Australian People Research Articles

Clinical outcomes in patients hospitalised with dysmagnesemia in the Northern Territory of Australia: a retrospective, longitudinal data-linkage study.

Magnesium is an essential cation, and dysmagnesaemia is linked to many poor outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dysmagnesaemia and associated health outcomes among hospitalised patients. This register-based study collected demographic and laboratory data of hospitalised patients from five publicly funded hospitals in the Northern Territory, Australia, between 2008 and 2017. Patients were stratified into five groups based on their initial serum magnesium level at admission and followed up to death or 31 December 2017. A total of 22 293 patients were admitted during the study period. Dysmagnesaemia was present in 31.75% of hospitalised patients, with hypomagnesaemia being more common (29.62%) than hypermagnesaemia (2.13%). Hypomagnesaemia was more prevalent (43.13%) among the Australian First Nations Peoples. All levels of hypomagnesaemia were associated with a longer median length of hospital stay (p<0.001). Also, all levels of hypermagnesaemia were associated with a longer median stay in intensive care units (p<0.001). Patients with severe hypermagnesaemia had increased mortality compared to patients with severe hypomagnesaemia (56.0% v 38.0.0%, p<0.0001). Mortality was increased in both hypomagnesaemia (hazard ratio 1.86, 95% confidence intervaI 1.74-1.99, p<0.001) and hypermagnesaemia (1.78, 1.48-2.19, p<0.001) compared to normomagnesaemia. Dysmagnesaemia was prevalent among hospitalised patients and associated with increased mortality.

Priorities for implementation of digital health in cancer care: a qualitative study of the perspectives of Australian people affected by cancer, health professionals, researchers, developers, non-government organization and government representatives

Priorities for implementation of digital health in cancer care: a qualitative study of the perspectives of Australian people affected by cancer, health professionals, researchers, developers, non-government organization and government representatives

Peter Carey’s “Homo Australiensis” in A Long Way from Home

The paper examines Peter Carey’s first book about Indigenous Australians, a topic which he had neglected for decades. Until A Long Way from Home (2017) was written, the two-time Booker Prize winner renowned for portraying Australian identity had yet to confront this crucial matter which he believed was a fundamental issue of the country. Reasons behind this seemingly contradictory and lengthy absence are highlighted along with certain methods with which the author gradually exposes Australia’s shameful past in the treatment of First Nations people. Carey’s approach stays true to his body of work, namely the Aboriginal subject is complemented or intertwined with his portrayal of another layer of Australia’s history: the pan-European heritage of non-Indigenous Australians. But why and in what manner does he integrate European topics into a novel aiming to shed light on the maltreatment and neglect of First Nations Australians? Does this addition not dilute the original aim of paying homage to Indigenous Australia? My paper argues that Carey successfully utilises certain European identity themes to help show the gravity of sins committed against Australian Indigenous people. The author’s modus operandi is to piece together seemingly neglected fragments of the European legacy with First Nations Australia to reveal a unified entity. Via Willie Bachhuber, a character who most Australians can connect or identify with, Carey joins together various Australian identities which may not have been connected beforehand. With this technique Carey helps ensure the novel is about and for all Australians. I believe that A Long Way from Home crowns Peter Carey’s career as fully depicting Australianness without including Aboriginal people has up until now meant a quite incomplete oeuvre. An ultimate Australian character so-far elusive to Carey, a Homo Australiensis has come to life via a pseudo-German-Balt-Hungarian-Australian, who is actually a First Nations Australian with a white biological father.

Ecological Literacy and Local Wisdom of Australian Aboriginal People in Welcome to My Country Written by Laklak Burarrwanga and Family

The life of Aboriginal people in Australia has been depending on nature since thousands of years ago. The sources of their food are entirely of natural origin. Although they live in a nomadic way, they still maintain and protect the nature around them in order not to damage and become extinct. This research aims to explore ecological literacy (eco-literacy) and local wisdom of Aboriginal people to maintain a mutual symbiosis between man and nature, reflected in a non-fiction book entitled Welcome to My Country written by Laklak Burarrwanga and Family. This is descriptive qualitative research using the ecocriticism approach. The result shows that Australian Aboriginal people have much knowledge of eco-literacy that they apply in everyday life to maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem. Besides, they also have local wisdom they believe will bring good things in their life in terms of protecting their natural environment.

