Aboriginal People Research Articles

Voices from the Frontline: Insights on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Advocacy

ABSTRACT Homelessness is a significant issue in Australia, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are disproportionally affected compared to non-Indigenous Australians. In this article, we present new findings into the barriers and enablers of housing stability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Brisbane and Logan areas of Queensland. The aim of the study was to document workers perceptions of barriers and enablers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland when seeking to access housing. We drew on extensive interview data with front-line staff from an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) and in doing so identified five key themes: Bureaucratic Barriers and Inaccessibility of Services; Experiences of Discrimination; Impact of Family Dynamics on Housing Stability; Geographic Location; Comprehensive Support Needs. We demonstrated that consistent with the scholarly literature the interplay of systemic, structural, and cultural factors continues to impact housing stability. These findings suggest more work is required if governments are to address housing stability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families. IMPLICATIONS Presenting original data from social workers at an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) contributes to available understandings. In addressing housing challenges, cultural connection and competency are of vital importance. Voices from social workers can provide guidance for policymakers aiming to address homelessness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Community-based dementia risk management and prevention program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA): a randomised controlled trial study protocol

IntroductionAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Up to 45% of dementia in these populations is due to potentially modifiable risk factors. The Dementia Prevention...

Us and them: colonialism and racism in remote Aboriginal healthcare discourse

ABSTRACT Background The origins of modern Australia are settler colonialist, the logic of which initiated theft of land and attempted erasure of First Nations peoples. This study explores the role of non-Aboriginal Health Care Workers (HCWs) in the ongoing settler colonial project and the formation of mental models that lead to dualistic discourse embodying structural and interpersonal racism. Methods Using van Dijk’s sociocognitive model of Critical Discourse Analysis, colonial ideology, HCW mental models and discourse about Aboriginal people were explored. Results The dualistic categorisation of Us and Them underlies racist discourse around responsibility, dependence, health, illness and the role of culture in health. HCWs had poorly conceived ideas about cultural safety and demonstrated hierarchical thinking, exclusion and collusion in racism. Conclusions Remote HCWs will continue to propagate the ideology of settler colonialism unless cultural safety, critical reflexivity and anti-racism training are prioritised in cultural training.

Assessing the validity of the American Indian Enculturation Scale in Alaska Native adults interested in reducing alcohol use

The American Indian Enculturation Scale (AIES) was developed for American Indian populations to measure connection to traditional culture, but it has not been evaluated in Alaska Native people. While American Indian and Alaska Native individuals are grouped together, significant differences exist between groups. As a part of a randomized controlled trial for contingency management to reduce alcohol use, 160 Alaska Native adults completed the AIES. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a one-factor, 15-item version of the AIES, removing items 1 and 2 and correlating items 8 and 10, was a reliable (15 items; α = 0.896) and valid measure in this sample (χ2 [89] = 155.788, p<.001; CFI = 0.903; TLI = 0.886; RMSEA = 0.068 [90% confidence interval {CI} 0.050–0.086]; p<.001; SRMR = 0.060). The study provides limited evidence of enculturation’s structural validity, as measured by the AIES, for Alaska Native adults. Future confirmatory work and potential adaptation is needed to evaluate the empirical utility of the AIES for Alaska Native individuals seeking help to reduce alcohol use.

Reflecting on Social Work Practice in the Northern Territory, Australia*

ABSTRACT At the core of practice for many non-Indigenous Australian social workers is learning how to work in deeply respectful, culturally appropriate ways alongside First Nations Peoples. Larrakia and Warumungu woman, and Northern Territory social work scholar, Dr Christine/Karen King’s (2011) writings provided the impetus for this inquiry. King (2011) invites social workers to critically reflect on their practice and worldviews. Responding to this invitation, 10 non-Indigenous social workers with policy, academic, and/or practice experience conducted a co-operative inquiry into the question “What have we learnt about practising social work in the Northern Territory, Australia?” We explored the uniqueness of the Northern Territory and identified three interwoven themes. The first theme grounds our practice to Place—on Country. Here, we identified the importance of engaging with the diverse histories of the Peoples we work alongside. Second, we reflected on our vulnerability as social workers and explored the limitations of our professional knowledge base for working with First Nations Peoples. The third theme relates to the importance of engaging with First Nations Peoples’ worldviews. We conclude by affirming the importance of social work practice being led by First Nations People on Country. IMPLICATIONS Social workers working in the Northern Territory alongside First Nations Peoples will benefit from engaging with vulnerability, reflexivity, and critical reflection on their values, understandings, language, and unexamined aspects of practice and cultural self. Social workers in the Northern Territory need to commit to ongoing learning and ground their practice with First Nations’ worldviews and wisdom.

