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Concern exists that the growing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) across Australia is perpetuating historical, discriminatory child removal policies and practices. The disproportionate number of Indigenous children in OOHC is increasing at the same time as growing multi-jurisdictional policy and legal mandate for Indigenous self-determination, leadership, and cultural connectedness in the OOHC space. This study aims to provide evidence and instruction to social work educators, policymakers and practitioners in Australia's complex child protection, wellbeing, and justice systems about why and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled organizations are best placed to lead OOHC service delivery for Indigenous children, their family and community. The qualitative research, located in Queensland, engages the knowledge and experience of Elders, Indigenous child safety professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young adults who have recently exited OOHC to explore the importance of Indigenous-led OOHC service provision for generating genuine, intergenerational systemic change. Ten themes or authoritative Directives to non-Indigenous stakeholders are elicited and discussed. The paper concludes with three recommendations that press for a shift in the Western values and practices that underscore the monitoring and evaluation of Indigenous-led OOHC service providers by government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary Australian planning has for too long ignored its fundamental responsibilities in its relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in urban and regional Australia. Australian land-use planning and development processes do not have a good track record of taking account of the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or of adequately involving them, especially in our capital cities and major regional centres where the larger proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live and the where the extent of dispossession is perhaps at its greatest. It is a sad indictment of our planning system that more than 30 years after the High Court of Australia's landmark decision in Mabo (No. 2), that most of the planning statutes around Australia still do not require prior consultation with or the direct involvement of registered native title holders or claimants during plan formulation or decision-making about land uses for an area of land or waters. This paper examines the current state of affairs with respect to how well or otherwise our planning statutes still fail to give adequate recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights and interests in contemporary statutory planning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with a disability continue to experience barriers to service engagement such as mistrust of government services, lack of culturally appropriate support, marginalisation and disempowerment. This meta-synthesis reviews current literature regarding these experiences to explain why services are underutilised. Methods: The meta-synthesis was conducted using a meta-ethnographic approach to synthesise existing studies into new interpretive knowledge. The approach was supported by a search using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: Ten original research papers utilising a qualitative methodology were extracted. Synthesis of the articles revealed four concepts that were developed into a conceptual model. These include:1) History Matters; 2) Cultural Understanding of Disability Care; 3) Limitations to Current Service Provision; and 4) Delivery of Effective Services. Conclusions: Disability services do not adequately consider the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People or communicate in a culturally appropriate manner. There are expectations that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People acknowledge their disability in alignment with western definitions of disability in order to access services. More work is needed to align disability services with culturally appropriate support to provide better health outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a disability continue to experience barriers to service engagement which must be addressed. An essential gap that must be filled in providing disability services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is the acknowledgment of culture as a resolute influence on all client interactions with providers. A cultural model of disability may better align with the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than current medical and social models used in healthcare. Disability services need to align better with culturally appropriate support to provide better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the University of Sydney Library's development and piloting of a methodology to survey its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural collections, to enhance catalogue metadata and allow culturally sensitive material to be identified and protected. The research falls broadly within the interpretivist epistemology and draws methodologically on Participative Action Research. The pilot survey was conducted using a qualitative, collection-based approach, more specifically Direct Collection Analysis. A broad syntax was used to identify cultural content within the catalogue metadata, and items individually examined to determine the nature of their contents. The findings surface the benefits and shortcomings of the initial methodology. It is recommended future surveys be conducted using more specific terminology checklists and undertaken by a dedicated team that has received care and handling training for cultural materials and is led by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander expert in cultural collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health, education, mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing remains a major concern. Bridging these gaps and working in culturally safe and responsive ways with people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent presents considerable challenges, including for the discipline and profession of psychology. At the Australian Psychological Society's ( APS) inaugural congress in September 2016, the APS issued an Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The apology was a formal acknowledgment of the role of the discipline and profession of psychology in failing to listen and show respect to Indigenous Australians. The apology was also a commitment to change. This paper provides the background and context to, and motivation for, the apology. The APS received highly positive reactions to the apology across Australia and internationally. However, further change and work needs to be undertaken as the challenge for the discipline and profession now is to demonstrate a commitment to the apology by supporting and engaging in culturally safe practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A clear understanding of the nature and extent of suicidal behaviour and other mental health issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations has been limited by the national failure to develop clinically and culturally valid assessments and to ensure the cultural competence of practitioners. The default position for Australian mental health researchers is to continue to adapt existing mainstream assessments. The problem with this approach is it doesn't enable researchers to determine culture-specific symptoms or phenomena that are critical to establishing true cultural validity. The mental health field needs culturally co-designed psychometric tools to capture culture-specific expression and manifestation of symptoms, and to capture culture-specific symptoms. Two such tools exist: the WASC-Y and WASC-A. However, there are few data on their psychometric properties beyond the initial