E-cigarette use in pregnancy in Australia: A cross-sectional survey of public antenatal clinic attendees.

E-cigarette use has rapidly increased amongst young people in Australia, however the prevalence of use amongst pregnant people is not known. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of e-cigarette use and dual use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes, characteristics associated with use and reasons for use amongst a sample of pregnant Australian people attending public antenatal clinics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 4024 pregnant people attending antenatal appointments, between July 2021 and December 2022, in one local health district in New South Wales, Australia. Main outcome measures were current use of e-cigarettes, dual use with tobacco cigarettes, participant characteristics associated with use and reasons for use. 1.24% of pregnant people used e-cigarettes, 34% of these were dual smokers. Being a current smoker (OR 39.49; 95% CI 9.99-156.21) or ex-smoker (OR 29.86; 95% CI 8.75-101.95) were associated with e-cigarette use. Quitting smoking was the most reported reason for use (52%). This study is the first to report on the prevalence of e-cigarette use amongst pregnant people in Australia. We found that a small proportion of pregnant people use e-cigarettes and that many are dual users or ex-smokers. E-cigarette use and rates of dual use in pregnancy in Australia appear lower than internationally, however they are similarly being used as a smoking-cessation aid by many. As regulatory environments relating to e-cigarette access change in Australia, large-scale studies are required to continue to monitor e-cigarette use and dual use in pregnancy.

Australian Indigenous people and treatment decision-making at end-of-life

This article analyses Australian law and literature to identify the key cultural and legal considerations that can arise in medical treatment decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at the end-of-life. The authors explore how First Nation peoples’ cultural values, connection to Country, family, and community, history, and health care experiences, intersect with end-of-life medical treatment laws, providing valuable insights for lawyers, policymakers and health practitioners.

Solidarity and Dilemmas: Tranby, Indenture and the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific Campaigns, 1980s

The 1983 call by the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) campaign to end imperialism built strong alliances between disempowered Indigenous peoples and descendants of the unfree, indentured labourers who had been moved between colonies. The colonies and new nations of the Pacific, including Australia, had been left with populations that included both Indigenous and non-Indigenous (formerly indentured) people, all damaged in different ways by colonialism. There were unresolved tensions between these two groups, particularly in Fiji where the NFIP campaign was established. This paper traces responses in Tranby, an organisation that demonstrated the dilemmas of these tensions for Australian Indigenous people. Tranby, the Aboriginal-led Adult Education Co-operative, took a strong anti-colonial position in the 1980s, advocating land rights as well as endorsing the NFIP campaign. Yet Tranby’s support wavered over the tensions between Indigenous people and those displaced by colonialism through indenture. Tranby’s history demonstrates how its links had continued with colonised peoples damaged in both ways across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, suggesting why it reshaped its support for the NFIP campaign after the 1987 Fiji coups.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Coronary Bypass Grafting (CABG) Outcomes in Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous Australians.

A major cause of death, coronary artery disease (CAD) often necessitates invasive procedures like coronary bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Cardiovascular outcomes vary between indigenous and non-indigenous Australian people; however, comprehensive knowledge of these differences is absent. To compare PCI and CABG results between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, a systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. Included were 10 retrospective observational studies that examined mortality, cardiovascular events, comorbidities, and operative success rates. Databases spanning 2014 to 2024 were searched, and research that directly compared Australia's indigenous and non-indigenous populations was among the inclusion criteria. Within 30 days of surgery, indigenous Australians receiving PCI had greater rates of comorbidities and were at higher risk of long-term mortality and MACE. Similarly, there was a greater long-term death rate among indigenous patients following CABG. Cultural safety, socioeconomic factors, and regional factors affecting treatment delays and access to care all affected disparities. For 30-day mortality, the pooled analysis shows an odds ratio of 1.04 (95% CI 0.78, 1.40), indicating no meaningful difference. The total odds ratio for unfavorable occurrences is 1.07 (95% CI 0.86, 1.33), meaning there is no statistically significant difference between Indigenous groups and those that are not. Indigenous Australians continue to have worse cardiovascular outcomes after PCI and CABG procedures, even with similar procedural success rates. To ensure equitable cardiovascular outcomes for indigenous groups, targeted therapies targeting underlying risk factors, increased access to culturally appropriate care, and decreased obstacles to healthcare access are critical.

