Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alison Brown, Tilahun Haregu, Graham Gee, Fiona Mensah, Lea Waters, Stephanie J. Brown, Jan M. Nicholson, Kelsey Hegarty, Darren Smith, Sue D'Amico, Rebecca Ritte, Yin Paradies, Gregory Armstrong
Summary: Little is known about the wellbeing and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in social housing. Most respondents in the survey demonstrated a strong sense of identity and connection to family, but also reported various health issues and barriers to employment. Improving health and wellbeing was the most cited aspiration.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Makayla-May Brinckley, Roxanne Jones, Philip J. Batterham, Alison L. Calear, Raymond Lovett
Summary: The study validated the Mayi Kuwayu Family Functioning Measure as an effective tool for assessing family functioning in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population, despite some challenges in construct validity. The measure showed strong convergent and divergent validity, indicating its usefulness in assessing outcomes related to family functioning.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mandy Gibson, Jaimee Stuart, Stuart Leske, Raelene Ward, Robert Tanton
Summary: The study examined the associations between community cultural connectedness indicators and suicide mortality rates for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland. It found that suicide rates were influenced by culturally specific risk and protective factors at the community level, suggesting that increasing community cultural connectedness and reducing discrimination could help reduce suicide rates.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gail Garvey, Kate Anderson, Alana Gall, Tamara L. Butler, Lisa J. Whop, Brian Arley, Joan Cunningham, Michelle Dickson, Alan Cass, Julie Ratcliffe, Allison Tong, Kirsten Howard
Summary: Wellbeing is culturally bound and varies among different cultural groups. This paper presents a conceptual model of wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, highlighting the importance of family, community, and culture in their wellbeing.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katherine A. Thurber, Emily Banks, Grace Joshy, Kay Soga, Alexandra Marmor, Glen Benton, Sarah L. White, Sandra Eades, Raglan Maddox, Tom Calma, Raymond Lovett
Summary: Smoking significantly increases the risk of mortality among Indigenous Australian adults aged 45 years and older. Results show that over half of deaths in this population are attributable to smoking, with current smokers having a much lower survival rate compared to never-smokers. Efforts to prioritize Indigenous tobacco control are crucial in reducing mortality rates related to smoking.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tamara L. Butler, Natasha Lee, Kate Anderson, Julia M. L. Brotherton, Joan Cunningham, John R. Condon, Gail Garvey, Allison Tong, Suzanne P. Moore, Clare M. Maher, Jacqueline K. Mein, Eloise F. Warren, Lisa J. Whop
Summary: This study reveals the underestimation of cervical screening among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia. Through discussions with under-screened women, it was found that they believed the risks of cervical screening outweighed the benefits, due to distress, lack of privacy and control, complicated relationships with healthcare providers, and culturally unsafe communication. The study also found that one third of under-screened women who participated in the research underwent screening within a short period of time, indicating that enhancing privacy, implementing trauma-informed healthcare approaches, and focusing on the dynamics of the clinician-client relationship can increase women's participation in cervical screening.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. Coombes, K. Hunter, K. Bennett-Brook, B. Porykali, C. Ryder, M. Banks, N. Egana, T. Mackean, S. Sazali, E. Bourke, C. Kairuz
Summary: This systematic review identified the causes of leave events among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as strategies to reduce them. It highlighted the association of leave events with gaps in healthcare quality, emphasizing the need for better representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the health workforce and partnership with them in decision-making processes for providing culturally appropriate healthcare services.
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Kaley Butten, Peter A. Newcombe, Anne B. Chang, Jeanie K. Sheffield, Kerry-Ann F. O'Grady, Newell W. Johnson, Neil King, Maree Toombs
Summary: This study aimed to gather perspectives of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents/carers on the HR-QoL of their children to inform the development of a culturally appropriate tool. Key aspects of HR-QoL identified by participants included family and social support, communication, and the relationship with the healthcare system. Participants emphasized the importance of being heard, trusted, and valued by healthcare professionals.
