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Aims: This paper describes the investments made, approaches taken and lessons learnt by three rural Australian academic health departments engaged in the delivery of the Health Career Academy Program (HCAP). The program seeks to address the under‐representation of rural, remote and Aboriginal populations within Australia's health workforce. Context: Significant resources are directed towards rural practice exposure for metropolitan health students to address workforce shortages. Fewer resources are directed towards health career strategies that focus on the earlier engagement of rural, remote and Aboriginal secondary school students, those in Years 7–10. Best practice career development principles highlight the importance of earlier engagement in the promotion of health career aspirations and in influencing secondary school student career intentions and uptake of health professions. Approach: This paper describes: delivery contexts; the theory and evidence that has informed the HCAP; program design, adaptability and scalability; program focus on priming the rural health career pipeline; program alignment to best practice career development principles; enablers and barriers confronted in program delivery, and lessons learnt to inform rural health workforce policy and resourcing. Conclusion: There is a need to invest in programs that seek to attract rural, remote and Aboriginal secondary school students to health professions if Australia is to develop a sustainable rural health workforce. A failure to invest earlier undermines opportunities to engage diverse and aspiring youth in Australia's health workforce. Program contributions, approaches and lessons learnt can inform the work of other agencies seeking to include these populations in health career initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, Aboriginal children are significantly over‐represented in the out‐of‐home‐care system. Drawing on Aboriginal trauma scholarship and decolonizing methodologies, this paper situates the contemporary state removal of Aboriginal children against the backdrop of historical policies that actively sought to disrupt Aboriginal kinship and communities. The paper draws on submissions to the 2018 Australian Senate Parliamentary Inquiry into Adoption Reform from Aboriginal community controlled organizations and highlights four common themes evident throughout these submissions: (i) the role of intergenerational trauma in high rates of Aboriginal child removal; (ii) the place of children within Aboriginal culture, kinship and identity; (iii) the centrality of the principles of self‐determination and autonomy for Aboriginal communities and (iv) Aboriginal community controlled alternatives to child removal. Acknowledging the failure of both federal and state reforms to address the issues raised in these submissions, the paper reflects on the marginalization of Aboriginal voices and solutions within contemporary efforts to address the multiple crises of the child protection system and the implications for the future of Aboriginal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several initiatives have sought to increase the number of First Nations individuals with a higher degree in research (i.e., PhD or research masters)—in Australia and in similarly colonised countries. However, little has been written on day‐to‐day support structures and mechanisms that might help First Nations Australian candidates thrive in postgraduate research degrees and beyond. For sensitive research fields such as alcohol, emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers must grapple with topics which are stigmatising and in some instances associated with traumatic associations. There is also a lack of studies internationally that describe optimal support for First Nations students undertaking a higher degree by research with a primary focus on alcohol. Here we discuss what we have learned from the support offered through the Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Health and Alcohol—from the perspective of academic staff, students, trainees and early career researchers. We consider what may be generalisable lessons from this experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper emerged from discussions between the authors about our shared and different perspectives of climate change and its impact on the social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of Aboriginal Peoples and mental health services in a rural region, heavily impacted in recent years by bushfires and floods. Here we discuss, from the lead authors personal perspective as a Gamilaraay Woman, the experience of Solastalgia as a critical impact of climate change on wellbeing. Specifically, we discuss the relationship of a connection to country from a Gamilaraay, first person perspective through a series of diary entries from the lead author. Authors are researchers from different cultural backgrounds, connected through a medical research futures fund research project, to promote resilience within Aboriginal communities and the health services sector in the New England, North West region. The lead author has cultural connections to some of the communities we work with and our work is informed by these connections. While this paper was written to express an Aboriginal perspective on climate change and wellbeing, it reflects our shared perspectives of how disasters such as bushfires impact the wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples. We also explore the connection between the impact of localised, recurring natural disasters and the increasing demands on mental health services in regional and rural areas and discuss what this means with Aboriginal and non‐Indigenous mental health nurses and researchers working in regional and rural areas where access to mental health services often poses considerable challenges. From our perspective, mental health research and nursing play an important role in walking alongside Aboriginal Peoples as we explore, respond and create resilience to the ever‐present influence that climate change is having on our lives, communities, country and workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Findings and Discussion Conclusion So What Strengths‐based approaches to health care are often seen as an alternative to deficit‐based approaches and are common in Aboriginal health settings. Despite this, there is little existing research that describes Aboriginal peoples' perspectives about the strengths of their communities. This paper describes cultural strengths and resources as understood by Aboriginal people living in western Sydney.In‐depth interviews were used to collect qualitative data from two communities on Dharug and Dharrawal Country in western Sydney Australia. Data come from a larger study, which focused on how cultural strengths supported sexual well‐being. Fifty‐two interviews were conducted with Aboriginal young people (aged 16–24 years) by trained peer interviewers. Additionally, 16 interviews with Aboriginal adults (25 years and older) were conducted by members of the research team.While opinions varied, four key areas of cultural strength were identified: (1) strong kinship relationships; (2) knowledge sharing; (3) shared experiences, identities, and values; and (4) knowing Country. Throughout these four themes, the sense of connection and belonging is viewed as an important overarching theme.Communities are not homogenous with regard to what they view as cultural strengths. Knowing Country and practising culture meant different things to different individuals while providing a similar sense of belonging, connection, and identity.Health service providers, policies, and programs can use this information to understand the continuing impacts of past policies and events whilst recognising that each community has strengths that can be drawn upon to improve service engagement, knowledge sharing, and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cape York Welfare Reform (CYWR) initiative aims to reduce 'passive dependence' on welfare and restore 'positive social norms' to revitalise cultural and social networks and support economic engagement in Indigenous communities in the Cape York Region of Australia. Critics