"Here we are part of a living culture": Understanding the cultural determinants of health in Aboriginal gathering places in Victoria, Australia

Jonathan Kingsley; Emily Munro-Harrison; Anne Jenkins; Alister Thorpe

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.10.001

"Here we are part of a living culture": Understanding the cultural determinants of health in Aboriginal gathering places in Victoria, Australia

Health Place. 2018 Nov:54:210-220. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.10.001. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Authors

Jonathan Kingsley¹, Emily Munro-Harrison², Anne Jenkins³, Alister Thorpe⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, 12 Wakefield Street (Swinburne Place West), Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. Electronic address: jkingsley@swin.edu.au.
² School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. Electronic address: emily.munro@unimelb.edu.au.
³ Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association, 1A Badger Creek Road, Healesville, Victoria 3777, Australia. Electronic address: manager@hicsa.org.au.
⁴ School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. Electronic address: ahthorpe@unimelb.edu.au.

PMID: 30368099
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.10.001

Abstract

This article provides an exploration of the cultural determinants of health, based on a research evaluation investigating a number of Aboriginal gathering places in Victoria (Australia). Gathering places are recognised as settings in which people practice and learn about local Aboriginal culture, history and place. Academic literature on gathering places is sparse. Thirteen gathering places were evaluated in this research. Each site is unique and has a specific story that connects it to the history and geography of the place in which it is located. Sixty-nine gathering place members participated in qualitative semi-structured interviews or focus groups. Using thematic analysis, the findings were divided into four key themes associated with cultural determinants of health (social networks; inclusiveness; empowerment; connections). These elements create a safe place to learn about culture and Country, and support an environment for strengthening identity, improving health and building resilience. The findings from this study highlight the benefits of using gathering places to explore the cultural determinants of health.

Keywords: Aboriginal; Culture; Indigenous; Place; Wellbeing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Culture*
Environment*
Focus Groups
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander*
Social Determinants of Health*
Victoria