Quigley, Rachel, Wapau, Chenoa, Sagigi, Betty, Russell, Sarah G., Taylor, Sean, Larkins, Sarah, Strivens, Edward, and Redman-MacLaren, Michelle (2025) Following in Elders’ Footsteps: Yarning About Ageing Well in the Torres Strait. Qualitative Health Research. (In Press)

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Abstract

There is a growing body of literature around ageing well for Indigenous Peoples internationally. However, the perspectives of Torres Strait Islander Peoples, one of two First Nations groups in Australia, have not been documented. This qualitative study aims to explore what ageing well means to people living in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) of Australia. Ten yarning circles were conducted with 45 participants from four island and five NPA communities across the region. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify seven themes of ageing well. A metaphor of a wongai tree—an endemic Torres Strait region tree—was used to describe those findings. The roots were used to represent the Torres Strait Islander way of life. The trunk represented practicing Torres Strait Islander identity. The branches represented a holistic approach to living a healthy lifestyle. The leaves represented strong leadership and role models. The fruit depicted passing on knowledge, tradition, and cultural practices. A cyclone, an adverse event, represented the challenges to ageing well, with the regrowth representing strong sustained life. Findings highlighted the importance of the cultural determinants of health, which significantly contribute to ageing well. These cultural determinants must be considered when addressing the health of First Nations Peoples, and as such, First Nations voices must be central in the design and implementation of practices and policies that affect them.

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