'Our culture makes us strong': Understanding and working with community strengths among Aboriginal people in western Sydney

K Gardner; S Graham; M Beadman; M Doyle; J Wilms; K Beetson; J Bryant; K Martin; C Treloar; D Murphy; S Bell; A Browne; P Aggleton; R Bolt

doi:10.1002/hpja.906

'Our culture makes us strong': Understanding and working with community strengths among Aboriginal people in western Sydney

Health Promot J Austr. 2024 Sep 3. doi: 10.1002/hpja.906. Online ahead of print.

Authors

K Gardner^{1

2}, S Graham¹, M Beadman², M Doyle³, J Wilms⁴, K Beetson⁵, J Bryant⁶, K Martin², C Treloar², D Murphy⁷, S Bell^{2

8}, A Browne⁹, P Aggleton^{10

11}, R Bolt¹²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Centre for Social Research in Health UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Alcohol, Discipline of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ School of Social Sciences UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ The Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
¹⁰ Centre for Gender, Health and Social Justice, UCL, London, UK.
¹¹ School of Sociology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
¹² Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northwest Territories, Australia.

PMID: 39228099
DOI: 10.1002/hpja.906

Abstract

Background: Strengths-based approaches to health care are often seen as an alternative to deficit-based approaches and are common in Aboriginal health settings. Despite this, there is little existing research that describes Aboriginal peoples' perspectives about the strengths of their communities. This paper describes cultural strengths and resources as understood by Aboriginal people living in western Sydney.

Methods: In-depth interviews were used to collect qualitative data from two communities on Dharug and Dharrawal Country in western Sydney Australia. Data come from a larger study, which focused on how cultural strengths supported sexual well-being. Fifty-two interviews were conducted with Aboriginal young people (aged 16-24 years) by trained peer interviewers. Additionally, 16 interviews with Aboriginal adults (25 years and older) were conducted by members of the research team.

Findings and discussion: While opinions varied, four key areas of cultural strength were identified: (1) strong kinship relationships; (2) knowledge sharing; (3) shared experiences, identities, and values; and (4) knowing Country. Throughout these four themes, the sense of connection and belonging is viewed as an important overarching theme.

Conclusion: Communities are not homogenous with regard to what they view as cultural strengths. Knowing Country and practising culture meant different things to different individuals while providing a similar sense of belonging, connection, and identity.

So what: Health service providers, policies, and programs can use this information to understand the continuing impacts of past policies and events whilst recognising that each community has strengths that can be drawn upon to improve service engagement, knowledge sharing, and health outcomes.

Keywords: Australia; aboriginal; culture; indigenous; strengths.