Engaging Young People in Occupations Served by Vocational Education: Case Study From Healthcare

Purpose: Globally, countries with both developed and developing economies are struggling to secure sufficient participation in vocational education to generate the range and quantum of skills required for their communities and realising national social and economic goals. In an era of high aspiration, vocational education and the occupations it serves are increasingly seen as being a less than desirable outcome by young people and their parents. Hence, there is a need to identify means by which to inform and engage young people in considering vocational education and the occupations it serves. The case study discussed in this paper is contextualised within the Australian state of Queensland, which, like many other countries is struggling to have a workforce sufficient to meet communities' healthcare needs as its population both grows and ages. Methods: The study data were collected from 1) interviews with healthcare-related stakeholders including health industry representatives, teachers or practitioners, and healthcare providers, 2) focus groups with senior secondary students, and 3) surveys with these participant groups. It provides a descriptive analysis of efforts to secure greater participation by young people in allied health roles, and, in particular, young Australian Indigenous people. Findings: The study participants included those from regional and metropolitan centres and from state and independent schools, and in all of which the focus on engagement was central. Findings indicated that engagement was necessary to advise young people about these occupations, the effective preparation for them, and likely retention in the workforce. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for intentional strategies to engage young people, their parents/guardians and with those efforts likely needing to be organised and enacted at the local level. This requires collaboration and engagement from education, industry, and local communities. Essentially, a systemic approach is required, specifying roles for government, employers, educational systems, and teachers and parents who engage directly with young people. In all, engagement, advice and opportunities locally are all emphasised in the study reported here.

Australian native grain reduces blood glucose response and Glycemic Index

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected by diet-related disease such as type 2 diabetes, the rate of which is 20 fold higher than that of non-Indigenous young Australians(1). Before colonisation, Gomeroi and other First Nations people harvested, threshed and ground native grass seeds with water into a paste before cooking(2). The introduction of white refined flour has meant that time-consuming grass seed processing has mainly ceased, and native grains are no longer eaten habitually. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 10% incorporation of two native grain flours on postprandial blood glucose response and Glycemic Index (GI). Five male and five female subjects, with a mean age of 30 ± 0.9 and BMI of 21.6 ± 0.4 and normoglycemic, participated in GI testing of three flour + water pancake compositions matched for available carbohydrate: 100% wheat (Wheat) and 90% wheat:10% native grains (Native_a and Native_b). Effect on satiety was determined using subjective ratings of hunger/fullness over the time course of the GI testing. In comparison to the plain flour pancake, replacing 10% plain wheat flour with Native_b flour significantly reduced the GI by 28.8% from 73 ± 5 to 48 ± 5, having a profound effect on postprandial blood glucose levels in 9 of 10 subjects (p&lt;0.05, paired t-test). The GI of 10% Native_a flour pancake was not different from 100% wheat flour pancake (75 ± 5). Satiety tended to be greater when native grains were incorporated but this study was not powered to detect effect on satiety. In conclusion, replacing only 10% of plain wheat flour with Native_b flour was sufficient to significantly reduce the blood glycemic response to the pancake. This replacement could be easily implemented for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. For Aboriginal people with access to grain Country, the nutritional health benefits associated with eating native grains, as well as the cultural benefits of caring for Country, will have a direct transformational impact on local communities. Our vision is to revitalise Gomeroi grains and to guide a sustainable Indigenous-led industry to heal Country and people through co-designed research.

“What are you doing to me?”: animal agency during interviews with Australian trans young people and their animal companions

ABSTRACT Too often when we think about agency, we think only about human actors. Increasingly, studies of animal-human relationships have explored the agency of animals who live alongside humans. This paper explores the agency of animals during interviews with trans young people and their families. A focus on the agency of animals is important in this context, given the unique meanings often attributed to animals by trans young people, who often experience the denial of their own agency. The data analysed in this paper constitute a subset of a larger sample of interviews with 17 trans young people and their families. The thematic analysis reported in this paper focuses on when animals were considered to show agency during video recordings, and what humans were saying during these portions of the recordings. Three forms of agency were identified: agency as affection, resistance, and proximity. The paper concludes by considering what it means to think about animal agency, what this means for trans young people, and more broadly what this means for research that seeks to involve animals.

