Lowitja Associated Research

The Lowitja Institute’s pioneering research projects and scholarship initiatives have significantly influenced health research worldwide. This collection includes research outputs that either reference publications by the Lowitja Institute or utilise our research tools.
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Indigenous perspectives on childhood disability across Canada: A critical integrative review and implications for service providers.
(2025-05-30) Gelech J.; Matthews E.; Mazurik K.; Graumans R.; Montgomery H.; Neufeld K.; Beatty B.; Wellsch J.
The urgent need for cultural safety and inclusivity when working with Indigenous children with disabilities and their families requires an appreciation of relevant cultural understandings, values, and practices. This critical integrative review identifies and synthesizes works investigating Indigenous perspectives on childhood, development, and disability, emphasizing its significance for professionals in healthcare, social services, and education. A critical integrative review of published works was completed. Five databases were consulted, and the search was supplemented by reference mining and peer and community consultation. Seventeen works met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis generated five cultural considerations for service providers working with Indigenous families: 1) the practice of communal child-rearing; 2) relational identities and the minimization of individual differences; 3) children as gifts and teachers; 4) balance and good relations as key to holistic health; and 5) respect for autonomous development. The reviewed works suggest several ways in which Indigenous perspectives on childhood disability might differ from those of many service providers embedded in Western biomedical education and health institutions. Highlighting these disparate views empowers professionals to reflect on how cultural differences could impact their work with Indigenous children and families and consider approaches that align with Indigenous values and ways of knowing. Implications for service delivery and inter-cultural collaboration are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Cultural safety in telehealth consultations with Indigenous people: A scoping review of global literature.
(2025-05-01) Terrill K.; Woodall H.; Evans R.; Sen Gupta T.; Ward R.; Brumpton K.
Introduction: Telehealth has become increasingly routine within healthcare and has potential to reduce barriers to care, including for Indigenous populations. However, it is crucial for practitioners to first ensure that their telehealth practice is culturally safe. This review aims to describe the attributes of culturally safe telehealth consultations for Indigenous people as well as strategies that could promote cultural safety. Methods: A scoping review was conducted on key features of cultural safety in telehealth for Indigenous people using the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and PRISMA-ScR checklist. Five electronic databases were searched, and additional literature was identified through handsearching. Results: A total of 649 articles were screened resulting in 17 articles included in the review. The central themes related to the provision of culturally safe telehealth refer to attributes of the practitioner: cultural and community knowledge, communication skills and the building and maintenance of patient-provider relationships. These practitioner attributes are modified and shaped by external environmental factors: technology, the availability of support staff and the telehealth setting. Discussion: This review identified practitioner-led features which enhance cultural safety but also recognised the structural factors that can contribute, both positively and negatively, to the cultural safety of a telehealth interaction. For some individuals, telehealth is not a comfortable or acceptable form of care. However, if strategies are undertaken to make telehealth more culturally safe, it has the potential to increase opportunities for access to care and thus contribute towards reducing health inequalities faced by Indigenous peoples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
Experiences, impacts, and perspectives of recreational cannabis use among Indigenous communities: A scoping review.
(2025-05-19) Zentner D.; Dobischok S.; DeGrace S.; Wen R.A.; Wendt D.C.
Objective: Research on the patterns and correlates of cannabis use suggests a disproportionately higher use incidence across Indigenous populations in Canada and the United States. As cannabis use is related to several deleterious social and behavioral consequences for which Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately vulnerable, it is a public health concern. We gathered and organized the extant research on cannabis use among Indigenous groups to describe emergent themes and future research areas. Method: We conducted a scoping review of articles published between 2005 and February 2020 on Indigenous populations and cannabis use in Canada and the United States. We screened 1,934 articles indexed through APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and Medline, 152 of which were systematically coded and analyzed. Results: Most studies focused on the prevalence and patterns of cannabis use initiation, followed by protective and risk factors, correlations of cannabis use and other substance use, correlations of cannabis with mental health diagnoses and with other health consequences, interventions for cannabis use, and cannabis legalization issues. Most articles focused on youth, were analyzed quantitatively, and discussed cannabis use in the context of general substance use. Conclusions: Future research should explore culturally appropriate intervention programs and the impact of cannabis legalization issues. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement: This review indicates that although there is a disproportionate prevalence of cannabis use among Indigenous populations, these differences are no longer significant when controlling for other variables. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Aversion to income, ethnic, and geographic related health inequality: Evidence from Australia.