developmental research reported in the test manuals. This needs to be a focus for future research. What is already known about this topic: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia have suicide rates that are at least twice that of non-Indigenous Australians. Research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's mental health is limited by the continued failure to use culturally valid, psychometrically sound, and clinically valid screening tools. For decades researchers have been drawing attention to the need for screening tools and other psychological assessments to be specifically validated for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. What this paper adds: Some attempts have been made to develop culturally valid tools or to validate mainstream instruments for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but these tools are significantly limited. Attempting to validate mainstream instruments with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people fails to determine unique aetiologies and explain the over-representation of Indigenous people in suicide deaths. The Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklists are culturally and clinically valid screening tools that warrant further exploration of their value in addressing the unacceptable gaps in understanding the nature and extent of mental health problems and suicidal behaviour among Aboriginal people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Achieving increased participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s health workforce, particularly nursing, is federal government policy imperative. However, the uptake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into nursing has stalled and their attrition from tertiary nursing courses is considerably higher than for other students. Aim: To alert the profession to issues impacting enrolled nursing education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Design: Discussion paper. Results: Studies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students mainly focus on tertiary education for registered nurses whereas vocational education and training (VET) for enrolled nurses is usually overlooked. It is generally assumed that the issues influencing the recruitment, attrition, and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in higher education universities and other institutions similarly impact enrolled nursing students in the VET sector. Conclusion: Research that contributes robust evidence-based knowledge specifically on strategies addressing issues in enrolled nursing education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their employment uptake is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For First Peoples across Australia, birds have important connections to kin and Country. We draw on a recent analysis of all Australia's threatened bird taxa to identify on whose traditional Country they occur. Of the 201 imperilled (threatened or Near Threatened) bird taxa facing threats within Australian territory (including Commonwealth waters and offshore islands), 64% occur on lands and waters to which at least 463 First Peoples' groups have a connection. Fourteen bird taxa occur only on Country of a single First Peoples' group while 15 taxa occur on Country of over 50 First Peoples' groups. Four First Peoples' groups, in north Queensland and south-eastern Australia, have over 20 imperilled bird taxa on their Country. Taxa on First Peoples' Country face 78% of the total national threat load on imperilled birds and have 75% of both the research and management needs for relieving threats. All the threats are a consequence of colonisation, suggesting that supporting First Peoples to manage the threats to birds is a moral, and potentially legal, responsibility. Many First Peoples have chosen to engage actively in the conservation of imperilled species but there are numerous additional opportunities for monitoring and active management of Country that will yield benefits. Our analysis can help First Peoples identify which birds on their Country are listed as threatened under western conventions and that they may wish to help conserve; and assist conservation managers to identify First Peoples who might wish to lead or become more involved in imperilled bird management. The Global Biodiversity Framework strongly supports maximising the involvement of First Peoples in environmental management. There are at least 460 First Peoples' groups on which imperilled birds occur, which provides a wide range of opportunities for management if people so choose. The Countries of many First Peoples' groups supports 10 or more imperilled bird taxa, suggesting that support for Country management will often benefit many taxa. The depth and longevity of First Peoples' connection to Country provides them with a perspective lacking in much management. Because all threats to imperilled birds on First Peoples' Country are derived from settlers, there is a moral, and possible legal, case for supporting First Peoples to manage them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timely release of the World Report on Disability serves as a challenge to members of the health professions to review and renew their response to inequity of access and provision of services to children and adults with a disability. This paper responds to the lead article by Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall, and provides commentary on two of the recommendations of the World Report on Disability in the context of a novel inter-professional service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with communication and learning needs. Speech-language pathology and occupational therapy students reported on their learning within a model of service delivery based on partnership with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school community and inter-professional collaboration. Lessons learned have the potential to inform future services for under-served populations and to impact on capacity building through health professionals gaining experiential knowledge and understanding of an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on the first qualitative research on lived experiences of autism in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Twelve women supporting 16 autistic children living in remote, regional and urban areas of Australia participated in a semi-structured interview. Through thematic analysis, we identified four focal themes in women's conceptualisation of the practical work of mothering autistic children. These are (i) navigating a complex autism system to 'achieve' diagnosis and connect to culturally-safe services and supports; (ii) helping children to learn to live in the big world by engaging in everyday care and enhancing capacities; (iii) protecting children by keeping them safe, dealing with stigma and respecting individuality and; (iv) asserting family belonging by emphasising children's strengths, encouraging extended family relationships and advocating for others. Listening to these marginalised voices is vital to establishing a participatory research agenda in a field that has received inadequate attention. This is the first research on lived experiences of autism in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Twelve women from remote, regional and urban areas spoke about their experiences of loving and supporting their autistic children. Women talked about the practical work of mothering their autistic children including achieving autism diagnosis, trying to access culturally safe services and supports, undertaking everyday care needs and enhancing capacities and abilities. Women emphasised children's strengths and their belonging in community; they were very concerned with protecting them and keeping them safe in the context of intersecting racist and ableist attitudes. More participatory research on autism