Exploring the myth of the single solution: an anthropological study of housing maintenance and infrastructure issues in Australia. Indigenous housing is a core challenge for improving Australia's social and economic fabric. Urgent issues of amenity, maintenance and responsibility remain unresolved. By documenting what is involved in taking a difficult yet successful intervention model for targeting small-scale repairs and maintenance to scale in Australia, the research will shed critical light o ....Exploring the myth of the single solution: an anthropological study of housing maintenance and infrastructure issues in Australia. Indigenous housing is a core challenge for improving Australia's social and economic fabric. Urgent issues of amenity, maintenance and responsibility remain unresolved. By documenting what is involved in taking a difficult yet successful intervention model for targeting small-scale repairs and maintenance to scale in Australia, the research will shed critical light on: the complexities of program replication and effect; the social and political context such programs operate within; the characteristics required for sustained reform. It will also add an Australian contribution to a growing international field: namely, the anthropology of policy, aid and development. Read moreRead less
Culture, context and Risk: socio-cultural influences on the sexual health of Indigenous young people. The health of Indigenous young people is a national priority, and it is clear in the area of sexual health that they suffer disproportionately when compared to the non-Indigenous population. Existing interventions are not acheiving the desired changes in sexual health. This project explores sexuality from the perspective of Indigenous youth in order to develop interventions that are appropriate ....Culture, context and Risk: socio-cultural influences on the sexual health of Indigenous young people. The health of Indigenous young people is a national priority, and it is clear in the area of sexual health that they suffer disproportionately when compared to the non-Indigenous population. Existing interventions are not acheiving the desired changes in sexual health. This project explores sexuality from the perspective of Indigenous youth in order to develop interventions that are appropriate and sustainable. Read moreRead less
Can there be good policy? Tracing the paths between policy intent, evidence and practical benefit in regional and remote Australia. By tracking major health, housing and education reforms currently underway across regional and remote Australia, this research generates fresh perspectives on an urgent contemporary debate in Indigenous social affairs: namely, are governments best placed to drive social change or to determine policy imperatives; and if not, are there alternate ways to generate good ....Can there be good policy? Tracing the paths between policy intent, evidence and practical benefit in regional and remote Australia. By tracking major health, housing and education reforms currently underway across regional and remote Australia, this research generates fresh perspectives on an urgent contemporary debate in Indigenous social affairs: namely, are governments best placed to drive social change or to determine policy imperatives; and if not, are there alternate ways to generate good policy? An anthropological approach will be used to observe government policy at work. The research will explore the institutional reasons behind the gap between intention and outcome in Indigenous social policy; how failure cycles in policy are replicated; and possible techniques for creating and implementing a new ethics of policy engagement.Read moreRead less
Indigenous birth and family: Pathways, places and professionals. The research complements the National Research Priority Goal A Healthy Start to Life and the National Agenda for Early Childhood. These emphasise pregnancy through to five years as critical for later social competence and physical wellbeing. Maternal and infant mortality and morbidity are significantly worse for Indigenous Australians, predisposing them to poorer health and social wellbeing as children and adults, reducing life po ....Indigenous birth and family: Pathways, places and professionals. The research complements the National Research Priority Goal A Healthy Start to Life and the National Agenda for Early Childhood. These emphasise pregnancy through to five years as critical for later social competence and physical wellbeing. Maternal and infant mortality and morbidity are significantly worse for Indigenous Australians, predisposing them to poorer health and social wellbeing as children and adults, reducing life potential and adding costs. This solution-focused research conducted with Aboriginal and health service partners, is theoretically innovative while pragmatic, as we seek to inform reform of services in urban and remote NT communities and learn lessons applicable nationally.Read moreRead less