(2025-01-01) Boujaoude M.; Dalziel K.; Cookson R.; Devlin N.; Carvalho N.
This study investigated the Australian general public's views on trade-offs between reducing health inequalities and improving total health. It elicited relative equity weights, comparing inequalities in life expectancy at birth across three equity-relevant dimensions: income (comparing poorest versus richest fifth), ethnic (comparing Indigenous versus non-Indigenous), and geographic (comparing rural/remote versus major cities). A benefit trade-off exercise was administered via online survey to a sample of Australian adults (n = 3105) using quota sampling to ensure population representativeness across key demographic variables (age, gender, state of residence, household income and education level). When comparing income groups, 88% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 82%-92%) of the respondents were health inequality averse, with 42% (95% CI: 34%-51%) demonstrating extreme inequality aversion. When considering Indigenous status, 85% (95% CI: 79%-90%) showed inequality aversion, and 40% (95% CI: 31%-49%) displayed extreme aversion. Lastly, looking at different geographic locations, 74% (95% CI: 66%-80%) of the respondents were inequality averse, with 37% (95% CI: 29%-46%) showing extreme inequality aversion. The relative equity weights were calculated, allowing for varying baseline inequalities in life expectancy - proportional gaps of 10.8%, 5.1% and 6.3%, respectively. The results imply that the public is willing to weight incremental health gains to the poorest fifth five times more than to the richest fifth, six times more for Indigenous versus non-Indigenous, and four times more for people living in rural and remote areas compared to major cities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
Aboriginal cultural narratives and ecology as co-teachers: understanding climate change in the sensory classroom on Country.
(2025-06-05) Wilks J.; Turner A.; Werner M.
This paper describes how four rural schools on the mid-north coast of NSW pushed back against the current indoor classroom education model, instead prioritising the importance of ecologising learning beyond the school gate. While there has been considerable attention paid to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander practices associated with food systems and geographical domains in Australian school curricula, less attention has been paid to the natural Lore of the land and the underlying knowledge and practices shaping and maintaining sustainable land management. Here the authors recount the crucial role of the Gumbaynggirr people’s historical and contemporary cultural knowledge systems that acted as a cornerstone for school students to build their learning about Climate Change authentically with/within nature. Aboriginal knowledge systems derive from a deep relationship between plants and animals, entwined with spiritual practices. However, despite the potential significance of their contributions, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people have not been adequately represented in the national discussions about Climate Change (HEAL Network & CRE-STRIDE (2021). Discussion Paper, Lowitja Institute, Melbourne, doi:10.48455/bthg-aj15.). This research found that when representatives from the local Aboriginal community lead teachers in Climate Change education, overwhelmingly student learning is enriched when it occurs in settings enabling a deep relationality with nature and Culture
Utilisation of public healthcare services by an Indigenous group: A mixed-method study among Santals of West Bengal, India.
(2024-02-22) Mozumdar A.; Das B.M.; Chowdhury T.K.; Roy S.K.
A barrier to meeting the goal of universal health coverage in India is the inequality in utilisation of health services between indigenous and non-indigenous people. This study aimed to explore the determinants of utilisation, or non-utilisation, of public healthcare services among the Santals, an indigenous community living in West Bengal, India. The study holistically explored the utilisation of public healthcare facilities using a framework that conceptualised service coverage to be dependent on a set of determinants – viz. the nature and severity of the ailment, availability, accessibility (geographical and financial), and acceptability of the healthcare options and decision-making around these further depends on background characteristics of the individual or their family/household. This cross-sectional study adopts ethnographic approach for detailed insight into the issue and interviewed 422 adult members of Santals living in both rural (Bankura) and urban (Howrah) areas of West Bengal for demographic, socio-economic characteristics and healthcare utilisation behaviour using pre-tested data collection schedule. The findings revealed that utilisation of the public healthcare facilities was low, especially in urban areas. Residence in urban areas, being female, having higher education, engaging in salaried occupation and having availability of private allopathic and homoeopathic doctors in the locality had higher odds of not utilising public healthcare services. Issues like misbehaviour from the health personnel, unavailability of medicine, poor quality of care, and high patient load were reported as the major reasons for non-utilisation of public health services. The finding highlights the importance of improving the availability and quality of care of healthcare services for marginalised populations because these communities live in geographically isolated places and have low affordability of private healthcare. The health programme needs to address these issues to improve the utilisation and reduce the inequality in healthcare utilisation, which would be beneficial for all segments of Indian population.