Finger Millet (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Eleusine Coracana&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; (L.) Gaertn) Production Status, Challenges, and Seed Source in Ethiopia; A Review

Similar to other cereal crops finger millet is being produced in a large volume in Ethiopia, as they are the principal staple food crop. Finger millet is considered as underutilized cereal crop which is commonly grown in the northern, west-northern, and western parts of the country and it is considered as a crop which is important to overcome malnutrition. Regions including Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, Benishangul-Gumuz, Southern Nation and Nationalities Peoples (SNNP) and Gambela are considered as the potential regions for the production of finger millet in Ethiopia. Relatively, it is considered as drought tolerant as compared to other major cereals such as rice, wheat, and barley. In addition to this finger millet is considered as a highly resilient crop which can grow in different weather conditions, including drought, floods, and marginal soils. In Ethiopia it is commonly grown for the preparation of local foods like ‘injera’ and porridge and local drink such as ‘areki’ or ‘tella’. About 26 varieties of finger millet are cultivated in main season in the country. In Ethiopia, there are a limited source of cereal crop seeds which includes, farmer’s own saved seeds and government seed distributing companies. In this review the status of production, seed source and nutritional importance of finger millet in Ethiopia is presented.

Communal grant and land allocation effect on native land disputation in Malaysia

Land management and community engagement are two key components in preventing conflict among native landowners and organizations. Disputes between owners and agencies will be the most difficult impediment to overcome in the land ongoing development. Led to extensive opposition among native customary peoples to native customary land alienation, the government has worked to provide a fair manner of individual ownership for native customary peoples. This point shows how land ownership issues may pose a danger to the nation if they are not addressed in appropriate forms and ways to the native customary community. This paper examines the influence of Communal Grants and land allocation in the Sabah Land Ordinance on native land disputes among Malaysian native landowners. Native landowners from Sabah constituted the population of this study. Samples were chosen using a simple random sampling technique. The gathered 100 complete responses were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that the Communal Grants and land allocation in the Sabah Land Ordinance have significant positive influences on native customary land disputes. This study contributed significantly to the customary land alienation of native peoples as a minority group and indigenous world population.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who smoke and want to quit - a cohort profile from the Koori Quit Pack study.

Reducing the prevalence of smoking is a national priority, however there is limited evidence on what smoking cessation supports are utilised, accessible, and effective among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This paper describes a cohort profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who smoke and want to quit to inform tailored smoking cessation interventions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in New South Wales (NSW), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and Victoria, who were smokers wanting to quit, were recruited through health services and online advertisements from May to October 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics and explore factors associated with previous use and adherence to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and intention to use Quitline services. 165 participants were recruited. Almost all (93.9%) had made at least one previous quit attempt, and 40.6% had used behavioural support. The majority believed NRT was safe (80.6%), effective (70.3%) and tried NRT previously (89%). Preferred forms of NRT for current quit attempts were nicotine patches (85.5%) and inhalers (69.7%). Intention to use Quitline was found to be higher among participants aged 31-45 years compared to participants under 30 years (AOR=3.12, 95%CI, 1.01-9.76). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are highly motivated to be smoke-free. However, efforts to enhance access and adherence to cessation supports are needed. The rapid recruitment and interest in the mailout cessation support should be scaled up to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to quit. The Australian Government has recently launched a national tobacco strategy which includes targets for reducing smoking prevalence to less than 27% among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In order to meet these targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who smoke and want to quit should have access to culturally safe and responsive support. We found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made quit attempt, accessed evidence-based smoking cessation care, and have positive attitudes towards NRT. However, acknowledging relapse, further evidence is required to understand the factors associated with sustained quitting.

