PEER+: Establishing a community of practice to support delivery of peer-based health promotion programs to increase meaningful participation of underserved populations.

 

The issue: Peer-based approaches and peers can effectively reach underserved populations by providing informal health education, facilitating discussions and acting as role models within social networks. Trusted peers can address health and related social issues with populations reluctant to engage with traditional programs.

 

These approaches mutually benefit peers and participants by enhancing self-efficacy, fostering community and promoting meaningful participation. Despite these strengths, gaps in theoretical models, evidence and evaluation frameworks limit the potential of peer-based programs, particularly for underserved populations. These gaps risk overburdening peers, funding challenges, and premature program cessation.

 

This project addresses these gaps by establishing an evidence base for peer-based programs and creating a Community of Practice to support sustainable and effective peer-based health promotion.

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Project summary: This project aims to support Western Australian health promotion organisations to increase meaningful participation in peer-based health promotion by underserved populations, specifically young people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, via establishing and piloting a capacity-building Community of Practice, PEER+.

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Who is involved? 

• Project Officer: Laura Thum 

• Project Supervisors: A/Prof Jonathan Hallett & A/Prof Gemma Crawford

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Ethics approval: In Progress

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Project Funding: This project has been funded by Healthway as part of the Australian Health Promotion Association 2025/26 Scholarships Program.  

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