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Adams outlines the importance of routinely remembering medical education's past and present colonial burden on Indigenous peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture is an essential factor in the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, but colonisation has disrupted and fragmented Indigenous cultures across the world. In Australia, urban Aboriginal young people are a growing population. However, research, policies and programmes aimed at improving Aboriginal wellbeing are unclear in their understanding of what culture is and how it is included in practice, particularly from the perspective of urban Aboriginal young people. Therefore, this study used yarning and thematic analysis to explore the experiences and conceptualisations of culture from the perspective of young, urban Aboriginal people. The young people described culture in terms of relationships, connection to Country, shared beliefs and values, and with regards to identity. Such understanding will contribute to an evidence-base of appropriate, better targeted and more effective wellbeing policies and programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April 2020 a Group of Eight Taskforce was convened, consisting of over 100 researchers, to provide independent, research‐based recommendations to the Commonwealth Government on a "Roadmap to Recovery" from COVID‐19. The report covered issues ranging from pandemic control and relaxation of social distancing measures, to well‐being and special considerations for vulnerable populations. Our work focused on the critical needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; this paper presents an overview of our recommendations to the Roadmap report. In addressing the global challenges posed by pandemics for citizens around the world, Indigenous people are recognised as highly vulnerable. At the time of writing Australia's First Nations Peoples have been largely spared from COVID‐19 in comparison to other Indigenous populations globally. Our recommendations emphasise self‐determination and equitable needs‐based funding to support Indigenous communities to recover from COVID‐19, addressing persistent overcrowded housing, and a focus on workforce, especially for regional and remote communities. These latter two issues have been highlighted as major issues of risk for Indigenous communities in Australia It remains to be seen how governments across Australia take up these recommendations to support Indigenous peoples' health and healing journey through yet another, potentially catastrophic, health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Lateral violence is the tendency of peoples from oppressed groups to direct their frustration and anger from their experiences of oppression towards members of their own group. The aim of this study was to examine what is currently known about lateral violence in Indigenous peoples, the psychosocial effects of lateral violence on Indigenous peoples, and to determine whether there is empirical support for the Origins of Lateral Violence model. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using articles from both peer-review journals and grey literature databases. Results: Lateral violence was found to be common and normalised at all levels of the Indigenous communities included in our review. While little is known about the psychosocial effects of lateral violence in Indigenous peoples, lateral violence appears to effect one's identity and sense of wellbeing. Support for the Origins of Lateral Violence model was also found. Conclusion: The findings indicate that a reliable measure of lateral violence would provide a means for determining prevalence rates and identifying vulnerable communities. Further research is needed to determine the role of the other identified causes of lateral violence and the effects of lateral violence on Indigenous peoples. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Lateral violence occurs in groups who experience oppression. (2) Lateral violence includes physical violence and intra-racial abuse such as gossiping, bullying, backstabbing and social isolation. (3) Lateral violence is proposed to occur in Indigenous communities. What this topic adds: (1) Lateral violence is common and normalised in Indigenous communities. (2) Lateral violence has significant effects on Indigenous people's identity and wellbeing, therefore, notions of an "authentic" Indigenous person need to be dismantled in order to begin addressing lateral violence. (3) The research highlights the important need for further research to explore the effects of lateral violence on mental health and wellbeing In Indigenous peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this latest contribution to the 'When I say ... ' series, Vass and Adams explore the pervasive impact of colonisation as an under‐recognised and poorly addressed context of medical education. In this contribution to the "When I say..." series, Vass and Adams explore the pervasive impact of colonisation as an under‐recognised and poorly addressed "situation" impacting upon medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nationally, Aboriginal people experience high levels of psychological distress, primarily due to trauma from colonisation. In Victoria, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) provide many services to support mental health. The aim of the present study was to improve understanding about Victorian Aboriginal people and mental health service patterns. We located four mental health administrative datasets to analyse descriptively, including Practice Health Atlas, Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Service (AODTS), Kids Helpline and Close The Gap Pharmaceutical Scheme data. A large proportion of the local Aboriginal population (70%) were regular ACCHO clients; of these, 21% had a mental health diagnosis and, of these, 23% had a Medicare Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). There were higher rates of Medicare MHCP completion rates where general practitioners (GPs) had mental health training and the local Area Mental Health Service had a Koori Mental Health Liaison Officer. There was an over-representation of AODTS episodes, and referrals for these episodes were more likely to come through community, corrections and justice services than for non-Aboriginal people. Aboriginal episodes were less likely to have been referred by a GP or police and less likely to have been referrals to community-based or home-based treatment. There was an over-representation of Victorian Aboriginal calls to Kids Helpline, and these were frequently for suicide and self-harm reasons. We recommend primary care mental health programs include quality audits, GP training, non-pharmaceutical options and partnerships. Access to appropriate AODTS is needed, particularly given links to high incarcerations rates. To ensure access to mental health services, improved understanding of mental health service participation and outcomes, including suicide prevention services for young people, is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous Australians are far more likely to suffer from chronic disease than are non Indigenous Australians. Taking a health promotion approach to address this inequity, prevention strategies that aim to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and smoking cessation are indicated. In this paper, the authors outline results of a survey that investigated requirements for peer support and readiness-to-change behaviour for urbanised Indigenous people that focused on areas of nutrition, physical activity, and smoking behaviour. Results of this survey indicated that respondents were more ready to change behaviours that related to nutrition and physical activity but less ready to cease smoking. Peer support preferences were for face-to-face or group support for physical activity and smoking (rather than telephone or website), and assistance with food costs was the preferred strategy to improve nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the approach taken by Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) to develop a workable smoking policy. It states that the organization held meeting over four months for the consultation of policy development with staff and managers. It says that the staff participated by giving their thoughts and feelings regarding the issue, which resulted into the success of the implementation.