Factors contributing to strengths-based nutrition research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
(2025-05-16) McManus C.; Delbridge R.; McKivett A.; Hardy T.; Burgess N.; Wilson A.
Strengths-based research has been identified to change deficit discourse to one that reports strengths of individuals and Communities through fostering capacity strengthening. Currently, there is a lack of guidance on how to implement strengths-based approaches in research which has resulted in inconsistencies in how strengths-based research is conducted and reported. This article identifies key factors that could be used to guide strengths-based nutrition research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Following a critical social research study design perspectives of strengths-based researchers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health were utilised to identify current practices, barriers, and enablers to strengths-based health research. Six key factors were identified: capacity strengthening and empowerment; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander driven research; the importance of research approaches; changing the current research system and culture; the need to reframe the narrative of ill-health; and learning from existing tools and guidelines. This research has the potential to be translated into both research and public health policy, contribute as a stepping stone to the development of a practical framework within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research space as well as be applied to other professions and Indigenous populations.
Ageing: polypharmacy and medicine-related harm.
(2025-04-28) Mirkov S.; Elsedfy Y.; Freeman C.R.; McCarthy C.; Moriarty F.; Ailabouni N.J.
The World Health Organization has highlighted that achieving medication without harm is their third global patient safety challenge. As more people are ageing worldwide, addressing this challenge is even more pertinent. When a person ages, age-related physiological changes impact their metabolism of medicines which may pose older people at a greater risk of experiencing medicine-related harm such as falls and hospitalisations. To understand how to reduce medicine related risk and harm, it is vital to understand the underpinning concepts of ageing. This chapter provides an overview of the process of ageing and relatedly medicine related harm in older people and specifcally older people who identify as Australian
Knowledge, attitude, and practice in communication assessment of speech-language pathologists working with adolescents with mental health concerns.
(2025-02-24) Wallis A.K.; Westerveld M.; McKenzie M.L
Purpose: The recovery model underlying mental health services emphasises the importance of the voice of the adolescent client in identifying needs, goals, and negotiating intervention. This study aimed to characterise speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) knowledge, attitude, and practice in relation to communication assessment of adolescents, focusing on adolescents with mental health concerns and the use of discourse sampling and analysis. Method: An online survey using a Knowledge, Attitude, Practice framework gathered data from 43 English-speaking SLPs. SLPs responded, using a five-point Likert scale, to closed statements regarding perceived knowledge, attitude, and practice in approaches to communication assessment. Survey items relating to discourse sampling and analysis were aggregated into subscales and six statements related to assessment of adolescents with mental health concerns. A final, open-ended question invited comments on changing clinical practice. Result: A strong positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice; with a weak, positive correlation between knowledge and attitude. Conclusion: SLPs are aware of the benefits of a comprehensive communication assessment. However, greater knowledge and experience is needed to incorporate more formalised approaches into clinical practice, especially as it relates to social and emotional outcomes. Participants’ comments suggest that professional learning communities may be helpful in delivering this outcome.
Reproductive injustice in action: The impact of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on Indigenous and minority women.
(2025-03-05) Hill M.; Houghton F.; Keogh Hoss M.
The United States of America (USA) is a country founded upon an unholy trinity of genocide, slavery and ethnic cleansing. The impacts of this assault remain blatantly clear and can be seen across the whole country. A crucial insight into the state of USA society is afforded via its significant health inequities. Systemic and structural racism are widespread there, as are engrained racist attitudes and ideologies. One field in which this is particularly evident is maternal mortality. The racial dimensions of this iniquity are blatant and unacceptable. However, to compound an ongoing tragedy, the recent Supreme Court decision to roll back on abortion protections represents an assault that will have a highly disproportionate impact on Indigenous and minority pregnant women.