Reimagining democratic education by positioning Aboriginal Country-centred learning as foundational to curriculum and pedagogy

In settler colonial societies such as Australia, democracy has its origins in colonisation and so this influences educational structures, policies and what is taught every day in classrooms. The current national education vision, the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (Education Council Secretariat, 2019) states that a purpose of education is to create “a socially cohesive society that values respects and appreciates different points of view and cultural, social linguistic, and religious diversity” (p. 5), framing key democratic principles as central to this work. Paradoxically, as the corporate-style education agenda continues to narrow and limit an already Eurocentric, monocultural curriculum, and performance-manage teachers, democratic approaches such as critical thinking, problem-solving and experiential learning are at risk. In October 2023, the Australian people were asked to vote on altering the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander “Voice” to parliament. The Voice to Parliament would have provided greater representation in parliamentary processes and political decision making on matters impacting Indigenous peoples interests and rights (Fredericks, 2023, p. 125). The divisive debate and vilification of Indigenous Australians that preceded the referendum and resulted in a resounding “No” vote, reflects the historical failure of the education system to prepare students for active and informed citizenship. Learning from Country (LFC), where knowledges shared by Aboriginal peoples and Country are positioned as central to understanding this country, suggests a way in which we might decolonise Australian education and address the social, cultural and environmental issues facing all citizens. This paper discusses Country-centred learning where teacher educators and preservice teachers learn from Country through walking with and listen to Aboriginal community-based educators to develop the pedagogical skills needed to implement a participatory democratic approach in their classrooms. LFC supports opportunities to story Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and doing into curriculum and pedagogy using a framework to guide teachers in ways that respect multiple local community perspectives to build cohesive school communities.

The burden of skin and soft tissue, bone and joint infections in an Australian cohort of people who inject drugs

IntroductionThere are currently limited data regarding the clinical and economic significance of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and bone and joint infections in Australian people who inject drugs (PWID).MethodsRetrospective cohort study in adult PWID admitted to Monash Health, a large heath care network with six hospitals in Victoria, Australia. Inpatients were identified using administrative datasets and International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) coding for specific infection-related conditions. Cost analysis was based on mean ward, intensive care and hospital-in-the-home (HITH) lengths of stay. Spinal infections and endocarditis were excluded as part of previous studies.ResultsA total of 185 PWID (61 female, 124 male, median age 37) meeting the study criteria were admitted to Monash Health between January 2010 and January 2021. Admitting diagnoses included 78 skin abscesses, 80 cellulitis, 17 septic arthritis, 4 osteomyelitis, 3 thrombophlebitis and 1 each of necrotising fasciitis, vasculitis and myositis. Pain (87.5%) and swelling (75.1%) were the most common presenting complaints. Opioids (67.4%) and methamphetamine (37.5%) were the most common primary drugs injected. Almost half (46.5%) of patients had concurrent active hepatitis C (HCV) infection on admission. Hepatitis B (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were uncommon. The most significant causative organism was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (24.9%). In 40.0% (74/185) no organism was identified. Patients required a median acute hospital stay of 5 days (2–51 days). There were 15 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with median duration 2 days. PICC line insertion for antibiotics was required in 16.8% of patients, while 51.4% required surgical intervention. Median duration of both oral and IV antibiotic therapy was 11 days. Almost half (48.6%) of patients were enrolled in an opioid maintenance program on discharge. Average estimated expenditure was AUD $16, 528 per admission.ConclusionSkin and soft tissue and joint infections are a major cause of morbidity for PWID. Admission to hospital provides opportunistic involvement of addiction specialty services.

Increased community engagement of Indigenous Peoples in dementia research leads to higher context relevance of results.

Health research that focuses on Indigenous Peoples must ensure that the community in question is actively engaged, and that the results have context relevance for Indigenous Peoples. Context relevance is "the benefits, usability, and respectful conduct of research from the perspective of Indigenous communities." The purpose of this study was to apply two tools within an already-published scoping review of 76 articles featuring research on cognitive impairment and dementia among Indigenous Peoples worldwide. One tool assessed levels of community engagement reported in the corpus, and the other tool assessed the context relevance of recommendations in the corpus. We hypothesized that research with higher levels of reported community engagement would produce recommendations with greater context relevance for Indigenous Peoples. We employed semi-structured deductive coding using two novel tools assessing levels of reported community engagement and context relevance of recommendations based on studies included in the existing scoping review. Application of the two tools revealed a positive relationship between increasing community engagement and greater context relevance. Community engagement primarily occurred in studies conducted with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations in Canada and with Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Research with Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian Peoples in the USA stood out for its comparative lack of meaningful community engagement. There is opportunity to utilize these tools, and the results of this assessment, to enhance training and mentorship for researchers who work with Indigenous populations. There is a need to increase investigator capacity to involve communities throughout all phases of research, particularly in the pre-research stages.

