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Making Two Worlds Work
Building the capacity of the health and community sector to work effectively and respectfully with our Aboriginal community

Aboriginal health promotion

What is Aboriginal health promotion?
Health promotion for Indigenous people needs to take into account culture, diversity within the population, socioeconomic circumstances, numerous languages and dialects, geographic location and, importantly, the consequences of colonisation (which have impacted on the social, economic, and physical living conditions of Indigenous people).

Health is viewed holistically in the Indigenous population, and is inclusive of the physical, social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of individuals and communities. Relationships within the community (particularly those with elders), and spiritual connections to the land and ancestors need to be considered in the interpretation of health issues.

Specific health issues and their contributing factors need to be assessed in the context of Indigenous people’s lives and the disproportionate burden of disadvantage they bear compared with the non-Indigenous population.x

Please refer to using a Health promotion framework with Aboriginal lens.