A community-led approach to understanding how service providers can support ‘ageing well’ for older Aboriginal people in Australia.
(2025-01-07) Jamieson S.K.; Spencer W.; Robinson V.; McCausland R.; Andersen M.; Macniven R.; Hickey V.; MacGillivray
Supporting older people to age well is a global policy priority,however the development and implementation of strategies tosupport ageing well for older Aboriginal people must be determined by the communities affected. This is necessary in colonial contexts, where socio-political structures impinge on Aboriginal rights and mainstream policy and practice creates and maintains health and social inequities. This article reports on research conducted in partnership with the Dharriwaa Elders Group, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. The research focus was how service provision can support Aboriginal people to age well in a remote community in New South Wales, Australia. Interviews were conducted with 11 staff members from health, aged care, and Aboriginal Community Controlled services. The analysis produced four themes: Ageing well is collective and a shared responsibility; Racism and discrimination are pervasive in mainstream services; Intersectional barriers and enablers to ageing in place; Trust and cultural safety are integral to service accessibility. Our discussion explores the cultural and socio-political context of these findings and highlights implications for policy and practice.
Measuring resilience using Strong Souls in the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children: Evaluating psychometric properties using a Rasch measurement approach.
(2025-02-26) Gorman E.; Walker R.; Davis H.; Shepherd C.C.J.; Marriott R.
Purpose: Rigorously evaluated psychometric instruments are necessary to measure constructs relevant to wellbeing, such as resilience. The availability of high-quality instruments for use with Aboriginal young people in Australia is growing but remains limited. This study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC) to psychometrically evaluate the Resilience subscale from the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) instrument, Strong Souls, for a nationwide sample of Aboriginal adolescents, using alternative psychometric methods to previous research. Methods: Using a Rasch measurement approach, cross-sectional data from Wave 9 of LSIC were used to ascertain the psychometric properties of the Resilience subscale from Strong Souls. Using the responses from 516 Aboriginal young people (age 11.5 to 13 years) to the 12-item scale, Rasch techniques were applied to determine item independence, response category adequacy, differential item functioning (DIF), person and item reliability, item fit and unidimensionality. Two versions of the instrument were evaluated: the full 12-item version, as completed by participants, and an 8-item version, as recommended for use by previous research based on different psychometric methods. Main findings: Both versions of the instrument met several Rasch model requirements for reliable measurement, including demonstrations of unidimensionality (first off factor construct < 2), item independence (all items Q3∗ < 0.30), and item fit statistics within an acceptable range (0.60 < X < 1.40). However, both instrument versions displayed less adequate person separation (PSI) and reliability (PRI) statistics (12-item scale: PSI = 1.18, PRI = 0.58; 8-item scale: PSI = 0.71, PRI = 0.33). Principal conclusions: Using a Rasch measurement approach to psychometrically evaluate the Strong Souls Resilience subscale in a sample of Aboriginal young people from LSIC, this study provided novel evidence of the functioning of this popular instrument from an alternative psychometric perspective. With mixed results regarding meeting Rasch recommendations, these findings provide a strong evidence base for psychometric strengths as well as opportunities to improve the robustness of this instrument, and ultimately offer a tool that can more accurately inform services, policy and practice to effectively support resilience and wellbeing in Aboriginal young people.
Racism and ethnic discrimination among Indigenous Arctic populations: methods, data, definitions. A scoping review.
(2025-02-05) Poggats T.; Axelsson P.