The hidden impact of alcohol on young victims: an analysis of police-related alcohol offences resulting in hospitalisation

BackgroundAlcohol-related harm (ARH) remains a significant public health concern, particularly affecting young individuals who are disproportionately impacted. This study focuses on the often-overlooked impact of alcohol on young victims involved in alcohol-related police incidents resulting in hospitalisation. While existing research often centres on the drinker, this study explores the characteristics of both offenders and victims, analysing offence types and investigating the under-ascertainment of ARH in hospital records. MethodsOur research, conducted as a retrospective longitudinal study in Western Australia, utilises linked data from hospital admissions, emergency department (ED) presentations, and police incident records. The study includes 22,747 individuals aged 12–24 involved in alcohol-related police incidents between 2004 and 2015. ResultsFemale victims were 10 times more likely than males to be involved in alcohol-related police incidents, while women had a 2 times higher likelihood of undiagnosed alcohol-related hospital admissions than men. Aboriginal people were overrepresented as both offenders and victims. ED presentations and hospital admissions were prevalent, with head injuries being the most common outcome. Notably, 71% of victims hospitalised did not receive an ARH diagnosis. Conclusions A noticeable gap exists between hospital admissions associated with alcohol-related incidents and cases officially classified as ARH in the hospital system. This difference points to a more significant issue of substantial under-ascertainment or insufficient identification of ARH than previously acknowledged. Our study emphasises the need for targeted interventions, collaborative efforts between health and justice agencies, and ongoing research to address the hidden impact of alcohol on young victims.

Perspectives on improving wound care for Aboriginal health workers in rural and remote communities in Queensland, Australia

BackgroundThe care of wounds is an ongoing issue for Indigenous people worldwide, yet culturally safe Indigenous wound care training programs for rural and remote Australian Aboriginal Health Workers are largely unavailable. The higher prevalence of chronic disease, lower socioeconomic status and poorer access to services experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared to non-Indigenous people, leads to a greater incidence of chronic wounds in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Identifying the barriers and enablers for delivering wound care will establish areas of need for facilitating the development of a specific wound care program for Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners. This paper reports the first phase of a larger project directly aligned to the Indigenous Australians’ Health Program’s objective of supporting the delivery and access to high quality, culturally appropriate health care and services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This study aimed to examine experiences of Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, and nurses for managing chronic wounds within rural and remote Aboriginal Medical Services in Queensland, Australia.MethodsYarning facilitated by two Aboriginal researchers among Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, and nurses currently employed within four Aboriginal Medical Services located in rural and remote areas of Queensland, Australia.ResultsTwo themes were developed through rigorous data analysis of yarning information and responses: participants’ experiences of managing wounds and barriers and enablers to effective wound care.ConclusionsThis study contributes an insight into the experiences of Aboriginal Health Workers on the current barriers and enablers to timely treatment of chronic wounds. Results from this study indicate a significant barrier to obtaining timely and effective wound care in regional and remote settings is access to an appropriately skilled, culturally competent, and resourced health work force. A lack of education and professional development for Aboriginal Health Workers can compromise their ability to maximise patient outcomes and delay wound healing. Findings have informed the development of an evidence based, culturally competent open access chronic wound care education program for Aboriginal Health Workers.

Remembering assimilation: Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 visit to Shepparton and a ‘new deal’ for Victorian Aboriginal people

Remembering assimilation: Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 visit to Shepparton and a ‘new deal’ for Victorian Aboriginal people

Describing the kidney health of ARDAC study participants using data linkage

ObjectivesThe Antecedents of Renal Disease in Aboriginal Children and Young Adults (“ARDAC”) study is the largest data linkage study on the kidney health of First Nations Peoples internationally. Using this data linkage this study aimed to describe the kidney health of ARDAC study participants (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) aged under 25 years old. MethodsAdministrative data from hospital and community healthcare utilisation, pharmaceutical claims, and biomedical measurements were used to create a hybrid case definition for CKD. Using this definition, descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to describe sociodemographic characteristics of ARDAC participants with CKD. A ‘strengths-based’ regression analysis was also undertaken to challenge past ways of reporting kidney health outcomes and improve equity among young Aboriginal peoples. ResultsFrom the 3758 participants enrolled at baseline, approximately 1.5% of young people developed CKD between 2002 to 2019 (follow-up: 2-4 years). The current median age of the cohort is 26.7 years. The majority of those with CKD were identified through biomedical and pharmaceutical data combined, followed by community healthcare claims, and hospitalizations. Findings from the regression analysis will provide insight into the socioeconomic factors that lead to CKD in young people and will be the focus of this presentation. Conclusions/ImplicationsOur findings report for the first time the socioeconomic drivers of kidney health equity for young Aboriginal peoples. Understanding these drivers provides opportunities to work in partnership with communities to develop culturally safe health promotion.