of the initiative and, in particular, its income management (IM) policies have associated it with a broader neoliberal reform agenda that delineates social 'problems' from their historical and structural context. This paper discusses key qualitative findings from a strategic review of CYWR, paying particular attention to the ways in which Cape York IM (CYIM) straddles both Indigenous and settler social norms, while perpetuating neoliberal conceptualisations of welfare 'dependency'. We situate these findings within the existing literature on Australia's other IM models and also consider them in relation to subsequent government responses to the review and associated policies. We argue that CYIM represents a unique initiative, the subtle nuances of which have been largely ignored or misunderstood by critics. Further, we conclude that any extension or revision of this initiative should be considered with respect to deep and wide‐ranging consultation of the Indigenous communities subject to CYWR. However, such consultation has not been the standard practice in Australian contexts. The paper presents the qualitative findings of a Federal Government review of Cape York Income Management (CYIM). We argue that although CYIM shares a common ideological foundation with Australia's other IM policies, it is also distinct from these alternative forms of IM, particularly in terms of its evolution, high‐level of targeting, and delivery mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To systematically review the literature to investigate the role of the hospital pharmacist and the services provided for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed following a search from inception to present of MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), EMBASE, Scopus and Pubmed, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. All forms of published literature were included. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and hospital pharmacists/pharmacy department services in Australia were the populations included. Results: 1592 studies were identified. After removal of duplicates and application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 papers underwent full text review, with 7 papers included in the final review. No high‐level evidence articles were found. Joanna Briggs Institute Levels of Evidence for meaningfulness were low. Settings were varied and included rural, remote and urban sites. Five articles were allocated a Donabedian Model level where the structure was described. Two papers described structure and process. None described outcomes. Hospital pharmacy services included development of models for patient care, partnerships and resource sharing in rural and remote areas and ensuring continuity of care. Conclusion: Systematic review of the literature to determine the role of hospital pharmacy services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people produced limited publications for review. From these, roles identified included: development of models for patient care, partnerships and resource sharing in rural and remote areas and ensuring continuity of care. Future research and publication of work by hospital pharmacists nurturing and developing relationships in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective To examine the association between residential remoteness and stage of cancer at diagnosis, treatment uptake, and survival within the Australian Indigenous population. Design Systematic review and matched retrospective cohort study. Setting Australia. Participants Systematic review: published papers that included a comparison of cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment uptake, mortality and/or survival for Indigenous people across remoteness categories were identified (n = 181). Fifteen papers (13 studies) were included in the review. Original analyses: new analyses were conducted using data from the Queensland Indigenous Cancer Study (QICS) comparing cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment uptake, and survival for Indigenous cancer patients living in rural/remote areas (n = 627, 66%) and urban areas (n = 329, 34%). Main Outcome Measures Systematic review: Papers were included if there were related to stage of disease at diagnosis, treatment, mortality and survival of cancer. Restrictions were not placed on the outcome measures reported (e.g. standardised mortality ratios versus crude mortality rates). Original analyses: Odds ratios (OR, 95%CI) were used to compare stage of disease and treatment uptake between the two remoteness groups. Treatment uptake (treated/not treated) was analysed using logistic regression analysis. Survival was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression. The final multivariate models included stage of cancer at diagnosis and area-level socioeconomic status (SEIFA). Results Existing evidence of variation in cancer outcomes for Indigenous people in remote compared with metropolitan areas is limited. While no previous studies have reported on differences in cancer stage and treatment uptake by remoteness within the Indigenous population, the available evidence suggests Indigenous cancer patients are less likely to survive their cancer the further they live from urban centres. New analysis of QICS data indicates that Indigenous cancer patients in rural/remote Queensland were less likely to be diagnosed with localised disease and less likely to receive treatment for their cancer compared to their urban counterparts. Conclusion More research is needed to fully understand geographic differentials in cancer outcomes within the Indigenous population. Knowing how geographical location interacts with Indigenous status can help to identify ways of improving cancer outcomes for Indigenous Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Australian Indigenous people conceptualise health broadly as situated within a social and emotional well‐being (SEWB) framework. A consultation process with an Aboriginal community revealed that the fundamental principles of the population wide, community‐based Act‐Belong‐Commit mental health promotion Campaign were consistent with Aboriginal people's understanding of SEWB and that a cultural adaptation of the Campaign would be welcomed in the community. The purpose of this paper is to present key stakeholders' feedback on the Campaign adaptation. Methodology: Two years after implementation of the Campaign, individual in‐depth interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of n = 18 Indigenous and non‐Indigenous stakeholders to identify ongoing issues in the community and assess their reactions to the Campaign implementation and perceptions of the effects of the Campaign on the community. Results: The two primary factors influencing stakeholder acceptance of the Campaign in the community were (i) the nature of the consultation process that clearly acknowledged that it was for the community to decide whether or not to adopt the Campaign and (ii) the ability of the Aboriginal Project Manager to gain the trust of the community, bring stakeholders together and illustrate the Act‐Belong‐Commit principles in her actions in the community. Stakeholders reported observing social and emotional well‐being benefits for individuals, their families and the whole community. Conclusion: Overall, the results suggest that the Act‐Belong‐Commit mental health promotion Campaign can be successfully culturally adapted as a community‐based, social and emotional well‐being Campaign in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities. So What?: The Act‐Belong‐Commit cultural adaptation in Roebourne provides an evidence‐based best practice model for the development of culturally appropriate mental health promotion campaigns in Indigenous communities around Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims To review the results of five research projects commissioned to enhance alcohol treatment among Aboriginal Australians, and to highlight arising from them. Design and Methods Drafts of the papers were workshopped by project representatives, final papers reviewed and results summarised. Lessons arising were identified and described. Results While the impact of the projects varied, they highlight the feasibility of adapting mainstream