Muller, Lorraine (2014) Indigenous Australian social-health theory: decolonisation, healing - reclaiming wellbeing. In: Beddoe, Liz, and Maidment, Jane, (eds.) Social Work Practice for Promoting Health and Wellbeing: critical issues. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 99-110.

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Abstract

[Extract] We, Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, have a very rigorous and academically sound theoretical base. Until recently, this knowledge was held and transferred orally, meaning that, when engaging with tertiary studies, our students could not draw on our theory as an academic source. Collectively, a group of social health workers, those for whom the social, emotional (including Spiritual) and physical wellbeing of our people is central to their practice, and community members, determined that we needed our theory in an academic format. Making our theory available to our students, workers and interested non-Indigenous colleagues became the topic of my qualitative doctoral research.

Initially, I assumed our theory would be a practice theory, rather than the meta-theory, entwined with examples of practice, that emerged as the study progressed. Documenting our theory took me on a circuitous path where I realised the truth that meta-theory and methodology are interconnected and entangled and both are products of the researcher's world view which, in turn, informs the process of research and establishes what is acceptable as theory (Overton, nd; Overton and Ennis, 2006). Sometimes described as relational theory/methodology, Indigenous theory and methodologies have significant difference, as they have a decolonising aim and clear connection to Country (lands) (Kovach, 2010, pp. 30-36).

Item ID:	31556
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	978-0-415-53521-2
Keywords:	Indigenous health
Date Deposited:	19 May 2015 06:00
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111701 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920301 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Determinants of Health @ 100%
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