Cultural safety in radiation therapy education: Identifying knowledge deficits to improve Indigenous health practice.

Reducing health disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples requires the integration of cultural safety into healthcare education. This commentary paper addresses cultural safety in the context of the radiation therapy profession and emphasises the importance of making practitioners aware of the knowledge gaps in healthcare practice. The educational strategies to improve cultural awareness amongst undergraduate students and qualified radiation therapists (RTs) are explored. The authors propose a range of recommendations to enhance cultural awareness amongst RTs in the context of Indigenous Australian care, aimed at promoting improved experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples receiving cancer care. Curriculum integration and development of initiatives such as workshops and interactive yarning groups are highlighted as pivotal platforms that foster continuous learning in radiation therapy.

Presage: First year music students’ experiences, understandings, expectations and aspirations on entering an undergraduate music program

For professional musicians, all aspects of music play an integrated role in music-making. However, for first year music students, who usually begin their studies identifying as performers, some may question the value of learning these other areas of music. This study investigates the responses of 80 first year undergraduate music students to questions about aspects of the music study they were about to begin, and their identity as a musician. The students were enrolled in two universities located in suburban and regional Australia. Questions were given to students in their first week of the Bachelor of Music course before classes began. In doing so, the study sought to capture what experiences, understandings, expectations and aspirations incoming students bring to, and have for, an undergraduate music course, and how they identify as musicians as they begin the course. As expected, findings noted experience with music performance and the possible influence of the location of the universities in relation to a low level of music theory knowledge. Yet understanding student interest in music technology, musicology and the music of Australian First Nations people reveals presage opinions which can help design authentic curriculum for the education of the 21st century musician.

'Our culture makes us strong': Understanding and working with community strengths among Aboriginal people in western Sydney.

Strengths-based approaches to health care are often seen as an alternative to deficit-based approaches and are common in Aboriginal health settings. Despite this, there is little existing research that describes Aboriginal peoples' perspectives about the strengths of their communities. This paper describes cultural strengths and resources as understood by Aboriginal people living in western Sydney. In-depth interviews were used to collect qualitative data from two communities on Dharug and Dharrawal Country in western Sydney Australia. Data come from a larger study, which focused on how cultural strengths supported sexual well-being. Fifty-two interviews were conducted with Aboriginal young people (aged 16-24 years) by trained peer interviewers. Additionally, 16 interviews with Aboriginal adults (25 years and older) were conducted by members of the research team. While opinions varied, four key areas of cultural strength were identified: (1) strong kinship relationships; (2) knowledge sharing; (3) shared experiences, identities, and values; and (4) knowing Country. Throughout these four themes, the sense of connection and belonging is viewed as an important overarching theme. Communities are not homogenous with regard to what they view as cultural strengths. Knowing Country and practising culture meant different things to different individuals while providing a similar sense of belonging, connection, and identity. Health service providers, policies, and programs can use this information to understand the continuing impacts of past policies and events whilst recognising that each community has strengths that can be drawn upon to improve service engagement, knowledge sharing, and health outcomes.

Aboriginal Practitioners’ Perspectives on Culturally Informed Practice for Trauma Healing in Australia

Colonisation continues to impact Aboriginal children and families through perpetual cycles of transgenerational trauma. To achieve culturally safe and effective healing, practitioners working with Aboriginal people must be culturally competent, yet existing research suggests culturally informed practice (CIP) is often poorly understood and implemented by many practitioners. Centring Indigenous perspectives, the present study explored how Aboriginal practitioners in Australia conceptualise and use CIPs when supporting Aboriginal children and families to heal from trauma. Six Aboriginal women practitioners from mental health and social work settings participated in individual research yarns. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate four themes, including centring Aboriginal ways, approaches to healing, creating space for healing, and reflexive and responsive practice. CIPs are embedded within Aboriginal approaches to healing, consider the impacts of trauma and colonisation, and require all practitioners to actively engage with Aboriginal people and their ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Economic Ties of Russian Settlers and Native Population of Turkestan in the end of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th Centuries