interventions in Aboriginal Australian contexts. Outcomes include greater potential to: screen for those at risk; increase community awareness; build capacity and partnerships between organisations; and co-ordinate comprehensive referral networks and service provision. Discussion Results show a small investment can produce sustainable change and positive outcomes. However, to optimise and maintain investment, cultural difference needs to be recognised in both planning and delivery of alcohol interventions; resources and funding must be responsive to and realistic about the capacities of organisations; partnerships need to be formed voluntarily based on respect, equality and trust; and practices and procedures within organisations need to be formalised. Conclusions There is no simple way to reduce alcohol-related harm in Aboriginal communities. However, the papers reviewed show that with Aboriginal control, modest investment and respectful collaboration, service enhancements and improved outcomes can be achieved. Mainstream interventions need to be adapted to Aboriginal settings, not simply transferred. The lessons outlined provide important reflections for future research. [Gray D, Wilson M, Allsop S, Saggers S, Wilkes E, Ober C. Barriers and enablers to the provision of alcohol treatment among Aboriginal Australians: A thematic review of five research projects. Drug Alcohol Rev 2014;33:482-490] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Measuring self‐reported alcohol use is challenging in any population, including when episodic drinking may be common. Drinking among Indigenous Australians has been shown to vary greatly within and between communities. However, most survey methods assume 'regular' patterns of drinking. National estimates have also been shown to underestimate alcohol use among this group. This paper describes drinking patterns in two representative community samples (urban and remote). Methods: Indigenous Australians (aged 16+ years) in two South Australian sites were recruited to complete the Grog Survey App. The App is a validated, interactive tablet‐based survey tool, designed to help Indigenous Australians describe their drinking. Drinking patterns were described using medians and interquartile ranges; gender and remoteness were compared using Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests. Spearman correlations explored the relationship between drinking patterns and age. Logistic regressions tested if beverage or container preference differed by remoteness or gender. Results: Three‐quarters of participants (77.0%, n = 597/775) were current drinkers. Median standard drinks per occasion was 7.8 (78 g), 1.3 drinking occasions per month (median). Three‐quarters of current drinkers (73.7%) reported a period without drinking (median: 60 days). Remote drinkers were more likely to drink beer. Improvised containers were used by 40.5% of drinkers. Discussion and Conclusions: Episodic drinking with extended 'dry' periods and from non‐standard drinking containers was common in this representative sample of Indigenous Australians. The diversity of container use and beverage preference, by gender and remoteness, illustrates nuances in drinking patterns between communities. It shows the importance of community‐level data to inform local strategies addressing alcohol misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reflects on the politics of recognition, past and present, and the power of politics to determine outcomes for Indigenous people. Significant milestones in nationwide recognition of Aboriginal people include the 1967 referendum and the 2008 apology to the “Stolen Generations” of Aboriginal people by then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. The author conveys the significance of these events in creating a spirit of hope and of making visible a people whose lack of recognition had made them invisible. The author argues that recognition must be based on truth, healing and justice and must be supported by meaningful recognition and involvement of Indigenous people in the creation of public policy that affects them directly. Ultimately concluding that constitutional recognition must send the message to Indigenous Australians that they are a valued, unique part of Australian society and acknowledge the Australian people want to deal with the division and discord of the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper is based upon the images and thinking of two central Australian men, Andrew Spencer Japaljarri and Rod Moss, both embedded in the arduous and localized circumstances of pragmatic intercultural recognition. Their paintings are philosophical meditations on the state of relations in this part of the country. The author emphasizes that authentic constitutional recognition depends upon authentic interpersonal relationships. This is hard to achieve and hard to sustain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Aboriginal people experience a higher burden of disease as a consequence of drug and alcohol (D&A) abuse. Although media campaigns can be a popular tool for disseminating health promotion messages, evidence of the extent to which they reduce the impact of substance abuse is limited, especially for rural Aboriginal communities. This paper is the first to examine the impact a locally designed D&A radio advertising campaign for Aboriginal people in a remote community in Western NSW. Design A post-intervention evaluation. Setting The radio campaign was implemented in Bourke, (population 2465, 30% Aboriginal). Participants Fifty-three community surveys were completed. Main outcome measure(s) The self-reported level of awareness of the campaign and the number of self-referrals to local D&A workers in the intervention period. Results Most respondents (79%) reported they listen to radio on a daily basis, with 75% reporting that they had heard one or more of the advertisements. The advertisement that was remembered best contained the voice of a respected, local person. There was one self-referral to local health services during the intervention timeframe. Conclusion The community-led radio advertising campaign increased community awareness of substance abuse harms, but had limited impact on formal help-seeking. This paper highlights the value of radio as a commonly used, trusted and culturally relevant health promotion medium for rural communities, especially when engaging local respected Aboriginal presenters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are vastly over‐represented in Australian prisons. Many people in prison attribute in some way their offences to alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) use. This paper aims to understand AOD use before first and between terms in prison, among a group of Aboriginal men enrolled in a prison‐based AOD treatment program. It examines opportunities for prevention or treatment that might interrupt the cycle of alcohol consumption, offending and imprisonment. Methods: A thematic analysis of in‐depth interviews with 14 Aboriginal men in an urban prison. Results: Participants had low levels of formal education, none having completed high school and had spent limited or no time in the workforce. All 14 spoke of being negatively affected by AOD use within their families. First alcohol and cannabis use were around age 12–14 years, first amphetamines and/or heroin use was around age 15. As adults, they had unstable accommodation and when released from prison returned to the same situation they had been in previously. Most believed they would not have offended and subsequently imprisoned if they did not have a substance use disorder. Discussion and Conclusion: Without further support post‐prison, the men in this study are likely to return to the same situation and continue their AOD use. Further efforts are needed to support families with substance use disorders and to give young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people better education and training opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White ignorance has a critical impact on race relations and is implicated in the maintenance of Aboriginal disadvantage. Addressing this ignorance is a largely overlooked capacity‐building opportunity within Australia's non‐Aboriginal population. It warrants consideration as a key component of strategies targeting Aboriginal disadvantage. Despite the established links between race relations and Aboriginal well‐being, Aboriginal perspectives on non‐Aboriginal people rarely feature in public discourse on "Aboriginal problems." This paper draws on data from 180 in‐depth interviews with 44 Aboriginal people in Darwin on the topic of White Australian people, culture and race relations. It reports Aboriginal perceptions of White Australian ignorance across areas of great symbolic and practical significance to Aboriginal people's lives. Their experience is that most White Australians are ignorant of the history of colonisation and the complexities of its aftermath. They are ignorant of Aboriginal law, cultures and languages, and of the extent of their own ignorance. The call to address White ignorance subverts assumptions about whose ignorance and capacity must be dealt with in order to progress national goals of reconciliation, address Aboriginal disadvantage and achieve justice and equality for Aboriginal people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of evidence of effective and appropriate drug and alcohol treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This paper contributes to addressing the evidence gap by examining the feasibility and acceptability and conducting a pre/post‐evaluation of the Aboriginal‐adapted Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) delivered in New South Wales, Australia. Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal clients (n = 55) received tailored CRA delivery between March and November 2013. Compared to the original US version, tailored CRA had reduced technical language, reduced number of treatment sessions, and the addition of group delivery option. An Australian training manual with local case studies was developed. Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Test (ASSIST), Kessler‐5 (K‐5) and the Growth Empowerment Measure were used. 58% of participants were followed‐up at 3 months. Tailored CRA was feasible to deliver in a rural, community‐based health setting, and rated by clients as highly effective and acceptable. CRA was associated with statistically significant reductions in the use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, amphetamine and over the counter medication, and levels of psychological distress, and an increase in levels of empowerment for Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal clients. This study provides evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of an Aboriginal‐adapted psychological intervention addressing drug, alcohol and mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are more likely to experience mental health issues or end their life by suicide than non‐Aboriginal youth, but are less likely to access mental health services for support. Systemic change is required if mainstream youth mental health services are to be relevant and culturally secure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Methods: Building Bridges (2017‐2019) is a three‐year participatory action research project being conducted in partnership with the Nyoongar community and three mainstream youth mental health services in Perth, Western Australia. The project involves Nyoongar Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people working directly with senior management and key staff of youth mental health services to co‐design, implement and evaluate a framework for systems change. The aim of the project is to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people's engagement with services and improve mental health outcomes for young people and their families. Results: This paper outlines the engagement process that underpinned the first phase of the project. Our research methods are premised by an investment in establishing safe spaces for the Elders, young people and service staff to engage in open, honest dialogue. We present two key activities that illustrate this process of building trust and deepening understanding, namely: spending time "On Country" and engaging in a "storying" process. Conclusions: Building Bridges demonstrates the centrality of trusting relationships for systemic change and the way in which meaningful engagement is at the core of both the process and the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers themes of species maintenance and place engagement in Yanyuwa country, northern Australia. It traces the complexity of interpretations and relational contexts involved in places that are commonly – and we argue – misleadingly, referred to as increase and magic sites. Examining one specific place, at which people carry out maintenance rituals, we explore the complex bonds that unite Yanyuwa with the geography that is the Ancestral Hill Kangaroo. Not content with the classificatory habit of declaring actions either increase oriented or hunting magic, this research more fully explicates the relational substance of places that play a key role in ecological health. This is achieved by asking how might the profundity of a place of relational importance, such as a maintenance site, be better understood and written of in ways that convey an Indigenous ontology and epistemology? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a longitudinal analysis of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imagery use in the annual reports (ARs) of the Australia Council for the Arts (ACA). Content analysis based on imagery, textual narrative and para‐text analyses of ARs over 43 years (1973–2015) reveals that the nature and extent of Aboriginal images in ACA's ARs systematically varies with the broader contemporary socio‐political and economic developments. Our findings provide insights on an institutional response to the portrayal and shaping of the identity of a key stakeholder group, i.e. Aboriginal artists, which are associated with gaining and maintaining organisational legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of stone artefact raw material distribution from point sources to archaeological sites has been important in understanding patterns of long-term human interaction. Proximity to raw material sources has been emphasised in many studies, particularly the distance over which items travel and the nature of the social interactions reflected in such patterns. Tasmania provides an example where the ethnohistorical documents have played an important role in characterising Aboriginal society and tribal relationships. Although glimpses of societal structure and interaction have been gained through the works of Brian Plomley, Rhys Jones and Lyndall Ryan, the archaeology of such organisation has been elusive. The aim of this paper is to discuss the evidence for raw material movement as a proxy for the patterns of past interaction between Tasmanian Aboriginal people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review summarizes important literature in the emerging field of intellectual disability ( ID) in indigenous Australians. Search of various electronic databases revealed 19 papers that provide information regarding prevalence, sociodemographic factors, and issues in assessment and management. Overall, there is limited information regarding ID in indigenous Australians, which is reported to be more prevalent compared with nonindigenous Australians. Sociocultural constructs affect what is considered to be ID in indigenous communities and this may be at odds with western notions. Other difficulties include lack of validated psychometric instruments to effectively measure cognitive functioning in indigenous Australians. Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors are significant factors that impair brain development and contribute to ID in indigenous communities. Comorbid physical and psychiatric disorders need to be assessed and managed. This paper provides an overview of current knowledge regarding this important area that requires further research, appropriate training, and resourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes family therapy for behavioural problems in a parenting support agency. It discusses the literature on the effectiveness of family therapy with child behaviour problems within a community support environment. The paper presents a detailed family case study, which is discussed from an integrative family therapy framework. Narrative therapy is used as an overarching framework for integrating systemic therapy and parenting skills to help a family with a mixed cultural Aboriginal and Australian background. This allows sessions that are meaningful for the family and encourages a connection to their own resources and to their community, besides creating a safe space for a dialogue that hears and values all voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Who writes about Aboriginal people, and what effect that has upon Aboriginal people and the national narrative about Aboriginal people are explored in this paper, which is comprised of key excerpts from an award‐winning longer essay I have written. While we are all collectively the inheritors and generators of the country's psyche and national narrative, the absence of recognition has effectively silenced Aboriginal people from contributing their own story to this narrative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper discusses recognition from the legal and political perspective, particularly in relation to a referendum on amending Australia's constitution to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It reflects on the significant changes in thinking from the time when Europeans had arrived in Australia, declared the land “terra nullius” and the constitution was written based on this premise. Since 1901, only eight of 44 changes that were put to Australians via referendum have been successful. The difficulty faced by the “Recognize” campaign is discussed in this light, as well as the need for strong, bi‐partisan political leadership and a groundswell of community support in order to deliver a positive outcome for a referendum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alice Springs can be described as a “contact zone”, where power relations are highly asymmetrical but at the same time there are spaces for alternative possibilities. This paper looks first at examples of Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal people striving to be in community with one another, a community situated in the space between us, where we must go to meet and endeavor to recognize one another. It also looks at examples of Aboriginal people seeking to be seen and heard in court, demanding recognition, and the way this has played out in the context of serious criminal trials and community reaction to them. In our contact zone in the foreseeable future the push and pull between oppressive, damaging forces and transformative ones will continue. Bringing to the fore the latter, recognizing them, will surely help shift the balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper explores the experience of dietitians participating in a Community of Practice designed to support their work with Aboriginal communities. Methods: The Community of Practice for dietitians working with Aboriginal communities ran for 12 months, starting in May 2014. Six-weekly mentoring sessions were held using Skype, with conversation aided by a facilitator. Indepth, semi-structured interviews were held with all participants at the conclusion of the Community of Practice. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Thirteen dietitians participated in the Community of Practice and an in-depth, semi-structured interview. Four key themes were identified: (i) Aboriginal health practice requires a different way of 'knowing', 'being' and 'working'; (ii) Community of Practice is a safe place to discuss, debrief and explore ideas that are not safe elsewhere; (iii) participation in Community of Practice contributed to workforce retention in the Aboriginal health sector; and (iv) participation in Community of Practice contributed to dietitians changing their practice and feeling confident to do so. Conclusions: By increasing confidence and opportunities for safe discussion, Community of Practice appears to be a useful model of Continuing Professional Development to support dietitians working in Aboriginal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this review was to identify and critique over forty years of peer-reviewed literature concerned with the transmission of canine zoonoses to Aboriginal people and determine the zoonotic organisms documented in dogs in Australian Aboriginal communities. A systematic literature search of public health, medical and veterinary databases identified 19 articles suitable for critical appraisal. Thirteen articles documented the occurrence of recognized zoonotic organisms in dogs in Aboriginal communities, including Toxocara canis, Dirofilaria immitis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Rickettsia felis, Sarcoptes scabiei and Giardia. Currently, there is definitive evidence indicating that dogs act as a reservoir for human scabies in Aboriginal communities. However, there is a need for large-scale, high-quality, comparative studies of dogs and humans from the same household to assess the occurrence and importance of transmission of S. scabiei and other diseases between dogs and humans. These studies should use current genetic and molecular techniques along with traditional techniques to identify and type organisms in order to better understand their epidemiology. This review has revealed that there is a lack of high-quality comparative studies to determine whether dogs are contributing to human disease by transmitting zoonoses. Our recommendations differ significantly from current public health policy and may have substantial implications for human and dog health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper reports on findings related to intersectoral collaboration stemming from an evaluation of a dementia awareness resource for use in remote Aboriginal communities*. The resource includes a DVD in English and three (3) Aboriginal languages of the Northern Territory. Design: A qualitative evaluation was conducted in four Northern Territory Aboriginal communities/organisations where the resource had been implemented by external dementia educators. The method included five focus groups with Indigenous aged care workers, community members and aged care service users ( n = 26), individual interviews with health care professionals and service coordinators ( n = 5), and observation. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Specific findings relating to intersectoral collaboration as a key enabling factor of effective dementia awareness and care are discussed in this paper. In addition to context variables such as understaffing and under-resourcing, there might be a lack of knowledge or interest on the part of some health practitioners concerning clients with dementia within remote communities. Conclusion: Dementia awareness in remote communities needs to be tackled from a 'whole system' perspective and not be the exclusive domain of the aged care services. Strategies that increase the critical mass of informed caregivers as well as health professionals will contribute to better services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The paper describes how a variety of different epidemiological study designs can be applied to data arising from a single prospective study. Methods: An overview of the data collection phases of the Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study is given. We illustrate how different research questions that require different analytical designs can be asked of the data collected in the present study. Results: With reference to five generic questions in health research, we showed how sixteen specific questions could be addressed in the Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study. These referred to a range of analytical designs. Conclusion: Readers need to take care not to confuse the overall design of a study with the design of a specific analysis. When conducting systematic literature reviews, studies should be classified according to the analytical design used in the specific report included in the review and not according to the design of the overall project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the importance—and provides an example—of Aboriginal control over research. It describes how Aboriginal people from Tangentyere Council conducted a survey of the attitudes of people who reside in Town Camps to a trial of liquor licensing restrictions in Alice Springs; how the results of the survey were used; and how the project led to the establishment of a permanent ‘Research Hub’ within Tangentyere Council. The paper provides a model of conducting research for other Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and can inform non-Aboriginal researchers about ways of working with Aboriginal community organisations to address substance misuse and other health problems. [Foster D, Williams R, Campbell D, Davis V, Pepperill L. ‘Researching ourselves back to life’: new ways of conducting Aboriginal alcohol research . Drug Alcohol Rev 2006;25:213 – 217] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of literature on the topic of sobering-up centres (non-custodial safe overnight accommodation for the publicly intoxicated). This paper presents findings of a retrospective longitudinal case study of a sobering-up centre in regional South Australia over the ten years 1991 to 2000. There were 6,486 admissions during this period, 97.1% of which were of Aboriginal people. We collated and analysed primary data including demographic details of admissions and re-admissions, and qualitative and quantitative measures of intoxication. The findings from this case study, considered together with contextual understandings from a wider social study in this region by three of the authors, provide supporting evidence of the important role of sobering-up centres in averting the known harms of a custodial response to public drunkenness, as well as avoiding the potential harm of alcohol-related injury among vulnerable Aboriginal people. [Brady M, Nicholls R, Henderson G, Byrne J. The role of a rural sobering-up centre in managing alcohol-related harm to Aboriginal people in South Australia . Drug Alcohol Rev 2006;25:201 – 206] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic reviews have shown that interventions such as the delivery of cessation advice by heath professionals and the use of nicotine replacement therapy are effective at increasing cessation rates, however little is known about whether such interventions are appropriate and effective for and thus transferable to Aboriginal Australians. The aim of this paper was to assess whether evidence of effectiveness for brief interventions for cessation and nicotine patches from studies conducted in other populations was likely to be transferable to Aboriginal people in the NT. This paper involved assessment of systematic reviews of evidence for the use of brief interventions for smoking cessation and the use of nicotine replacement therapy, when planning two such interventions for delivery to Aboriginal people. Emerging themes are discussed. There were many factors which were likely to mean that these brief advice on cessation and the use of nicotine patches were likely to be less effective when implemented in Aboriginal communities. The planned interventions were delivered in primary care, and were of low intensity. Few studies included in systematic reviews were set in the developing world or in minority populations. Many features of the context for delivery, such as the normality of the use of tobacco among Aboriginal people, the low socio-economic status of this population and cultural issues, may have meant that these interventions were likely to be less effective when delivered in this setting. Further research is required to assess effectiveness of tobacco interventions in this population, as evidence from systematic reviews in other populations may not be directly transferable to Aboriginal people. [Ivers R. An evidence-based approach to planning tobacco interventions for Aboriginal people. Drug Alcohol Rev 2004;23:5-9] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing policies and laws is difficult in areas where there are interested parties with differing values, attitudes, and perceptions. Another challenge is the democratization of policy and including those who have been systematically excluded from the conversation. The main topic of this paper is human interactions with free-roaming horses (FRH) in Alberta. A multidimensional approach to policymaking is suggested by using situational mapping approaches that visually position and represent diverse perspectives on FRH. Drawing upon qualitative interviews with 24 landowners, business leaders, and First Nations/Métis who share land with FRH, we analyze four key themes: rural alienation, First Nations and the branding of horses, managing FRH on grazing leases, and the representation of FRH interests. Together, the four thematic foci illustrate diverse perspectives and shifting allegiances that exist within and between policy 'stakeholder' groups. We present situational mapping as a useful tool to be used by policymakers to address complex environmental problems that include multidimensional perspectives. Les problèmes liés aux politiques, les « audiences » et le pouvoir de la définition : les discours contradictoires et le cas des chevaux en liberté en Alberta La mise en œuvre des politiques et des lois est difficile dans les domaines où il y a des parties intéressées qui ont des valeurs, des attitudes et des perceptions différentes. Un autre problème est la démocratisation des politiques et l'inclusion de celles qui ont été systématiquement exclues de la conversation. Le thème principal de cette communication est celui des interactions humaines avec les chevaux en liberté (CL) en Alberta. Une approche multidimensionnelle à l'égard de l'élaboration des politiques est suggérée en utilisant des approches de cartographie situationnelle qui positionnent et représentent visuellement divers points de vue sur les CL. Nous appuyant sur des entrevues qualitatives avec 24 propriétaires fonciers, chefs d'entreprises et Premières Nations/Métis qui partagent le territoire avec les CL, nous analysons quatre thèmes principaux : l'aliénation rurale, les Premières Nations et le marquage des chevaux, la gestion des CL sur des baux de pâturages et la représentation des intérêts des CL. Ensemble, les quatre axes thématiques illustrent divers points de vue et allégeances changeantes qui existent au sein et entre les groupes « d'intervenants » s'intéressant aux politiques. Nous présentons la cartographie situationnelle comme un outil utile que les personnes qui élaborent des politiques peuvent utiliser pour résoudre des problèmes environnementaux complexes qui incluent des points de vue multidimensionnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal Australians experience significant disparities in oral health with even poorer outcomes reported in rural and remote areas. The high rates of preventable dental disease in Aboriginal communities are a serious concern from a social standpoint and in terms of service provision and health care expenditure. In this review, primary research literature was comprehensively reviewed. Papers were selected if they reported designing or implementing an intervention or oral health programme specific to the needs of Aboriginal communities. Twenty-one publications fulfilled the inclusion criteria with 19 different interventions being described. Interventions were categorized using a classification adapted from the work of Whitehead (2002). The review identified interventions that aimed to reduce early childhood caries, increase services to remote communities, develop the role of Aboriginal health workers, improve oral health literacy, establish water fluoridation and provide periodontal therapy. Implementing successful oral health interventions in Aboriginal communities is a challenge that is compounded by the complex interplay between psychosocial and cultural determinants. Even interventions that follow a rigorous and consultative design have a high failure rate in Aboriginal communities if upstream determinants of health are not adequately understood and addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this brief paper, we outline some important messages in the literature pertaining to community care for Indigenous older people. Such literature has been scarce until relatively recently. These key messages are particularly important as aged care sector reforms are implemented. We highlight significant research findings concerning health, care preferences and service delivery challenges for the provision of community care for this population group. To be successful, a service needs to be relevant, and to be relevant, services need to take a community development approach in their development and ongoing management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health research concerning Indigenous peoples has been strongly characterised by deficit discourse—a 'mode of thinking' that is overly focused on risk behaviours and problems. Strengths‐based approaches offer a different perspective by promoting a set of values that recognise the capacities and capabilities of Indigenous peoples. In this article, we seek to understand the conceptual basis of strengths‐based approaches as currently presented in health research. We propose that three main approaches exist: 'resilience' approaches concerned with the personal skills of individuals; 'social–ecological' approaches, which focus on the individual, community and structural aspects of a person's environment; and 'sociocultural' approaches, which view 'strengths' as social relations, collective identities and practices. We suggest that neither 'resilience' nor 'social–ecological' approaches sufficiently problematise deficit discourse because they remain largely informed by Western concepts of individualised rationality and, as a result, rest on logics that support notions of absence and deficit. In contrast, sociocultural approaches tend to view 'strengths' not as qualities possessed by individuals, but as the structure and character of social relations, collective practices and identities. As such, they are better able to capture Indigenous ways of knowing and being and provide a stronger basis on which to build meaningful interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol-related harms cause great concern to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) communities in Australia as well as challenges to policy makers. Treatment of alcohol use disorders forms one component of an effective public health response. While alcohol dependence typically behaves as a chronic relapsing condition, treatment has been shown to be both effective and cost-effective in improving outcomes. Provision of alcohol treatment services should be based on accurate assessment of treatment need.Aims: In this paper, we examine the likely extent of the gap between voluntary alcohol treatment need and accessibility. We also suggest potential approaches to improve the ability to assess unmet need.Discussion: Existing methods of assessing the treatment needs of Indigenous Australians are limited by incomplete and inaccurate survey data and an over-reliance on existing service use data. In addition to a shortage of services, cultural and logistical barriers may hamper access to alcohol treatment for Indigenous Australians. There is also a lack of services funded to a level that allows them to cope with clients with complex medical and physical comorbidity, and a lack of services for women, families and young people. A lack of voluntary treatment services also raises serious ethical concerns, given the expansion of mandatory treatment programmes and incarceration of Indigenous Australians for continued drinking. The use of modelling approaches, linkage of administrative data sets and strategies to improve data collection are discussed as possible methods to better assess treatment need. [Brett J, Lee K, Gray D, Wilson S, Freeburn B, Harrison K, Conigrave K. Mind the gap: what is the difference between alcohol treatment need and access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians? Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:456-460]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine processes of aged-care needs assessment for Aboriginal people in remote central Australia to assist development of appropriate models of aged care. Method A qualitative study involving 11 semistructured interviews with aged-care assessors and two focus groups with Aboriginal community members. Results This paper reports four major themes concerning how needs assessments relate to realities of service delivery: cultural perspectives on aged care, context of service delivery, equity and access to services, and program (mis)alignments. Conclusion Disparities exist between assessment recommendations and service availability, with a potential mismatch between Aboriginal understandings of needs, interpretations by individual assessment staff and program guidelines. Incorporating a conceptual framework, such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, into service guidelines to ensure structured consideration of a person's holistic needs may assist, as will building the capacity of communities to provide the level and type of services required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims Historically, Aboriginal alcohol and other drug ( AOD) workers had little formal training, but this situation has changed rapidly in recent years. To understand how to better support and develop the workforce, we present the most detailed profile yet published of Aboriginal AOD workers in Australia. Design and Methods Workers were identified through the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Network, New South Wales. Participants completed a modified version of the Work Practice Questionnaire by pen-and-paper or interview in 2009. Results Fifty-one workers were identified, representing 85% of the known New South Wales workforce at the time. Two in three (62.7%) were male, and over half (56.9%) were aged 30-49. More workers were employed in non-government than government (60.8% vs. 39.2%) workplaces. Workers were employed under more than four different awards and with approximately eight position titles, spanning prevention and early intervention, clinical care and workforce development. Nearly all ( n = 49/51, 96.1%) felt they had the necessary experience to respond to AOD issues. However, over half ( n = 27/51, 52.9%) felt too much was expected of them. Just under a third ( n = 15/51, 29.4%) reported no formal supervision, with fewer non-government workers compared with government receiving supervision ( P = 0.02). Over half ( n = 27/40, 67.5%%) earned AUD ≤ $50 000 annually, with government (vs. non-government) employment and female gender predicting a salary of >$50 000. Discussion and Conclusions To improve worker retention and encourage professional skills development, discrepancies in salary and award conditions need addressing. Clarifying position descriptions and improving access to formal supervision are important to maximise workforce potential and reduce stress. [Ella S, Lee KSK,Childs S, Conigrave KM. Who are the New South Wales Aboriginal drug and alcohol workforce? A first description. Drug Alcohol Rev 2014] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The paper represents reflections on the experience of a week spent as part of the Scientific Advisory Committee of CASSE (Creating a Safe Supportive Environment), as a guest of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation (CAACAC). The reflections were based on a methodology of 'psychoanalytic observation' processed with reference to the ideas of Bion, Ogden, Bolognini, Fairbairn and Scharff and Scharff. A key reflection concerned the significance of the rupture of the traditional cultural container to the current provision of mental health services. A further reflection was on the importance of the functioning of the CASSE/CAACAC reconciliation-based partnership and how this might be enhanced by integrating Scharff and Scharff's (1991) dyadic version of Fairbairn's 'Endopsychic Model' and Bion's concept of the container-contained relationship into a theoretical framework about its functioning. At the level of delivery of mental health services the importance of a focus on the commonalities between the Aboriginal and psychoanalytic worldviews is stressed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper provides a perspective from two cultures and suggests ways to improve relationships between the Australian White fellas and First Nation (Aboriginal) populations. Several differences are highlighted especially the lack of formal protracted wars with the natives that characterized most other countries in the setting up of the British Empire. It is suggested that a great deal more work needs to be done with the way First Nation people were seen as non-human until 1970, a topic that seems either talked out or denied depending on whom you talk to. Modern efforts focus on positive and collaborative ways to remedy the problems from those who stand firmly in both camps. Its seems to this writer that more needs to be known about the elder, the dream world and other levels of consciousness that influence the transmission of essential knowledge. With some hesitation I have gone along with the idea of making Western suggestions, but I know what I would rather have. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aims of this paper are to describe the growth of urban Australian Aboriginal infants from birth to 24 months of age and to identify the proportion of these infants experiencing rapid weight gain ( RWG) and overweight/obesity. Methods The Gudaga Study is a longitudinal birth cohort of 159 Australian Aboriginal children born on the urban fringe of Sydney. Birthweight and length were extracted from hospital data. Children with a birthweight >1500 grams were included in the analysis ( n = 157). Weight, length and head circumference were measured at 2-3 weeks and then six-monthly until 24 months of age. Age- and gender-specific Z-scores were determined from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 2000 growth charts for weight, length, head circumference and body mass index ( BMI). The proportion of children experiencing RWG (an increase in weight-for-age Z-scores ≥0.67 between birth and 12 months) was calculated. The association between RWG and ≥85th CDC percentile for BMI at 24 months was tested using Pearson's χ2. Results The mean weight of Gudaga infants was less than the CDC mean length-for-age at birth and 2-3 weeks of age but greater than CDC mean length-for-age and weight-for-age at 18 and 24 months of age. Overall, 42 infants (34.4%) experienced RWG, and 45 infants (36.9%) were overweight/obese at 24 months of age. A greater proportion of those who experienced RWG (61.9%) were overweight/obese at 24 months than those who did not experience RWG (23.8%). Conclusion Our study suggests a concerning proportion of urban Indigenous infants experience RWG and overweight/obesity in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Methodologies in human geography are rapidly evolving to include participatory approaches that incorporate other voices and knowledges. Central to these participatory methodologies is the co-evolution of research objectives, the co-production of knowledge, joint learning, and capacity building of all those involved. Visual methodologies that use the media of photography are gaining recognition as powerful participatory methods. In this paper, we evaluate whether photovoice is a culturally appropriate and engaging visual methodology, and consider how it can be improved to better facilitate research between non- Aboriginal researchers and Aboriginal Australians involved in water resource management. We draw from two photovoice projects conducted in partnership with two separate Aboriginal groups in northern Australia. Photovoice methodology in this context was found to be both culturally appropriate and engaging. It facilitated genuine participatory research, empowered participants, and was easily adapted to the field situation. The methodology proved to be a powerful tool that revealed in-depth information including Aboriginal values, knowledge, concerns, and aspirations for water resource management that may not have been captured through other participatory approaches. Photovoice methodology could be enhanced with a more defined role for the researcher as knowledge broker and as translator and communicator of research outcomes (as deemed appropriate by research participants) to policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims. Despite smoking prevalence reductions in the general community, rates remain high among socially disadvantaged populations. This study describes the prevalence and predictors for smoking among young people in custody. Design and Methods. The 2009 NSW Young People in Custody Health Survey was conducted in nine juvenile detention centres. This paper reports on findings from the baseline questionnaire which included questions about smoking behaviours. Chi-squared statistics were used to compare the smoking characteristics by gender and Aboriginality. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of smoking behaviours. Results. The baseline questionnaire included 316 participants with a response rate of 83%. The sample was 88% male, 48% Aboriginal, with an average age of 17 years (range 13-21 years). Nearly all (94%) participants had ever smoked tobacco, with 79% reporting smoking daily prior to custody. Predictors of heavy smoking (20 or more cigarettes per day) prior to custody included being female, high psychological distress and conduct disorder. Predictors for being a current smoker included being on remand, risky drinking and most or all friends as smokers. Predictors of being an aspirational smoker (will smoke on release) included using illicit drugs at least weekly prior to custody, and having most or all friends as smokers Discussion and Conclusions. Rates of smoking in young people entering custody are exceptionally high. Many young people continue to smoke during their incarceration, with an increasing aspiration to smoke upon release. Effective programs are needed that address these smoking behaviours in young people in custody.[Indig D, Haysom L. Smoking behaviours among young people in custody in New South Wales, Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:631-637] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 580 fish species are known for Port Jackson, site of the first British colony of New South Wales. When the British arrived in January 1788 they encountered Aboriginal people who gained a substantial part of their diet from fish. Aboriginal fishing technologies (e.g. spears, shell fishhooks and small canoes) were documented by colonial writers. The British brought metal fishhooks, seine nets and larger boats, and after AD1788 fishing was important to both Aboriginal people and colonists. Given the diversity of fish in Port Jackson, and differences between Aboriginal and colonial fishing technologies, our paper discusses archaeological and documentary evidence for the impact of technology on the types of fish caught by Aboriginal people and colonists before and after AD1788. We compare archaeological fish bones from Aboriginal sites in coastal Sydney with those from the Quadrant historical site in Broadway, Sydney, and discuss methodological challenges raised by these kinds of analyses for Sydney regional archaeology. Technology explains some fish bone assemblage variability but colonisation, cultural attitudes, commercialisation and urbanism are also important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological research into Sydney's Aboriginal past has overwhelmingly focused on the pre-contact period, while historical archaeology focusing on Aboriginal heritage has mostly been undertaken in regional or remote areas. Despite this, a range of approaches and techniques has been developed through these and other studies that can now be applied to the Aboriginal historical archaeology of urban areas. This paper collates and examines the physical evidence of the historical Aboriginal use of Sydney, which reveals a continuous history of Aboriginal associations with the Sydney area. Although scant, the physical evidence can be combined with detailed archival research to create a more rounded picture of how Aboriginal people responded to the growth of urban centres like Sydney. Many documented Aboriginal links to places (including extant buildings) are intangible associations but can be mapped to illustrate the complex and shifting connections which typify urban Aboriginal histories. The range of available methods and sources also provides broader scope for meaningful collaborations with urban Aboriginal communities, which are essential for this research to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]