HealthBulletin

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
Vol 7 No 3 in progress July 2007 - September 2007: ISSN 1445-7253

A peer-reviewed electronic journal from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Reports and publications

This section of the Bulletin identifies recent reports and publications, including book chapters. If you are aware of material that would be appropriate for inclusion in this section please contact us.

The report considers the impact of government activity on the exercise and enjoyment of Indigenous peoples' human rights. It identified two major problems in the current Government’s Indigenous affairs programs and services. Firstly, with new arrangements reflecting a top-down imposition, there has been no discernible progress in advancing mechanisms for Indigenous people to participate at a regional level. Secondly, the lack of overarching framework of benchmarks and indicators for increasing access to mainstream services for Indigenous peoples, has resulted in little progress being made in this area.

The report examines the Government’s economic reform agenda on Indigenous communal land, specifically the 99-year lease scheme that aims to provide home ownership opportunities on Indigenous land. It contains a national survey of Indigenous land owners, the findings of which indicate that although custodial responsibilities and land care were their first priority, nearly all respondents strongly supported economic development.

The report also makes a number of recommendations aimed at improving economic development opportunities for Indigenous people. It includes five case studies that document a range of Australian agreements and enterprises aimed at stimulating economic development on Indigenous land.

Black A (2007)
Evidence of effective interventions to improve the social and environmental factors impacting on health: informing the development of Indigenous Community Agreements.
Barton, ACT: Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
View report
View website: Department of Health and Ageing

This literature review summarises evidence of interventions that have shown to have positive impacts on selected social and environmental factors relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. It details research and evaluations of community programs in nutrition, early childhood, housing, sporting and cultural programs, employment, community services and alcohol use. Information provided will assist staff in Indigenous Coordination Centres in the development of Regional Partnership Agreements and Shared Reasonability Agreements.

Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (2007)
From hand out to hand up: Cape York Welfare Reform Project: design recommendations.
Cairns, QLD: Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership
View report (PDF - 1.5MB - large file warning!)
View website: Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership

This report discusses the Cape York Welfare Reform Project which aims to develop reformed incentives and appropriate supports at the community level to help with the restoration of social norms. The core principles of the Project are:

Once the policies recommended by the Institute are supported, the Project will initially be trialled in four communities on the Cape York Peninsula. If the trial is successful, the policy principles may be used to inform policy across the Cape York Peninsula and potentially other regions.

Chenhall RD (2007)
Benelong's Haven: recovery from alcohol and drug abuse within an Aboriginal Australian residential treatment centre.
Carlton, VIC: Melbourne University Press
View publication details
View website: MUP e-store

Benelong's Haven was the first residential alcohol and drug treatment program controlled and operated by an Aboriginal Australian. It was established by Val Bryant who had previously worked with Aboriginal alcoholics as a field officer with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. The author of the book, anthropologist, Richard Chenhall, at the invitation of Val Bryant, undertook fieldwork at the centre in Kinchela Creek, NSW, observing and participating in the activities and getting to know staff and residents. The book examines, at the ethnographic level, ways in which individuals are shaped by, and interact within, the larger structures and social institutions that surround them and documents Aboriginal people trying to achieve change in their lives.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Closing the Gap is the Northern Territory's Indigenous Generational Plan, aimed at closing the gap in outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Territorians. It contains a vision and objectives for the future socio-economic wellbeing of Indigenous Territorians, sets targets for the next 5, 10 and 20 years, and identifies priority areas for action in the next 5 years. The NT Government has committed $286.43 million towards 5 year actions to implement Closing the Gap.

New South Wales Government (2007)
New South Wales interagency plan to tackle child sexual assault in Aboriginal communities, 2006-2011.
Sydney: New South Wales Government
View report (PDF - 340KB)
View website: New South Wales Government

This publication sets out the New South Wales five year plan, aimed at reducing the high incidence of sexual assault for Aboriginal children. The plan was prompted by the Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce report of July 2006. The whole-of-government plan has three main goals: reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse; reduce disadvantage and dysfunction in Aboriginal communities; and build up Aboriginal leadership and increase family and community safety and wellbeing.

NSW Health (2007)
NSW Aboriginal mental health and well being policy 2006 - 2010.
Sydney: NSW Health
View report (PDF - 2.5MB - large file warning!)
View report (HTML)
View website: NSW Health

This policy aims to address the relatively low levels of specialist mental health service utilisation in Aboriginal communities, despite a high level of need related to mental health and wellbeing. The policy is a framework to guide NSW Health and NSW Area Mental Health Services in the provision of culturally sensitive and appropriate mental health and social and emotional well being services to the Aboriginal community. A number of best practice interventions are also highlighted in the report.

A Board of Inquiry was established by the NT Government in August 2006 to research and report on allegations of sexual abuse of Aboriginal children and to suggest recommendations for the protection of Aboriginal children from sexual abuse. Information gathered formed the basis for 97 recommendations which are intended to offer advice to the Government. Areas of focus included: education and schooling; educational campaigns; reducing alcohol consumption; improving family support services; enhancing cooperation between Family and Community Services (FACS), the Police, and communities; and empowering communities to take more control and make decisions about the future.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Pink B (2007)
Housing and infrastructure in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Australia, 2006. (ABS Catalogue no. 4710.0)
Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
View report (PDF - 5.42MB - large file warning!)
View website: Australian Bureau of Statistics

This report presents the results from the third Community Housing and Infrastructure Needs Survey (CHINS), held in 2006. The publication includes information relating to housing, such as current housing stock, dwelling management practices and some information about Indigenous organisations that provide housing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The report also provides information about housing related infrastructure such as water, electricity, sewerage, drainage, and rubbish collection and disposal, as well as other facilities such as transport, communication, education, sport and health services, available in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (2007)
Living in the sunburnt country: Indigenous housing: findings of the review of the Community Housing and Infrastructure Programme, final report.
Canberra: Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
View report (PDF - 1.27MB - large file warning!)
View website: Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

This report contains the findings, recommendations and the proposed strategic and operational framework for Indigenous housing and infrastructure services, following from an independent review of the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs).

Von Behrens T (2007)
Understanding Aboriginal Australians for more effective provision of home modification services.
Sydney: Home Modification Information Clearinghouse, University of Sydney
View report (PDF - 292KB)
View website: Home Modification Information Clearinghouse

This report provides background information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for health professionals working in the provision of home modification services. The report aims to increase understanding, reduce cultural stereotyping and enable culturally appropriate services in NSW. Information is provided on policies and services relating to housing and a checklist is provided to assist therapists and allied health professionals working in Aboriginal settings.

Wilczynski A, Reed-Gilbert K, Milward K, Tayler B, Fear J, et al. (2007)
Evaluation of the Bringing Them Home and Indigenous Mental Health Programs, final report.
Canberra: Urbis Keys Young for the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
View report (PDF - 605KB)
View report (HTML)
View website: Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

In 2006, the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health commissioned Urbis Keys Young to evaluate the Bringing Them Home and Indigenous Mental Health Programs. Four programs were covered in the evaluation: the Link-Up Program; the Binging Them Home Program; the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Regional Centre Program; and the Mental Health Program.
The evaluation consisted of a consultation with service providers, associated organisations and clients of the services. The evaluation was advised by a Reference Group with membership from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.