Lay summary
My Masters is part of a larger project aiming to investigate the implementation and sustainability of a community-based initiative in which Māori stroke survivors are employed to provide peer support for other Māori stroke survivors and whānau members. We are currently working to develop networks via word-of-mouth and undertaking a community-based survey of current understanding of stroke, community-identified needs and possible solutions. For my Masters I will take the results of the survey and work with stroke survivors and whānau to design a programme in which stroke survivors provide peer support to new stroke survivors and whānau. We will facilitate hui establishing roles of different groups within the project and provide leadership training for stroke survivors who will lead the programme. The research will include an investigation into options for long-term funding and an evaluation of how the programme could be made sustainable while remaining community-led and at grassroots level.