Journal Article

Co‐Designing a Peer Navigator Role to Improve Equity in Healthcare Access for Pacific Islander, Māori and Arabic Communities in Australia

Kaivaha, Lizcha, Jessup, Rebecca L., Salboud, Wadeed, Shwaita, Lubab, Hu, Yue, Mohammed, Mokhaled, Whicker, Susan D., Hoak, Fan, Said, Simone, Stevenson, Charan

2026

Overview

Background There is a great deal of variation in the design and delivery of the peer health navigator role, making it difficult to adapt role responsibilities into context. In this study, we aimed to co‐design a bicultural peer health navigator (BPHN) role to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people from Pacific Islander, Māori and Arabic‐speaking backgrounds. Methods A two‐phase co‐design approach involving workshops with follow‐up member checking via interview was used to gain insight into factors affecting patient interaction and access barriers to health services. Results Barriers described by participants emerged under five major themes—overcoming language barriers, improving communication, navigation and access to information, appointment reminders, and health and social services education in the community. Conclusion Clear tasks for the BPHN role were identified by the participants to improve accessibility and usage of healthcare services. Future work should involve feasibility testing with the support and involvement of community members, BPHNs and their supervisors and importantly health service leaders. Patient or Public Contribution Four of the authors were employed as bicultural peer health navigators (BPHNs) who engaged their communities to organise and conduct these workshops in their preferred language. This approach enabled an inclusive environment for the participants to share their thoughts and experiences. The proposed roles for a BPHN were generated from the workshop discussions. The BPHNs conducted the semi‐structured verification interviews with the workshop participants. The thematic analysis was conducted by two of the BPHNs, with one being the primary author.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Wiley
• Subject: access / Access to information / Adult / Analysis / Arabic language / Arabs / Australia / Barriers / Co-design / communication / Communication Barriers / Community / Community involvement / Conferences, meetings and seminars / Consent / culturally and linguistically diverse / Design / Feasibility / Female / Health care / Health care access / Health care industry / Health care reform / Health education / Health Equity / Health literacy / Health services / Health Services Accessibility - organization & administration / Hospitals / Humans / Interviews / Language / language barrier / Leadership / Male / Maori language / Maori People / Maoris / Medical screening / Middle Aged / Mortality / Multiculturalism & pluralism / Navigation / Oceanians / Original / Pacific Island People / Pacific Islander people / Patient Navigation - organization & administration / Patients / Peer Group / peer health navigation / Peers / Physician and patient / Professional Role / Public health / Reminders / Social service / Social services / Success / Supervisors / Verification / Workshops