Objectives: Racism and ethnic discrimination are global health issues, but the extent and effects on Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic region are still poorly understood. By investigating the methods, data sources, and definitions used in articles examining racism and ethnic discrimination among Indigenous peoples in the Arctic between 2008 and 2021 this review aims to create a solid foundation for future research. Design: We conducted a search across multiple databases, including PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Review. Our search criteria included: Indigenous groups, racism or ethnic discrimination, and Arctic regions. After removing off-topic articles, two researchers reviewed the remaining articles against predefined eligibility criteria. Results: The research field is expanding, but a significant portion of Arctic Indigenous peoples remains underrepresented. Predominant research methods include questionnaires, interviews, and case studies, often derived from large cross-sectional studies. Selfreported responses to questions about ethnic discrimination and racism are the primary research method, while some articles involve researchers subjectively evaluating data to determine what qualifies as racism or ethnic discrimination. Reaching a consensus on the definitions of ethnic discrimination and racism is challenging, with definitions ranging from negative, unfair, or differential treatment to broader, structural perspectives. Approximately half of the articles lack clear definitions. Conclusion: There is a notable difference in terminology, where racism as a term is more used in Canada/US while, ethnic discrimination is more predominant in the Nordic countries. Despite these differences, the scales used to measure racism or ethnic discrimination show significant similarities. A large part of the investigated articles emphasize interpersonal discrimination. An emerging perspective after 2016 views racism/ethnic discrimination as something that produces inequalities between racial or ethnic groups and upholds or creates systems of privilege and oppression. Research consistently highlights the importance of considering local contexts of racism, ethnic discrimination and oppression.
Racism and cultural safety for Indigenous general practice trainees: An exploratory study of how to support training, careers and professional wellbeing
(2025-02-14) Milroy T.; Frayne J.
Purpose Racism as a social determinant of health has known impacts on the physical and mental health of Indigenous peoples, which extends to Indigenous doctors in training and is a barrier to the growth of the Indigenous health workforce in Australia. This study aimed to explore racism and cultural safety within the professional experiences of Australian Indigenous general practice (GP) trainees, to elucidate barriers and facilitators to their training, careers and professional wellbeing. Methods A sequential exploratory mixed methods study was conducted in 2020 and 2021 through an initial quantitative online administered questionnaire followed by qualitative semi-structured interviews with Indigenous GP registrars, from either metropolitan or rural areas, undertaking GP training in Australia. The main outcome measures included online responses to the Measure of Indigenous Racism Experiences (MIRE) questionnaire, which measures several dimensions of racism, and data from thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews undertaken following the online questionnaire. Main findings The MIRE questionnaire responses revealed experiences of racism across multiple levels. These findings were integrated and expanded with the central themes drawn from the interviews. Themes focused on GP training and training environments and operated across interactions with peers, supervisors and patients. The identified themes were i) cultural identity, with the subthemes of professional wellbeing and professional goals and identity; ii) training challenges, including racism and career development; and iii) training facilitators, including specific support and mentorship. Principal conclusions Australian Indigenous GP trainees value their cultural identity in relation to their professional goals and wellbeing. However, challenges for trainees centre around the lack of cultural safety and presence of racism, which is pervasive across their professional life. Strategies to address this could include further provision of specific support, specific culturally safe training placements, networking and mentorship.
Determining health professional students' self-perceived cultural capability following participation in clinical placement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: a systematic review.
(2024-12-20) Paisley K.; Sadler S.; West Wiradjuri M.; Gerrard J.; Wilson Wiradjuri R.; Searle A.; Chuter V.
Background: Collective evaluation of studies assessing students' self-perceived cultural capability following clinical placement is required to help inform future cultural capability training for both university and healthcare service environments. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to evaluate studies investigating health professional students' self-perceived cultural capability following participation in a clinical placement with First Nations Peoples. Methods: Electronic database searchers were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, PsychINFO, Pubmed, CINAHL and Informit. Hand Searches of grey literature were conducted including Lowitja institute, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, Menzies School of Health Research, Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Studies published in English that investigated health professional students' self-perceived cultural capability before and after clinical placement undertaken with First Nations people in Australia were eligible for inclusion. Two authors independently screened potentially eligible studies and performed quality appraisal and data extraction. Results: A total of 14 studies were included (n = 307 participants). Studies included undergraduate students from podiatry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and mixed health professions. The results of this systematic review suggest that clinical placements in health services or settings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples that involve elements of co-design are effective in increasing aspects of health professional students' self-perceived cultural capability. This outcome was consistent across studies regardless of the location of clinical placements (urban or rural), type of clinical placement (health setting or Community), or length of placement. Conclusions: The findings from this systematic review suggest that clinical placement in health services or settings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples may contribute to increased self-perceived cultural capability in health professions graduates. However, the impact of the placements on the cultural safety of student-led care, from a First Nations perspective, remains to be established.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Foot and Ankle Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Podiatry Association and The Royal College of Podiatry.