Democracy without curriculum: how unschooling contributes to a home education rooted in democracy and agency for young people

It is widely accepted that young people’s lives are more complex than ever before and this complexity is making classroom life difficult for many. In response, around 30,000 Australian young people are choosing home education (Moir & English, 2022). While many consider home educators to be ideologically inflexible and religiously fundamental, this stereotype does not reflect the Australian home education movement (Moir & English, 2022; English, 2021a, 2021b). Indeed, many parents are making a “choice without markets” (Aurini & Davis, 2005), attempting to address the top-down, centralised and inflexible curriculum increasingly found in schools (English, 2021a, 2021b, Van Galen, 1991). This paper explores the democratic potential of unschooling, a widely adopted, but frequently misunderstood, approach to home education that has, at its heart, a democratic educational approach rooted in agency (Romero, 2018; Riley, 2021). Unschooling moves beyond civics and citizenship to a lived experience of democracy for young people. Through an analysis of extant home education literature as well as data from the inquiry into homeschooling from the New South Wales upper house (Select Committee into Home Schooling, 2014) we propose that the greatest threat to democracy for change in curriculum is too much regulatory control over home education while the greatest benefit of unschooling is its emphasis on participatory democracy and agency for young people.

A theoretical conceptualisation of connection to culture in Australian First Peoples children

Connection to culture in Australian First Peoples children is an important social determinant of health in child development and wellbeing. The current study draws upon the collective knowledge of Australian First Peoples Elders and community leaders to collaboratively develop the first theoretical conceptualisation of connection to culture in Australian First Peoples children. Through participatory action research, we integrated both Western and Indigenist methodologies. One-on-one qualitative narrative interviews were conducted with six Australian First Peoples Elders and community leaders. Their knowledge was summarised through a process of Western thematic analysis and Indigenist arts-based participatory analysis to identify core concepts and mechanisms of connection to culture in First Peoples children. The outcome was a theory of connection to culture in Australian First Peoples children. By better understanding how children connect to culture, we can better support children in connecting to culture, targeting an important factor of health and wellbeing.

Socio-ecological factors that influence youth vaping: perspectives from Western Australian school professionals, parents and young people

ABSTRACT Purpose To understand from the perspectives of school professionals, parents and young people the socio-ecological factors that may facilitate and prevent e-cigarette use among young people in Perth, Western Australia. Methods Purposive sampling was used to recruit school professionals, parents and young people for one-on-one (n = 35) or joint (n = 3) interviews (in-person n = 11 or online n = 27). Data were analysed using thematic analysis and classified into four domains based on the socio-ecological model: i) individual, ii) interpersonal, iii) organizational/community and iv) societal/policy. Results Factors that were found to support vaping among young people included sensation-seeking and risk-taking behaviour; a low-risk perception of vapes; attractive characteristics of vapes; ease of access; perception vaping is a social activity; and lack of knowledge about vaping among parents and school professionals. Vaping prevention messages originating from the familial, educational and community spheres are lacking but wanted by adults and young people. Conclusions The pervasiveness of the e-cigarette trade and persistent challenges related to surveillance and enforcement need to be addressed to reduce exposure and access to e-cigarettes. A mixture of “hard” and “soft” public policy tools involving key stakeholders in a range of settings is needed to prevent e-cigarette access and uptake by young people.

Understanding experiences of cognitive decline and cognitive assessment from the perspectives of people with glioma and their caregivers: A qualitative interview study

