First Peoples
Alternative labels
First Nations people
Indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Position paper
Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility
Across Australia, children as young as ten can be arrested, charged and detained under criminal law. This approach continues to disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This position paper argues that raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility is a necessary shift toward justice systems that respect community-led ways of caring for children.
Journal article
Exploring best practices that integrate environmental health and primary healthcare in Indigenous populations
Country and the environment are essential components of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing. This scoping review aimed to identify and analyse best practices that integrate environmental health initiatives and primary healthcare within Indigenous populations. The findings demonstrate the value of implementing connections between environmental and primary healthcare services in improving Indigenous health.
Journal article
Truth-telling in the Australian curriculum
Unlike Canada and South Africa, Australia has not completed a national Truth-telling of First Nations histories. As a consequence, the curriculum is at risk of excluding Truth-telling, leading to indoctrination of past injustices as part of school learning. This research critically examines the use of Truth-telling language in the Australian Curriculum.
Position paper
System-wide approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led reform is not a supplementary consideration in mental health and suicide prevention, it is foundational. This position paper highlights a pattern of inadequate action and unfulfilled promises, calling for immediate funding and full implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led strategies and frameworks, backed by binding accountability mechanisms, to end...
Report
Co-design versus faux-design of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy: a critical review
This paper critically reviews current approaches to co-designing and faux-designing (tokenistic or superficial co-design practices) health policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It overviews key concepts, principles and benefits of co-design; highlights concerns with contemporary practices; and outlines critical issues to address. Case studies are included to illustrate aspects of best practice.