Aboriginal families across Western Australia are being equipped with the knowledge to take early action against potentially life-threatening skin infections thanks to the launch of a Strong Skin phone app.
Developed by Aboriginal community members and Healthy Skin researchers at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and funded by Healthway and The Kids, the app provides parents and carers with easy-to-use tools to help recognise skin infections like impetigo and scabies and learn where to go for urgent treatment.
Professor Asha Bowen, Head of Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention at the Wesfarmers Centre, Paediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at Perth Children’s Hospital and Professor at The University of Western Australia’s Medical School, said skin infections remained a major health challenge for many Aboriginal children and families in WA.
“Our research in partnership with communities is changing the trajectory of skin infections. During the SToP (See, Treat, Prevent) Trial held in the Kimberley region, impetigo rates reduced by half, which will have a major impact on preventing life-threatening conditions such as rheumatic heart disease, sepsis and kidney disease,” Professor Bowen said.
As part of the SToP Trial, we spoke to more than 120 community members and community-based service providers about skin health challenges and potential solutions, and a skin health app emerged as the most requested resource.
Dr Hannah Thomas, lead researcher for the project and Adjunct Lecturer in UWA’s School of Biomedical Sciences, said the Strong Skin app was co-designed by families, healthcare workers and researchers to ensure it reflected the needs and experiences of the communities it was intended to support.
“The app allows parents and carers to browse a gallery of real skin images to help identify common infections, upload photos to compare against known skin conditions, and use location services to find a local health clinic or service,” Dr Thomas said.
“Following a formal diagnosis, families can also create personalised skin care plans with reminder prompts to support ongoing treatment.”
Funded by The Kids and Healthway, the app’s design process included one-on-one user experience sessions with parents and caregivers, design workshops with health professionals and researchers, and community testing workshops in Perth and Bunbury to refine the app’s features and usability.
Leah 'Nangali' Wearne, a Warnman woman from Bunbury, said the Strong Skin app supported families to take early action and make informed decisions about their children’s skin health.
“Our skin makes up a big part of us, so it’s important that our kids have healthy strong skin. Strong skin helps to make their time at school, at play and at home healthier too,” Ms Wearne said.
What makes this app special is that it was designed with families, meaning it reflects our voices and real life. I hope it gives families the knowledge and confidence to act early and look after our children’s health in our own way.
The Strong Skin app is available to download via the App Store or Google Play, and further information about skin health research at The Kids can be found via the Skin Health Resource Hub.
First published Tuesday 31 March 2026.
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