Exploring the quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders using the Good Spirit, Good Life framework: a longitudinal study
Caleb Rivers

Date and Time

Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Theme / Track

Ageing well, longevity and social context

Presentation Format

Concurrent

Background: Quality of life (QoL) instruments typically assess biomedical domains, but these may not include everything Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders value. In contrast, the Good Spirit, Good Life (GSGL) tool, which was co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is a holistic assessment of factors that collectively support a strong spirit. We aimed to explore associations with QoL, as measured by the GSGL tool. Methods: We analysed data collected from two longitudinal studies of ageing well: the Kimberley Healthy Adults Project (KHAP) and the Torres Strait Dementia Prevalence Survey (TSDPS). KHAP is a three-wave (2004-2006 [n=363]; 2011-2013 [n=289]; 2023-2025 [n=78]) population-based cohort comprising Aboriginal participants aged ≥45 years recruited from six remote communities in the Kimberley, and the town of Derby. TSDPS is a two-wave (2015-2018 [n=276]; 2023-2025 [n=117]) cohort study conducted across 18 islands in the Torres Strait and 5 mainland communities in the Northern Peninsula Region of Far North Queensland. Self-reported medical history, service use, and a range of other data were collected from participants in all waves. GSGL data were collected in the final wave of each study. Results: Analyses are currently underway. Findings to be presented include an overview of GSGL scores by demographic characteristics, and longitudinal associations between selected health states, function, service use, and GSGL score. Conclusion: Health and aged care staff and policy makers can use the GSGL package to support and strengthen Elders’ QoL through 12 interconnected domains that are valued by older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Keywords

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, First Nation People, Wellness / Well Being

Authors

Kate Smith
Leon Flicker
Dawn Bessarab, Chontel Gibson, Roslyn Malay, Edward Strivens, Sarah Russell, Rachel Quigley, Betty Sagigi, Chenoa Wapau, Dina LoGiudice
Zoë Hyde