APPLIED RESEARCH IN QUALITY OF LIFE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanne Luke, Philippa Dalach, Lindsay Tuer, Ravi Savarirayan, Angeline Ferdinand, Julie McGaughran, Emma Kowal, Libby Massey, Gail Garvey, Hugh Dawkins, Misty Jenkins, Yin Paradies, Glenn Pearson, Chloe A. Stutterd, Gareth Baynam, Margaret Kelaher
Summary: Research shows disparities in access to clinical genetic health services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, with fewer appointments scheduled and lower attendance rates. These findings provide important baseline data on disparities in access to clinical genomics in Australia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Connie Henson, Felicity Chapman, Gina Shepherd, Bronwyn Carlson, Josephine Y. Chau, Josephine Gwynn, Deb McCowen, Boe Rambaldini, Katrina Ward, Kylie Gwynne
Summary: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are using digital health technologies to acquire and share health information and are interested in using apps and wearables for health management. Co-designed research enables a better understanding of diverse needs for different cohorts and informs culturally responsible design. Broader use of co-design will foster effective user-focused digital health communication and health management.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sarah C. Bourke, Janet Chapman, Roxanne Jones, Makayla-May Brinckley, Katherine A. Thurber, Bianca Calabria, Kate Doery, Anna Olsen, Raymond Lovett
Summary: Culture is foundational to health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but has rarely been explored in depth by epidemiological research. The Mayi Kuwayu study developed a new survey tool based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perceptions of health and wellbeing, identifying key cultural domains through community consultations. Further assessment of the processes used and psychometric testing of the cultural items developed will be conducted in future research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Nursing
Mikaela Hopkins, Shahla Meedya, Rowena Ivers, Karen Charlton
Summary: The study evaluated online breastfeeding information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia, finding that some websites had high accuracy and quality, but few had culturally appropriate design features. Further research is needed to design online platforms that take into account cultural principles, beliefs, and values for women from different cultural backgrounds.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maria Karidakis
Summary: The study explores ways to enhance interpreting practice in healthcare settings for better communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Findings suggest the importance of understanding and addressing cultural differences, explaining medical terminology in tangible terms, using culturally appropriate language for taboo topics, and being mindful of nonverbal communication cues.
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Stephen P. Mcdonald, Katie Cundale, Kelli J. Owen, Matilda D'Antoine, Jaquelyne T. Hughes
Summary: Indigenous people in Australia are disadvantaged in accessing kidney transplantation. The National Indigenous Kidney Transplant Taskforce was established to address this issue by providing support to clinicians, implementing and evaluating innovative practices, and developing strategies to overcome barriers in the care system.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Stephanie M. Topp, Josslyn Tully, Rachel Cummins, Veronica Graham, Aryati Yashadhana, Lana Elliott, Sean Taylor
Summary: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (A&TSIHWs) are professional health workers in Australia, with core functions including health promotion, clinical service, and cultural brokerage, realizing unique value through client-centredness and Indigenous strengths. However, the role remains under-recognized and undervalued in the broader health workforce, posing potential threats to its long-term sustainability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kim Edmunds, Laura Wall, Scott Brown, Andrew Searles, Anthony P. Shakeshaft, Christopher M. Doran
Summary: This study explores community preferences for reducing youth crime and improving community safety in a rural area in Australia using BackTrack. Findings from discrete choice experiments indicate a strong community preference for social programs like BackTrack over increased policing, with a willingness to pay equivalent to AUD 2.04 million. This highlights the value of including community preferences when evaluating community-based programs for high-risk young people.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Alison K. Beck, Briony Larance, Frank P. Deane, Amanda L. Baker, Victoria Manning, Leanne Hides, Anthony Shakeshaft, Angela Argent, Peter J. Kelly
Summary: The study found that methamphetamine use was the second most common reason for attending SMART Recovery groups, and was more prevalent among men, people aged <45 years, returning attendees, and regional/rural groups. Group cohesion did not significantly differ according to proportion of participants attending for methamphetamine, and increased with larger group size, proportion of women, and proportion of younger people.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Alison K. Beck, Peter J. Kelly, Frank P. Deane, Amanda L. Baker, Leanne Hides, Victoria Manning, Anthony Shakeshaft, Joanne Neale, John F. Kelly, Rebecca M. Gray, Angela Argent, Ryan McGlaughlin, Ryan Chao, Marcos Martini
Summary: This paper discusses the importance of the formative stage in app development and how principles from three published frameworks were integrated to guide the development, design, and content of the SMART Track app. Research findings provided in-depth knowledge to inform the guiding principles and were applied iteratively in the design, content, and development stages. Person-centered design and best-practice recommendations were employed to ensure that the app met the needs and preferences of the end-users. Further research is needed to determine the impact of these considerations on usage outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Kristie Mammen, Llewellyn Mills, Rachel M. Deacon, Raimondo Bruno, Adrian Dunlop, Jennifer Holmes, Jennifer Luksza, Anthony Shakeshaft, Michael Farrell, Nicholas Lintzeris
