Perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and cross-sectoral stakeholders to inform the South Australian Aboriginal Ageing Well Roadmap: A qualitative study

Purpose To inform the development of the South Australian Aboriginal Ageing Well Roadmap, this study aimed to understand the priorities, enablers and strategies for ageing well from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and cross-sectoral stakeholders in South Australia. Methods This study followed a community-based participatory action research approach including community consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and a World Café with cross-sectoral stakeholders. Data collection took place between June 2024 and July 2025. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Main findings In total, 55 community members and 16 cross-sectoral stakeholders participated in this study. Drawing together community, service and system perspectives, the findings revealed alignment in how ageing well is conceptualised, with differences in emphasis. Community members highlighted relationships and connections to Country, culture and family, while stakeholders emphasised the policy and system contexts that shape these experiences. Overall, ageing well is understood as a cumulative, relational process shaped across the life course by sovereignty, culture, rights, social conditions and system design. Principal conclusions Improving ageing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples cannot rely on uniform solutions. Effective change depends on locally grounded, community-led responses that are supported by coordinated state and system-level reform addressing the social, cultural and structural drivers of ageing across the life course. The South Australian Aboriginal Ageing Well Roadmap will provide a necessary framework to guide sustained Aboriginal-led action across research, policy and practice.