Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities

These are some basic guidelines that can be used in a variety of settings when working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. The most important skill however is in getting to know the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community. You should be aware of your own assumptions, biases and stereotypical views regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as your own cultural orientation. These issues in themselves can be barriers to effective working relationships with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians. As mental health is included as part of an holistic view of health and life and it is often referred to as social and emotional wellbeing. Psychiatric disorders are therefore assessed from a comprehensive view of health in relation to family, community, culture, spiritual life as well as political and historical circumstances.

Working with communities

When working in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community setting, you will need to be aware of the various controls, governance structures and kinship relationships in the community, and the community protocols that should be adhered to. Most communities will have clear lines of authority as well as who should be approached for information and decision making. If in doubt, community controlled organizations such as Health Services, Land Councils or other community groups should be able to provide assistance. If you do not have any background knowledge of the community, you will need to learn quickly how the community works and what the main issues are to be able to work effectively. Remember you may only be there for a relatively short time and the community will have to deal with the ongoing issues. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and peoples in Australia are resilient and although your knowledge and support may be highly valued, working with the community, building capacity and promoting community control may provide better long-term solutions than being dependant on fly-in, fly-out expertise.

There are still many myths and stereotypes that negatively portray Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people today especially in regard to appearance, intelligence, lifestyle and location. If you are going to work successfully with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander clients and their community, you will need to be aware of how racial and community assumptions can affect your acceptance into the community. Assessment of appearance, dress, hygiene and behaviour need to be relevant to the community, especially in remote locations and not be compared to other standards. Equally assumptions about education, lifestyle and understanding should be avoided until appropriate information has been gathered.

Historically the main contact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had with mental health services and professionals occurred when problems became severe and required hospitalisation or institutionalisation. Solutions or treatments provided were sometimes perceived as traumatic, culturally inappropriate with some patients never returning home. In addition, many government or community agencies were involved in the forcible removal of children. Adverse past experiences with mainstream services may have left some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and peoples wary of accessing mental health services especially in regard to children. Hence it is important to be aware of what services have been provided in the past, whether community engagement has been successful and what attempts have been made to reduce barriers to access, provide culturally secure systems of care, and improve outcomes.