A Human‐Centred Co‐Design Framework for Developing a Web‐Based Platform to Engage With Rural Australian Communities: Addressing the Complex Issue of Healthy Food Access
Cindy Needham, Jane Jacobs, Christina Zorbas, Laura Veronica Alston, Tracy L. Schumacher, Penny Fraser, Ana Horta, Michael Johnstone, Douglas Creighton, Alison Koschel, Leanne Brown, Annabelle Williams, Judy Coates, Gina Vereker, Carmen Vargas, Claudia Strugnell, Tari Forrester‐Bowling, Kristy A. Bolton, Steven E. Allender · Australian Journal of Rural Health · 2025
OBJECTIVE: This report presents the co-design framework for developing, prototyping, testing and implementing a Web-based Platform (WBP) that will use participatory approaches to engage rural communities.The WBP will be used to understand the unique factors influencing access to healthy and unhealthy foods and to generate potential solutions for promoting healthier diets. METHODS: A human-centred design (HSD) approach will be used to ideate, prototype, test and implement the WBP. DESIGN: Participatory Action Research. SETTING: Two rural local government areas in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Participants will include key stakeholders from each local government's relevant public health organisations, in addition to community members. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reach (number, cohort representation and geographic spread) of active participants in the co-design process, community members that used the WBP tool and adoption (completion of WBP activities). RESULTS: A usable platform for communities to generate local solutions to drive change for diverse populations within rural communities in Australia. DISCUSSION: Significant advances and innovative approaches are needed to address the challenges of accessing healthy food in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting WBP has the potential to work at scale for communities in Australia and internationally in designing effective place-based solutions.