather than the heart, of Family Wellbeing. Missing was its structured empowerment process: creating safe spaces for groups to reflect, share experiences and build support networks.

This group learning model is what research consistently identifies as the engine of the program’s impact. The challenge, then, is striking a careful balance between preserving the integrity of proven evidence while allowing communities to shape services for themselves.

Potential waiting to be unlocked
Closing the Gap will keep failing unless governments invest in approaches that go beyond just delivering services.

Empowerment is not an optional extra. The evidence shows it’s the foundation for people to take charge of their health, families and futures.

The evidence is already there. The question is whether governments have the courage to back Aboriginal-designed solutions like the Family Wellbeing Program with fidelity and at the scale required.

If they did, the lives of Indigenous people across the country could be dramatically improved.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original on The Conversation website.