Young Aboriginal people in Australia who have never used marijuana in the 'next generation youth well-being study': a strengths-based approach.
(2021-10-18) Graham S.; Heris C.L.; Gubhaju L.; Eades F.; Williams R.; Davis K.; Whitby J.; Hunt K.; Chimote N.; Eades S.J.
Background: Being young is a period of experimentation which can lead to increased vulnerability to poor health choices and outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people have a long and strong history of resilience; however, a deficit approach is often taken with messages of poor health and low socioeconomic status. This study takes a strengths-based approach and examines the demographic factors and behaviours associated with never using marijuana among young Aboriginal people in Australia. Method(s): Overall, 521 Aboriginal people aged 16-24 years from Western Australia, Central Australia and New South Wales participated in the Next Generation: Youth Wellbeing Study. The baseline survey examined demographics, health-related behaviours and clinical indicators of young Aboriginal people. We calculated the number and proportion of young Aboriginal people who never used marijuana by demographics and behavioural factors. Logistic regression was used to assess the demographic and behavioural factors associated with never using marijuana. Result(s): Of the 521 participants, 458 (87.9%) answered the question about marijuana use of which 220 had incomplete demographic or behavioural questions, leaving a final cohort of 301 participants. A total of 174 (57.8%) had never used marijuana. A higher proportion of young Aboriginal people who never used marijuana were younger (16-19 years old), female, queer, single, lived in Central Australia, were students, had never smoked tobacco, had never drank alcohol, never had anxiety and never had depression. Never using marijuana was independently associated with being a parent or carer of a child (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.80, 95% CI: 1.03-7.59, p = 0.043), never smoking tobacco (AOR: 29.73, 95 CI: 13.32-66.37, p < 0.001), never drinking alcohol (AOR: 2.78, 95 CI: 1.12-6.93, p = 0.028), not having anxiety (AOR: 3.49, 95 CI: 1.19-10.23, p = 0.022), and having lower levels of distress (AOR: 2.63, 95 CI: 1.20-5.77, p = 0.016). Conclusion(s): Our study shows that more than half of young Aboriginal people did not use marijuana, smoke, or drink alcohol and that those who had not used marijuana had lower levels of distress.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
Yolnu with Machado-Joseph disease: exploring communication strengths and needs.
(2021-09-20) Amery R.; Wunungmurra J.G.; Gondarra J.; Gumbula F.; Raghavendra P.; Barker R.; Theodoros D.; Amery H.; Massey L.; Lowell A.; Yolnu
Purpose: Yolnu are Aboriginal Australians from northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory (NT). Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) prevalence in the NT Aboriginal population is the highest in the world. Yolnu living with progressive dysarthria associated with MJD could benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). However, there are no aided AAC systems in Yolnu languages. This research aimed to explore the views of Yolnu with MJD about communication, speech-language pathology (SLP) services and AAC. Method(s): A collaborative, culturally responsive research design was informed by Indigenist Research methodology and Constructivist Grounded Theory. Yolnu with MJD (n=10) and their interested family members (n=4) participated in interviews and created visual representations of their social networks. Data were analysed through an oral interpretive process with Yolnu researchers. Result(s): A Yolnu metaphor, Gondhu "Building understanding by hand", emerged as a culturally meaningful way to represent the core understandings required for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to work effectively with Yolnu with MJD. Elements of this metaphor include seeking to understand the complex lived experiences of Yolnu with MJD, and working with families to explore the potential benefits of SLP services and AAC. Conclusion(s): Yolnu with MJD and their families want to work collaboratively with SLPs to develop bilingual AAC systems and culturally responsive SLP services that build on strengths of Yolnu culture and kinship to improve communication opportunities and participation.
Violence risk assessment in Australian Aboriginal offender populations: a review of the literature.
