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Improving Wellbeing for Young People Living with Rheumatic Heart Disease: A peer support program through Danila Dilba Health Service

Investigators: Catalina Lizama, Catherine Halkon, Joseph Kado, Rosemary Wyber

External collaborators: Bec Slade (Menzies School of Health Research), Margaret O'Brien (Danila Dilba Health Service), Onika Paolucci (Danila Dilba Health Service), Leda Sivak (SAHMRI), Vicki Wade (Menzies School of Health Research)

Peer support programs have the potential to empower people living with RHD and improve their lived experience through peer sharing and learning; programs may include ARF/RHD education, unstructured or focused discussions, social support, goal setting, and problem solving. This project seeks to conduct a focus group for young people (aged 11-14) and their parents/family members through the Danila Dilba Health Service (DDHS) in Darwin with the aim of identifying consumer needs and perspectives on next steps and priorities for peer support in RHD.