Top of page

Student/Staff Portal
Global Site Navigation

Kurongkurl Katitjin

Local Section Navigation
You are here: Main Content

Related Contents

Koorlangka Keniny: A Music Program to Improve the Health and Development of Aboriginal Children and Families

Koorlangka Keniny, (kuːrlaŋka kɛnɪɪɲ) meaning children and dancing or stepping, brings together epidemiology, music ethnology, playgroups, and the community to co-design and deliver a music and dance program for young Aboriginal children and their families.

Just over half (52.1%) of Aboriginal children in Western Australia are developmentally ready for language and cognitive skills when they start school and a significant number of Aboriginal children require additional developmental support. Delivering public and preventive health programs to improve the health and development of children may reduce the future need for developmental services currently required by many. Cultural language plays a key role in the health, wellbeing, identity, cultural and community connection of Aboriginal Peoples. Despite this, the ongoing impacts of Australia’s colonisation have resulted in only thirteen of over 200 distinct Aboriginal languages being maintained with fluent speakers across every generation.

This project will co-design Koorlangka Keniny, a music and dance program, for Aboriginal children and their families. Importantly it will provide caregivers with the resources to revitalise language in their homes through songs and dance. We will be developing a public and preventive health program aiming to enhance child development, improve family wellbeing, and contribute to Noongar language revitalisation.

Funding agency

NHMRC – MRFF 2024 Maternal Health and Health Lifestyles Grant

Project duration

April 2025 - June 2029

Researchers

Skip to top of page