Shepherd S.M.; Adams Y.; McEntyre E.; Walker R.
The utilization of violence risk instruments in forensic populations is increasing and a plethora of empirical investigations support their ability to predict recidivistic outcomes. However, the generalizability of these findings to culturally diverse populations is problematic given dissimilarities in cultural traditions, norms, and experiences. The present study explored this subject in relation to Aboriginal Australians. First, a concert of violence risk markers that are more prevalent among Aboriginal Australian offenders compared with non-Aboriginal offenders were examined in light of their social and historical context. Next, studies employing violence risk instruments on cohorts of Aboriginal Australian offenders were reviewed. Findings demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy for violence and commensurate utility with non-Aboriginal offenders although results should be treated with caution due to the paucity of available studies for consideration. Implications for clinical practice and culturally appropriate assessment models are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Weaving wayapa and cognitive behaviour therapy: applying research topic yarning to explore a cultural interface between western and Indigenous psychology practice in Australia.
O'Shea M.; Klas A.; Hardy T.; Stone J.; Frangos T.; Jacobs T.; Mitchell F.; Charles J.; Jones S.; Thomas J.; Ryan K.
Background: Indigenous Psychology within Australia reflects the traditional knowledges of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their understanding of the cultivation of relational social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). However, these perspectives are poorly incorporated into dominant "Western" psychological theories and practice, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). This represents a barrier to the cultural safety of current mental health practice and its decolonisation within Australia. Objectives: This study brought together CBT Practitioners and Practitioners of an Aboriginal Wellbeing practice ("Wayapa") to engage in a series of yarns (guided focus groups) to share perspectives, insights, and stories on their own and each other's practices. Method: Indigenous qualitative research approaches including Research Topic Yarning were engaged to decolonise the research environment and support dialogue at the cultural interface of the two practices. Results: Through experiencing Wayapa, CBT practitioners reflected on gaps in their own practice, with an enthusiasm for the opportunities that Wayapa provided to decolonise their practice. Wayapa practitioners were able to celebrate the holistic nature of their practice and the possibility for it to inform dominant "Western" psychological theories and practice, such as CBT, and encourage a more connected and culturally safe way of working with First Nations peoples. Conclusions: Creating safe cultural interfaces between "Western" and Indigenous Psychologies, and building awareness of the value of Aboriginal grounded wellbeing models, can help to promote and expand culturally safe practices within Australian psychological practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Using the perceive, recall, plan and perform assessment of cognitive strategy use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: initial exploration of clinical utility.
Smith R.L.; Ranka J.; Nott M.
Introduction: Culturally safe and meaningful cognitive assessment methods for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are scarce. Concerns are raised regarding the efficacy of existing methods in cross-cultural contexts. The Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform (PRPP) Assessment offers a person-centred alternative whereby cognitive strategy application is examined during performance of culturally relevant everyday tasks. This paper explores its use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Methods: A critical case study design was applied to examine the effectiveness and relevance of the PRPP Assessment with two Aboriginal Australian people in the Northern Territory of Australia. 'Ivan' and 'Jean' were each receiving occupational therapy through a rehabilitation service over a 6-month period following acquired brain injuries. Ivan and Jean were assessed performing everyday tasks of interest and importance to them as part of routine care. A partnership approach was adopted throughout the process, and both consented to their stories being told. Results: The PRPP Assessment was able to measure changes in Ivan's and Jean's cognitive strategy use and its impact on performance of meaningful tasks. Ivan demonstrated a 46% increase in performance mastery and a 29% increase in cognitive strategy use with most improvements identified in his ability to sense information, initiate action, and continue performance. Jean demonstrated a 71% increase in performance mastery and a 32% increase in cognitive strategy use. Her greatest improvements were in the ability to recall schemes, self-evaluate, and initiate action. Conclusion: The two critical case stories shared in this study suggest that the PRPP Assessment has emerging evidence of clinical utility when used with Aboriginal people with acquired brain impairment. The information gained revealed strengths in performance; it was effective in measuring change in cognitive strategy use, was able to inform the goal setting process, and guided intervention to support cognitive strategy use during task performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

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