Australian Indigenous

 

This section of the Bulletin identifies recent journal articles. If you are aware of any journal articles that would be appropriate for inclusion in this section please contact us.

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Alati, R., Peterson, C., & Rice, P. (2000).
The development of Indigenous substance misuse services in Australia: belief, conflicts and change.
Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange, 6(2), 49-62.

This article reviews historical and contemporary issues surrounding the development of Indigenous substance misuse interventions. Specific attention is given to tertiary level intervention, including Indigenous notions of 'rehabilitation' and interpretations of the disease model of alcoholism. Conflicts with the mainstream management of substance misuse interventions are discussed, as are the complexities of current services, and recommendations for change. Issues surrounding secondary and primary interventions are also considered.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Astbury, J., Atkinson, J., Duke, J. E., Easteal, P. L., Kurrle, S. E., Tait, P. R., & Turner, J. (2000).
The impact of domestic violence on individuals.
Medical Journal of Australia, 173, 427-431.

Coory, M., Thompson, A., & Ganguly, I. (2000).
Cancer among people living in rural and remote Indigenous communities in Queensland.
Medical Journal of Australia, 173, 301-304.

Based on research in communities with a predominantly Indigenous population, this article describes the pattern of cancer among Indigenous people living in Queensland and compares the results to the total Queensland population. The research highlights the high incidences of cervical cancer and lung and smoking-related cancers among Indigenous people, compared to the total Queensland population.

The article considers the implications that the findings have for cancer control and emphasises the preventability of a large proportion of cancers among Indigenous people. In particular, the article points to the issues of Indigenous smoking and improved participation in screenings as two methods that would have a beneficial impact on cancer rates among Indigenous people.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Craig, D. (2000).
Practical logics: the shapes and lessons of popular medical knowledge and practice - examples from Vietnam and Indigenous Australia.
Social Science and Medicine, 51(5), 703-711.

Popular medical knowledge and practice is pragmatic, memorable and attuned to the social and physical environment of the user. This paper provides examples of practical household medical knowledge obtained from ethnographic fieldwork undertaken in Vietnam and Indigenous communities in north Queensland. Health interventions that tap into this knowledge system are most likely to become a sustainable part of everyday family life.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Dunne, E. (2000).
Consultation, rapport, and collaboration: essential preliminary stages in research with urban Aboriginal groups.
Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange, 6(1), 6-14.

Undertaking research in Indigenous Australian communities requires careful attention to ethical guidelines. It is essential that, in the preliminary stages, researchers undertake extensive community consultation, negotiation, and collaboration to ensure that the research is beneficial to the Indigenous community. A mental health research project conducted among Aboriginal people in Adelaide provides a framework for the discussion of issues surrounding the development of rapport, informed consent, and ownership of data.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Lawson, K.A., Chew, M., and Van Der Weyden, M.B. (2000).
A revolution in rural and remote Australia: bringing health education to the bush.
Medical Journal of Australia, 173, 618-624.

Loff, B., & Anderson, I. (2000).
Aboriginal reconciliation still a long way to go.
Lancet, 355 (9220), 2070-2071.

This paper briefly outlines what the authors consider to be some of the key issues behind the perceived deterioration in relations between Indigenous Australians and the Australian government. The issues raised include mandatory sentencing and the recent debate over the number of Aboriginal children referred to as the 'stolen generation'. The authors conclude that reconciliation in the foreseeable future is unlikely.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Morrison, P. (2000).
A pilot implementation of Internet access for remote Aboriginal communities in the 'top end' of Australia.
Urban Studies, 37(10), 1781-1792.

Internet and related technologies offer a potentially effective mechanism for the delivery of government services, health care and civil administration in remote areas. This article discusses the implementation of Internet and email capabilities in four remote Aboriginal communities. Implemented by the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory, the project is a pilot for a larger proposal to provide similar facilities to 66 community government councils throughout the NT. Analysis of the project leads the author to conclude that community councils are appropriate bodies for the development of these technologies, and that email and the Internet have much to offer remote areas.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Morriss, M., Mann, S. & Byrnes, T. (2000).
Safe dreaming trail to school: community participation and Indigenous culture.
Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange, 6(2), 110-115.

This paper outlines a cross-cultural injury prevention initiative implemented in schools in Noarlunga, South Australia to address community safety hazards. Indigenous safe community practices were imparted to students through 'dreaming stories'. Students were encouraged to develop skills in identifying and reporting safety hazards in their school and local community. In addition to the obvious health-related objectives, the initiative was designed to increase understanding and respect for different cultures.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Thomson, N.J. (2000).
Cancer among Indigenous Australians: time for decisive action.
Medical Journal of Australia, 173, 288-289.

This editorial identifies that cancer among Indigenous people has received much less attention than it should have - and a major reason for this is the poor identification of Indigenous people in cancer notifications. Cancer registries in Western Australia, South Australia, and Northern Territory are deemed to have adequate identification of Indigenous Australians - but even in these jurisdictions, there is still underidentification of Indigenous people.

The editorial describes some of the research on cancer among Indigenous people and summarises the major findings. In particular, emphasis is placed on the fact that many of the cancers occurring among Indigenous people are preventable and that this signals a time for decisive action among professionals in the health sector.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Tsey, K. & Every, A. (2000).
Evaluating Aboriginal empowerment programs: the case of family wellbeing.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 24(5), 509-514.

This article describes the evaluation of a family wellbeing empowerment course conducted in Alice Springs. The aim of the personal empowerment course was to assist participants to exert greater control over their lives, by addressing the effects of settler colonisation on the emotional health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. The course evaluation included analysis of the literature and project documentation, participant observation, and analysis of participant evaluation sheets and narratives. The findings of the evaluation demonstrated that the course brought about positive changes in the emotional and social health of the participants and other young people around them. The authors highlight the importance of providing resources for Aboriginal people to develop programs of this type.They conclude that similar empowerment interventions should: adopt an ecological approach that addresses empowerment at all levels; reach a significant proportion of the target group; and form part of a longer-term approach that includes longitudinal studies.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract