First Nations Resources

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Health prepares nursing and allied health students for health care practice among Indigenous Australian communities and encourages best clinical practice and skill development. With its focus on cultural competence, community and cultural safety, the text examines theoretical concepts and specific health domains, and provides valued insight into the skills required of health professionals. The text advances the strengths-based approach by highlighting the strengths in communities and health, rather than the deficiencies. The experiences and expert knowledge of the author team are combined with a diverse range of case examples to equip students with an understanding of cultural competencies and to prepare them for the diverse and alternative approaches to health care they will need to adopt when working with Indigenous Australians and community groups.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live about 10 years less than non-indigenous Australians. Since 2006, the 'closing the gap' campaign has been pursued in collaboration between government and health, welfare and rights agencies to try and close the health and life expectancy gap within a generation. The health disadvantages experienced by indigenous Australians are shaped by history and the broader social and economic conditions in which they live; progress has been slow and mixed. This book evaluates the progress made towards closing the gap. How can indigenous outcomes be improved across a range of key social and economic determinants of health and wellbeing?

It has been well documented that the health status of many Aboriginal people remains the poorest in Australia despite many years of research, policies and interventions. The third edition of Binan Goonj: Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health 3e explores the processes and practices which have created this situation and looks to provide practical strategies to work towards redressing it. Extensively adopted as a teaching text across Australia, Binan Goonj provides coverage of essential Aboriginal health topics in an accessible manner.

For thousands of generations the wellbeing of Australia's First Peoples was grounded in the sacred lands of Mother Earth. Good health occurred naturally because lifestyle and diet were connected to Country and culture. Colonisation damaged this connection, but much is being done to rebuild it. Health explores concepts that are not tied to Western practices, as it delves into birthing, end-of-life care and other Indigenous cultural rituals. The authors highlight the role of Aboriginal leadership and Eldership in decision making about health care and explore the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resistance and resilience. Through their storytelling and their decades of research and health practice, Shawana Andrews, Sandra Eades and Fiona Stanley show how Aboriginal knowledges foster a path for self-determined healthy futures.

Now in its third edition, this core textbook offers a comprehensive framework for creating a culturally safe environment and enhancing health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Through case studies, discussions, reflections and critiques of health issues in Australia today, Health Care and Indigenous Australians offers a starting point for learning about cultural safety in an Indigenous health context, and is essential for students, academics and practitioners alike. This is key reading for anyone taking courses on Indigenous health modules in nursing, midwifery and health related courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level, as well practitioners and academics

How should we invest precious health resources? At a time when chronic illness is increasing, inequality persists and climate change is starting to impact our health, how can health promotion improve health outcomes across the whole population? Health Promotion in the 21st Century offers a systematic introduction to the principles of health promotion today, and effective planning, implementation and evaluation. The authors review the global, regional and local issues that affect health in Australia, and show how social, economic, political and educational elements in society contribute to population health and wellbeing. Throughout, the authors emphasise that health promotion needs multiple solutions, and that health professionals should seek out strategic opportunities and partnerships. They consider the issues facing vulnerable groups - such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those with mental health issues, and the aged - and suggest a variety of innovative tools for working with particular populations.

Indigenous Australians and Health assists the student reader, through simple and practical strategies, to appreciate and understand the importance of 'Getting it right', when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in urban and remote areas. Key themes emerging from the text outline the fundamental and underlying components that continue to influence good health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It further seeks to provide an understanding of Indigenous Australian perspectives of their own health, and examines the historical connections between health and the impacts of colonisation, both past and present in Australia. In covering the broad disparity between the wider Australian community and Indigenous Australians in health outcomes and life expectancy Indigenous Australians and Health promotes awareness of culturally-based issues which can impact on access and response to clinical health services.

Indigenous health: politics and citizenship examines contemporary Indigenous Australian health policy as a site of contest over the nature of Indigenous citizenship and 'belonging' to the modern state. It uses Western and Indigenous political ideas to examine politics and public policy as determinants of health. It shows the ways in which policy failure is partially explained by dysfunctional political relationships, policy inertia and the political system itself. The book considers the claims that Indigenous people can reasonably make on the public health system and examines what these claims mean for contemporary Australian conceptions of citizenship, democracy and human rights.

This resource is written for health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing social and emotional wellbeing issues and mental health conditions. It provides information on the issues influencing mental health, good mental health practice, and strategies for working with specific groups. Over half of the authors in this second edition are Indigenous people themselves, reflecting the growing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts who are writing and adding to the body of knowledge around mental health and associated areas

Traditional Healers of central Australia contains unique stories and imagery and primary source material: the ngangkari speak directly to the reader. Ngangkari are senior Aboriginal people authorised to speak publicly about Anangu (Western Desert language speaking Aboriginal people) culture and practices. It is accurate, authorised information about their work, in their own words. The practice of traditional healing is still very much a part of contemporary Aboriginal society. The ngangkari currently employed at NPY Women's Council deliver treatments to people across a tri-state region of about 350,000 sq km, in more than 25 communities in SA, WA and NT. Acknowledged, respected and accepted these ngangkari work collaboratively with hospitals and health professionals even beyond this region, working hand in hand with Western medical practitioners.

Yatdjuligin: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Care introduces students to the fundamentals of health care of Indigenous Australians, encompassing the perspectives of both the client and the health practitioner. Written for all nurses and midwives, this book addresses the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and mainstream health services and introduces readers to practice and research in a variety of healthcare contexts. This new edition has been fully updated to reflect current research and documentation, with an emphasis on cultural safety. Three new chapters cover Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, social and emotional wellbeing in mainstream mental health services and quantitative research. Chapter content is complemented by case study scenarios, author reflections and reflection questions. These features illustrate historical and contemporary challenges, encourage students to reflect on their own attitudes and values, and provide strategies to deliver quality, person-centred health care.