within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Aboriginal) people are a priority population for HIV care in Australia; however, no HIV cascade exists for this population. We developed annual HIV cascades for 2010–2017 specific to Aboriginal peoples. By 2017, an estimated 595 Aboriginal people were living with HIV (PLWH); however, 14% remained undiagnosed. Cascade steps below global targets were: PLWH aware of their diagnosis (86%), and retention in care (81% of those who had received any care in previous two years in a sentinel network of clinics). For people retained in care, treatment outcomes surpassed global targets (92% receiving treatment, 93% viral suppression). Increases occurred across all HIV cascade steps over time; however, the least improvement was for retention in care, while the greatest improvement was achieving viral suppression. The HIV cascade for Aboriginal peoples highlights both gaps and strengths in the Australian HIV care system, and importantly highlights where potential interventions may be required to achieve the global UNAIDS targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yolŋu (Aboriginal Australians of northeast Arnhem Land) are interested in developing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems in their own languages to support communication opportunities and participation for their family members living with Machado–Joseph disease. Designing AAC systems in Aboriginal languages requires consideration of unique linguistic and cultural elements. Participatory action research in strength-based communication contexts was carried out by Yolŋu and Balanda (the Yolŋu word for non-Aboriginal people) researchers working together through a collaborative intercultural process. Culturally responsive literacy, language, and AAC activities were used to develop four prototype Yolŋu AAC sytems for Yolŋu with varied literacy skills. Data were coded using gerunds to identify and focus on action in the data. Reflective and analytical collaborative, oral group discussions were used to identify key considerations and, ultimately, a Yolŋu metaphor for the research. Yolŋu language, culture and worldview impacted all aspects of prototype design and decision making. Salient considerations related to representation, organization, layout, and access, are presented. Clinical implications and future research considerations are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have been targets of social and emotional wellbeing programs for many years. However, the few health‐care programs and services that are evaluated rarely provide insight into the participants' perspectives of program success or failure. This systematic review assessed 33 social and emotional wellbeing programs across Australia to better understand what Aboriginal community members think about the programs and how they could be improved. Results highlighted the interesting and valuable insights provided by Aboriginal participants, including what kinds of program activities and approaches are most suitable, what program characteristics are successful or desired, and their experiences of wellbeing change before and after program participation. They likewise voiced opinions about poorly received programs, culturally inappropriate services and negative experiences. This review highlighted how health and wellbeing programs must better engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients to ensure that services are culturally safe, holistic, integrate appropriate staffing, include culturally relevant activities and value patient/participant experiences. These findings have significant implications for the health and wellbeing sector; specifically, research, policy, program design and implementation, evaluation methods, and self‐determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight years after the Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Australian Constitution was established, institutional reform to empower Indigenous peoples in this country has not been realised. This article argues that the persistent failure to progress constitutional reform stems, in part, from dominant conceptions of Australian citizenship that deny Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplehood. It follows that meaningful institutional reform is possible only if Australian citizenship is reconceptualised in a manner that makes room for the distinctive status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Treaties offer a path forward to develop this new understanding of Australian identity and ground institutional reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To undertake a systematic review of non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) prevalence, patterns, functions, and behavioural correlates for the Indigenous populations of Australia (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) and New Zealand (NZ; Maori). Method: We searched the following electronic databases: PubMed, MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PsycInfo, and PsycArticles, CINAHL, and the Informit Health and Indigenous Peoples collections. Studies were included for review if they were published within the last 25 years and reported on NSSI in Australia and NZ's Indigenous populations. Results: Seven studies were included, six of which came from Australia. The prevalence of NSSI in Australia ranged from 0.9% up to 22.50%; statistics varied by the different samples, types of prevalence, and relationship to alcohol. Several studies found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had higher rates of NSSI than other Australians, but that this was not significantly higher. Two studies indicated that NSSI was linked to alcohol use, incarceration, and a younger age. The one NZ study was of injury and not specifically NSSI. Conclusions: Findings are limited due to a small pool of literature. Cultural variations in NSSI presentation should be considered when working with Indigenous populations. Further research is required to help determine what cultural variations may exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous cultural training for health workers is an increasingly popular intervention designed to improve the health services provided to Indigenous peoples in Australia. The provision of this training is based on the recognition that the measured discrepancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes is in part influenced by cultural difference and a history of racism in Australian society. Indigenous cultural training in Australia predominantly draws on a 'cultural awareness' framework which seeks to educate health workers about 'Indigenous culture'. To date, evaluations of Indigenous cultural training programs have found them to have questionable efficacy, although most of these evaluations have been methodologically inadequate. This article draws on postcolonial theory to explore the limitations of Indigenous cultural training as it is commonly conceptualised. Issues of essentialising 'Indigenous culture', 'otherness' and the absence of systemic responsibility for culturally appropriate health service provision are discussed. Finally, we consider future directions for Indigenous cultural training that are useful to both Indigenous service users and the health workers charged with 'closing the gap' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide has been an issue of national public health and mental health concern for only one decade, having increased dramatically from levels that were very low in the late 1980s to levels of young adult male suicide that are now substantially higher than for the non-indigenous population. In this review the authors socially and historically contextualize these changes, identifying the causal frameworks adopted in developing interventions, and present an explanation in narrative and pictorial form that draws on critical family-centered trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]