A Culturally Responsive Trauma-Informed Public Health Emergency Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Australia, Developed during COVID-19

Simon Graham (), Ilias Kamitsis, Michelle Kennedy, Christina Heris, Tess Bright, Shannon K. Bennetts, Kimberley A Jones, Renee Fiolet, Janine Mohamed, Caroline Atkinson and Catherine Chamberlain
Additional contact information
Simon Graham: Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Ilias Kamitsis: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Michelle Kennedy: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
Christina Heris: National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Tess Bright: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Shannon K. Bennetts: Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
Kimberley A Jones: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Renee Fiolet: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Janine Mohamed: The Lowitja Institute, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia
Caroline Atkinson: We Al-Li, Goolmangar, NSW 2480, Australia
Catherine Chamberlain: Indigenous Health Equity Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted peoples’ livelihoods and mental wellbeing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia continue to experience intergenerational trauma associated with colonization and may experience trauma-related distress in response to government responses to public health emergencies. We aimed to develop a culturally responsive trauma-informed public health emergency response framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led study involved: (i) a review of trauma-informed public health emergency responses to develop a draft framework (ii) interviews with 110 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents about how COVID-19 impacted their lives, and (iii) a workshop with 36 stakeholders about pandemic experiences using framework analysis to refine a culturally responsive trauma-informed framework. The framework included: an overarching philosophy (cultural humility, safety and responsiveness); key enablers (local leadership and Eldership); supporting strategies (provision of basic needs and resources, well-functioning social systems, human rights, dignity, choice, justice and ethics, mutuality and collective responsibility, and strengthening of existing systems); interdependent core concepts (safety, transparency, and empowerment, holistic support, connectedness and collaboration, and compassion, protection and caring); and central goals (a sense of security, resilience, wellbeing, self- and collective-efficacy, hope, trust, resilience, and healing from grief and loss).

Keywords: Indigenous; complex trauma; Aboriginal; Torres Strait Islander; public health emergency; framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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