Summary: After studying 144 opioid problem clients and 134 alcohol abusers, it was found that a cutoff score of 5 or less out of 10 is the optimal pragmatic cutoff for ATOP items related to psychological health, physical health, and quality of life, balancing sensitivity, specificity, and application in a treatment setting.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Peter J. Kelly, Alison K. Beck, Frank P. Deane, Briony Larance, Amanda L. Baker, Leanne Hides, Victoria Manning, Anthony Shakeshaft, Joanne Neale, John F. Kelly, Christopher Oldmeadow, Andrew Searles, Kerrin Palazzi, Kenny Lawson, Carla Treloar, Rebecca M. Gray, Angela Argent, Ryan McGlaughlin
Summary: The SMART Track mobile health app shows promising feasibility and acceptability for outcome monitoring and feedback in SMART Recovery mutual support groups. Both participants and facilitators provided positive feedback on the app, highlighting the need for better integration into existing groups.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher M. Doran, Phillip Wadds, Anthony Shakeshaft, Dam Anh Tran
Summary: The study focused on the impact and return on investment of the Take Kare Safe Space (TKSS) program in three locations in Sydney's night-time economy between 2014 and 2019. It found that the program effectively reduced alcohol-related violence and disorder, with a positive return on investment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Doug B. James, K. S. Kylie Lee, Mithilesh Dronavalli, Ryan J. Courtney, Katherine M. Conigrave, James H. Conigrave, Anthony Shakeshaft
Summary: This study identified predictive factors for treatment outcomes among Aboriginal clients, including age, justice system referral, and primary substance of use, which can inform the development of more effective rehabilitation programs for this population.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2022)
Review
Health Policy & Services
Tania Pearce, Myfanwy Maple, Sarah Wayland, Kathy McKay, Alan Woodward, Anna Brooks, Anthony Shakeshaft
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review to examine the extent of multisectoral collaborations in the field of suicide prevention research and the level of stakeholder involvement. The results revealed a lack of evidence and low quality studies documenting these collaborations. The inclusion of co-researchers from communities or organizations was inconsistent throughout the projects. More efforts should be made to promote power and equity issues in collaborations and encourage greater engagement with third-sector organizations (TSOs).
HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Michael F. Doyle, Jill Guthrie, Tony Butler, Anthony Shakeshaft, Katherine Conigrave, Megan Williams
Summary: Research shows that people in prison have limited access to health promotion information and treatment support services related to alcohol and other drug (AoD) harms. A qualitative study conducted in a Sydney prison found that participants had not received education on AoD harms or treatment support services during their schooling, and their first treatment episode was typically facilitated through the criminal justice system. These findings highlight the need for proactive screening and referral for AoD use disorders in health services.
HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Review
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
A. M. Pender, W. J. Wilson, R. G. Bainbridge, P. J. Schluter, G. K. Spurling, D. A. Askew
Summary: This scoping review examines the prevalence, experiences, and management of hearing loss and ear disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. The research highlights the lack of studies in this area and the need for accurate prevalence estimates and effective management methods.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Simon Deeming, Kim Edmunds, Alice Knight, Andrew Searles, Anthony P. Shakeshaft, Christopher M. Doran
Summary: This study conducted a benefit-cost analysis of the BackTrack program in a rural town in Australia. It found significant quantifiable improvements in education, employment, health services, homelessness reduction, economic productivity, and other outcomes. The net social benefit of BackTrack was estimated at $3,267,967 with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.03.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Alison K. Beck, Briony Larance, Victoria Manning, Leanne Hides, Amanda L. Baker, Frank P. Deane, Anthony Shakeshaft, Dayle Raftery, Peter J. Kelly
Summary: This study examined the self-reported experience of online SMART Recovery groups for people seeking support for methamphetamine use. The results showed positive ratings of experience and engagement in the online groups regardless of whether participants attended for methamphetamine use or not. People attending for methamphetamine use were less likely to set a 7-day plan.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Saira Sanjida, Gail Garvey, James Ward, Roxanne Bainbridge, Anthony Shakeshaft, Stephanie Hadikusumo, Carmel Nelson, Prabasha Thilakaratne, Xiang-Yu Hou
Summary: This study critically reviewed the cancer care experiences of Indigenous peoples in the Australian healthcare system from the patient's perspective, providing the latest evidence for future research and practice. The study identified three main themes in healthcare services: communication, cultural safety, and access to services. The findings highlight the importance of cultural training for healthcare providers and increasing the Indigenous workforce to address the inequities faced by Indigenous people with cancer in Australia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Family Studies
George Economidis, Sara Farnbach, Anne-Marie Eades, Kathleen Falster, Anthony Shakeshaft
Summary: This study aims to identify the key enablers and barriers to implementing MST-CAN into routine child protection services. The results show that training and supervision of therapists are key enablers, while referral and adaptation challenges, staff recruitment difficulties, and problems with outcome data interpretation are key barriers.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Milena Kiatkoski Kim, Felecia Watkin Lui, Lynda Ah Mat, Yvonne Cadet-James, Roxanne Bainbridge, Janya McCalman
Summary: The study suggests that Indigenous leadership in research refers to certain features, qualities, or processes that enable specific outcomes. Performance measures valued in academic research only reflect a part of leadership, hindering individuals who holistically pursue such a model from advancing.
JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)