Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

November 27, 2022

What we mean when we say ‘sovereignty was never ceded’

Eddie Synot, Griffith University

The Uluru Statement from the Heart will give us new meaning to the expression.

November 22, 2022

Locking up kids has serious mental health impacts and contributes to further reoffending

Summer May Finlay, University of Wollongong; Ee Pin Chang, The University of Western Australia; Jemma Collova, The University of Western Australia, and Pat Dudgeon, The University of Western Australia

Where is the justice for young people whose mental health is impacted by being incarcerated?

November 14, 2022

Effects of climate change such as flooding makes existing disadvantages for Indigenous communities so much worse

Toni Hay, Indigenous Knowledge and Courtney-Jay Williams, Indigenous Knowledge

With Australia experiencing its third year of a La Niña weather cycle, First Nations communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by floods. Culturally safe solutions are needed.

November 10, 2022

First Nations women are 69 times more likely to have a head injury after being assaulted. We show how hard it is to get help

Michelle Fitts, Western Sydney University; Jennifer Cullen, James Cook University, and Karen Soldatic, Western Sydney University

Health and service workers are not asking women about a potential traumatic brain injury, there’s a lack of referral options, and often no diagnosis.

November 9, 2022

Explainer: why is there an inquest into Kumanjayi Walker’s death when there was already a trial?

Thalia Anthony, University of Technology Sydney

The inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker has begun, examining the causes of Kumanjayi’s death.

October 26, 2022

Four Corners’ ‘How many more?’ reveals the nation’s crisis of Indigenous women missing and murdered

Marlene Longbottom, University of Wollongong

Too many First Nations women have been killed by people who have a history of violence in relationships.

October 21, 2022

How ‘closing the gap’ may close doors for First Nations women in new plan to end violence

BJ Newton, UNSW Sydney and Kyllie Cripps, UNSW Sydney

The ten-year National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children is proposing to align with Closing the Gap to address First Nations violence. This could work, but there are limitations.

October 19, 2022

Think private renting is hard? First Nations people can be excluded from the start

Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology; Andrew Peters, Swinburne University of Technology; Piret Veeroja, Swinburne University of Technology, and Zoe Goodall, Swinburne University of Technology

New research shows discrimination against Aboriginal Victorians in the private rental housing market is systemic, but there are solutions.

October 13, 2022

Could the Senate inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and children prevent future deaths?

Kyllie Cripps, UNSW Sydney

Last week, the Senate inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and children found Indigenous women are eight times more likely to be murdered. What needs to happen?

In the face of governmental efforts to dismantle Indigenous agricultural economies, Indigenous communities have made important strides toward food sovereignty. (Shutterstock)

October 2, 2022

Indigenous food sovereignty requires better and more accurate data collection

Omid Mirzaei, University of Regina and David Natcher, University of Saskatchewan

A lack of data prevents governments and agri-food organizations from knowing what kinds of supports should be provided to reinvigorate Indigenous agricultural economies.

September 20, 2022

Police texts in Kumanjayi Walker case another sordid example of systemic racism in Australia’s legal system

Robyn Newitt, Western Sydney University

Until authorities acknowledge systemic racism and are held responsible for it, Aboriginal people will never see equity or just outcomes.

September 15, 2022

How do we support Indigenous people in Australia living with musculoskeletal conditions?

Simon Davidson, University of Newcastle; Christopher Williams, University of Sydney, and Jane Linton, University of Sydney

Government health organisations need to provide better support for Indigenous people suffering from musculoskeletal conditions.

September 12, 2022

Rather than focusing on the negative, we need a strength-based way to approach First Nations childrens’ health

Jennifer Browne, Deakin University; Jill Gallagher, Indigenous Knowledge; Joleen Ryan, Deakin University; Mark Lock (Ngiyampaa), Deakin University, and Troy Walker, Deakin University

A recent report has found First Nations children in Victoria have better health outcomes, however culturally appropriate research can better highlight what’s going well for First Nations kids’ health.

August 30, 2022

First Nations workers are everywhere. The jobs summit must tackle Indigenous-led employment policy too

Nareen Young, University of Technology Sydney

One crucial element of the regional jobs discussion is the need for a redefinition of ‘work’, to include community responsibilities, care and caring for land and Country.

August 26, 2022

Unintended, but not unanticipated: coercive control laws will disadvantage First Nations women

Emma Buxton-Namisnyk, UNSW Sydney; Althea Gibson, UNSW Sydney, and Peta MacGillivray, UNSW Sydney

Both NSW and Queensland have committed to criminalise coercive control. This has the potential to disproportionately impact First Nations people who often can’t report to police safely.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney at a smoking ceremony during the opening of the 47th Federal Parliament at Parliament House. Mick Tsikas/AAP Image

September 8, 2022

Women in the Labor party are leading the way in increasing Indigenous representation

Michelle Evans, The University of Melbourne and Duncan McDonnell, Griffith University

A record 11 Indigenous representatives are now in federal parliament, most of them women. But despite the improvement in representation, research tells us their road ahead won’t be an easy one.

Non-Indigenous researchers need to stop conducting research ‘on’ First Nations communities, and instead work ‘with’ them to gain knowledges. Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Vincent Lambert/AAP

August 23, 2022

‘You can’t just show up and start asking questions’: why researchers need to understand the importance of yarning for First Nations

Robyn Ober, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education; Rhonda Oliver, Curtin University, and Sender Dovchin, Curtin University

First Nations communities have experienced data being collected by researchers unethically. Better practices and relationships with communities can happen through ways of sharing such as yarning.

Donnell Wallam during her time with the Firebirds. Jason O'Brien/AAP

August 11, 2022

You can’t be what you can’t see: the benefits for and the pressures on First Nations sportswomen

Michelle O'Shea, Western Sydney University; Hazel Maxwell, University of Tasmania; Robyn Newitt, Western Sydney University, and Sonya Pearce, University of Technology Sydney

This year’s Commonwealth games boasted a record number of First Nations athletes, a lot of them women. While positive, the history of the Games and potential for burn-out for athletes is very real.

Dancers performing evening ceremonial Bungul at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land. Aaron Bunch/AAP Image

August 4, 2022

Establishing a Voice to Parliament could be an opportunity for Indigenous Nation Building. Here’s what that means

Daryle Rigney, University of Technology Sydney; Anthea Compton, University of Technology Sydney; Damein Bell, Indigenous Knowledge; Debra Evans, Charles Sturt University; Donna Murray, University of Technology Sydney, and Janine Gertz, UNSW Sydney

Australian Governments must embrace Indigenous Nation Building if the Uluru Statement is to lead to effective structural reform and self-determined government for First Nations peoples.