BackgroundDespite the impact of cognitive decline during brain cancer care, implementing routine cognitive assessment can be challenging. Effective implementation of cognitive assessment necessitates an understanding of implementation from the patient perspective. However, little is known about how people with glioma and their caregivers experience cognitive changes, assessment and support. ObjectiveTo understand the lived experiences of changes in cognition for people with glioma and their caregivers including experiences of: i) perceived or objectively measured cognitive decline (or absence of decline); ii) cognitive assessment following diagnosis, and; iii) met and unmet cognition-related supportive care needs. DesignSemi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with people with gliomas and support persons and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Setting(s)Two Australian cancer services Participants18 people with glioma and caregivers MethodsSemi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with people with gliomas and caregivers and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsPeople with glioma (n = 5) and caregivers (n = 13) completed interviews. Four themes were identified: Cognition needs to be considered within the context of glioma diagnosis and treatment; concerns about cognition were initially subordinate to survival but become important; there are challenges identifying and communicating about people with gliomas’ changes in cognition; cognition-related supportive care can be helpful but challenging for people with glioma and caregivers to identify and access. ConclusionsChanges to cognition can have considerable impacts of people with glioma and their caregivers which may be overshadowed by treatment and survival. A multi-disciplinary approach to timely cognitive screening, structured referral pathways, and communication with caregivers may provide opportunities for support. Registrationn/a Tweetable abstractIdentifying cognitive changes in people with glioma is important and challenging. A multidisciplinary approach and inclusion of care coordination and caregivers can help.

Australian Youth Self-Harm Atlas: spatial modelling and mapping of self-harm prevalence and related risk and protective factors to inform youth suicide prevention strategies.

Suicide prevention strategies have shifted in many countries, from a national approach to one that is regionally tailored and responsive to local community needs. Previous Australian studies support this approach. However, most studies have focused on suicide deaths which may not fully capture a complete understanding of prevention needs, and few have focused on the priority population of youth. This was the first nationwide study to examine regional variability of self-harm prevalence and related factors in Australian young people. A random sample of Australian adolescents (12-17-year-olds) were recruited as part of the Young Minds Matter (YMM) survey. Participants completed self-report questions on self-harm (i.e., non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempts) in the previous 12months. Using mixed effects regressions, an area-level model was built with YMM and Census data to produce out-of-sample small area predictions for self-harm prevalence. Spatial unit of analysis was Statistical Area Level 1 (average population 400 people), and all prevalence estimates were updated to 2019. Across Australia, there was large variability in youth self-harm prevalence estimates. Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia had the highest estimated state prevalence. Psychological distress and depression were factors which best predicted self-harm at an individual level. At an area-level, the strongest predictor was a high percentage of single unemployed parents, while being in an area where ≥30% of parents were born overseas was associated with reduced odds of self-harm. This study identified characteristics of regions with lower and higher youth self-harm risk. These findings should assist governments and communities with developing and implementing regionally appropriate youth suicide prevention interventions and initiatives.

Leveraging Ubuntu values and principles as cultural strength to overcome mental health and emotional wellbeing issues

There is a need for African people living in Australia to consider leveraging Ubuntu values as a cultural strength to address mental health and emotional wellbeing issues. for African people living in Australia. This paper is a systematic review research which employed key terms such as mental health, emotional wellbeing, African Australian, Young people. There were no participants involved, however the research articles that were reviewed in the study only focused on the African Australian community. Mental health issues among African Australian youth need to be better understood, as studies have shown they are at a higher risk for mental health, yet there has been insufficient research on the topic. In this study, most articles we employed highlighted that the extensive research on that reported migrants to be at ten times higher risk of experiencing mental health issues compared to the general population. Many studies carried out in the African Australian community have drawn more attention to the African Australian culture. This raises the need for research to be conducted on African Australian young people aged 15-29 years which is the Australian age range of a young person, to sensitize the African Australian community on mental health issues, and factors leading to young people's mental health problems in African Australian society. The aim of the study was to raise awareness about mental health issues facing the African, Australian young people and suggesting ways forward to support young people. The finding of the study demonstrates significance and values to address mental health issues in African-Australian Community groups. Research asserted that young immigrants are at greater risk of developing mental illness due to resettlement, cultural transition, and separation from extended family members. Young people lacking a secure base for emotional support from their families are more likely to face mental health issues in their lives. Mental health issues in the African context may not be categorized as a vast problem, but instead identified as life circumstances that every individual encounter. Since mental health subject is a taboo in the African culture, the study encouraged young people to pair up with other African youths to create awareness and advocate to access mental health services should need arise. This study encourages young people and their families from African heritage to leverage Ubuntu values and principles as their cultural strengths in dealing with challenging issues such as mental health and emotional wellbeing issues. How to reference using ASWNet style: Kagola F. &amp; Abur W. (2023). Leverage Ubuntu values and principles as cultural strength to overcome mental health and emotional well-being issues. African Journal of Social Work, 13(6), 312-324. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i6.5 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net