Table 1 Aboriginal Birth Cohort: strategies used to address maintenance challenges

To establish project legitimacy and identity

Study tag, “Clan Cohort”, logo and ID cards developed

Regular updates in local newsletters for Aboriginal child and family wellbeing services

Articles published in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Journal

Discussions on Indigenous radio stations

Institutional Indigenous reference group presentations for consultation and negotiation

Opportunistic informal discussion with Aboriginal Health Workers attending workshops and conferences in city

Bright cartoon posters with simple English posted around communities with story of the study, its findings and overall long term objectives contributing to developing a sense of history

To establish researchers profiles

Continuity of the research team; cohort founder and recruiter still engaged with study, two other senior researchers for 12 years

Researchers photos attached to leaflets and posters

Cartoon posters with recognizable caricatures of the researchers posted around communities

To develop community relationships

Developing community relationships with Elders, Aboriginal councils and community health clinics, through phone, mail and personal meetings

Attending community events, art shows, open days and festivals

Sending Christmas cards, thank you notes and study updates with pictures and diagrams to community councils and clinics

Use of photo albums from current and previous follow-ups

At end of community visit sending summary of de-identified community health findings to Elders, council and health clinic

To establish researcher participant relationships

Cohort reference group presentations for advice on all aspects of study

Cohort participants invited to “Researcher Thank You Day “with media involved

Cartoon posters with simple English posted around communities

Study aids with large non-verbal visual component accompanied by written information sheets

Biomedical results in visual form given to cohort participants

Cross-cultural training provided to researchers

Limited field staff turnover