The article analyses the issues of reclaiming of Turkestan by the Russian empire in the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century by means of creating in the region administrative and military structures as well as by organizing Russian migrant settlements. It was revealed that in the process of organization of urban and rural settlements Turkestan authorities took aim at keeping a distance between native and migrant population. The article characterizes the conditions of granting land parcels for Russian settlers, the different categories and the number of countrymen coming to Turkestan. The article demonstrates various forms of economic interaction of settlers and native people in agricultural activities, everyday life, etc. An accent is put on the changes in the organization of living space under the influence of Turkestan climate peculiarities, different methods of managing agricultural food crops and commercial crops (cotton); the issues of irrigational activities, adoption of farm equipment and particular aspects of everyday life are being analyzed. The author makes a note that the interaction mostly took place in the economic and material spheres, and had fragmentary and episodic character that didn’t lead to cardinal changes in the life of Russian settlers’ community and native people.

The development of a cognitive screening protocol for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples: the Guddi Way screen.

Background Many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are exposed to risk factors for cognitive impairment. However, culturally appropriate methods for identifying potential cognitive impairment are lacking. This paper reports on the development of a screen and interview protocol designed to flag possible cognitive impairments and psychosocial disability in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults over the age of 16years. Methods The Guddi Way screen includes items relating to cognition and mental functions across multiple cognitive domains. The screen is straightforward, brief, and able to be administered by non-clinicians with training. Results Early results suggest the Guddi Way screen is reliable and culturally acceptable, and correctly flags cognitive dysfunction among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults. Conclusions The screen shows promise as a culturally appropriate and culturally developed method to identify the possibility of cognitive impairments and psychosocial disability in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults. A flag on the Guddi Way screen indicates the need for referral to an experienced neuropsychologist or neuropsychiatrist for further assessment and can also assist in guiding support services.

Qualitative Research of Nursing Services

A higher percentage of First Nations patients compared to non-First Nations patients come by ambulance to Saudi emergency rooms, according to previous research. The researchers set out to learn how First Nations people saw paramedic transitions in care and how paramedics see serving First Nations communities. Researchers used purposive sampling techniques based on author connections, preexisting ties, and familiarity with the Saudi paramedicine system to recruit participants for this qualitative participatory research. In order to find and invite First Nations participants, members of the study team reached out to First Nations community organisations. In July 2023, the Saudi First Nations Information Governance Centre used Zoom to host four virtual sharing circles. The information gathered from the sharing circles was subjected to a Western thematic analysis. Indigenous scholars examined the data. Each of the four sharing circles, which lasted between sixty-seven and eighty-eight minutes, drew 48 people. Each circle had eight to fourteen members. Racism, system impediments, and potential remedies were the three main topics that emerged. Participants from First Nations communities experienced racial prejudice and stereotyping from paramedics and emergency department workers due to their perceived drug abuse and misuse of paramedic services. Paramedic care was often necessary for First Nations patients because they did not have other treatment alternatives or because they were afraid of discrimination or did not know how they would go home after receiving treatment.

Providing a localised cervical cancer screening course for general practice nurses.

Cervical cancer screening programs in Australia have been developed to detect early precancerous changes in women with a cervix aged between 25 and 74. Yet, many barriers remain to the uptake of cervical screening. Barriers include a lack of culturally appropriate service provision, physical access, poor health literacy, emotional difficulties, socio-economic disadvantage and not having access to a female service provider. In remote and very remote areas of Australia, additional barriers experienced by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples include a distrust of healthcare providers and a lack of services, resulting in a much higher rate of diagnosis and death from cervical cancer. General practice nurses (GPNs) are well placed to conduct cervical screening tests (CSTs) after they have undertaken additional education and practical training. GPNs' increase in scope of practice is beneficial to general practice as it helps to remove some barriers to cervical screening. In addition, GPNs conducting CSTs reduce GP workload and burnout and increase teamwork. GPNs working in metropolitan clinics have greater access to training facilities, whereas those working in rural and remote clinics are required to travel potentially long distances to complete practical assessments. This highlights the need for training to be made available in rural and remote areas. The aim of this forum paper is therefore to generate further discussion on the need for training programs to be made available in rural and remote areas to aid the upskilling of GPNs.