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
Learning to Drink:a socio-cultural history of the introduction of alcohol to Indigenous Australians and a critique of existing explanations. The wide distribution of alcohol-related problems among Indigenous people is undoubtedly related to the ongoing legacy of Australia's colonisation. This study examines forces and factors that have shaped distinctive present-day Indigenous alcohol-related behavioural patterns, by analysing the history of interactions between Aborigines and colonisers around ....Learning to Drink:a socio-cultural history of the introduction of alcohol to Indigenous Australians and a critique of existing explanations. The wide distribution of alcohol-related problems among Indigenous people is undoubtedly related to the ongoing legacy of Australia's colonisation. This study examines forces and factors that have shaped distinctive present-day Indigenous alcohol-related behavioural patterns, by analysing the history of interactions between Aborigines and colonisers around alcoholic beverages. In this endeavour, the historical and cultural continuities in the style of drinking are the focus, rather than the number of consumers. Current understandings of problem drinking, emphasising distress and biology, impede progress and will be challenged. In contrast, a social learning model is conducive to optimism about implementing new treatment approaches.Read moreRead less
Chanted tales from Highland New Guinea: a comparative study of oral performance traditions and their role in contemporary land politics. In parts of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of epic-like chanted tales. Often dealing with relationships between people and land, these are a highly valued cultural resource. From the perspective of comparative poetics they are one of the clearest known examples of measured verse that has developed independently of alphabetic or syllabic writing. ....Chanted tales from Highland New Guinea: a comparative study of oral performance traditions and their role in contemporary land politics. In parts of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of epic-like chanted tales. Often dealing with relationships between people and land, these are a highly valued cultural resource. From the perspective of comparative poetics they are one of the clearest known examples of measured verse that has developed independently of alphabetic or syllabic writing. This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of investigators to analyse the wide range of styles in which these narratives are performed, and further the understanding of their implications for cross-cultural study of verbal art and the politics of land ownership in present-day Papua New Guinea.Read moreRead less
Melpa Kang Rom: A chanted narrative genre from Highland New Guinea and its role in contemporary electoral politics. Across a large region of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of chanted tales. These are the subject of a current ARC Discovery project based at ANU, which focuses on both the poetic features of these genres and on their political uses. We seek to augment this project through the participation of Dr. Joseph Ketan, an anthropologist with unique qualifications in that he co ....Melpa Kang Rom: A chanted narrative genre from Highland New Guinea and its role in contemporary electoral politics. Across a large region of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of chanted tales. These are the subject of a current ARC Discovery project based at ANU, which focuses on both the poetic features of these genres and on their political uses. We seek to augment this project through the participation of Dr. Joseph Ketan, an anthropologist with unique qualifications in that he comes from the project area, with an insider's knowledge of a local genre of chanted tales and its contexts of use in electoral campaigns, and with extensive previous research in relevant areas of political anthropology. The project will contribute to the cross-cultural study of verbal art, and to and the understanding of contemporary electoral politics in PNG.Read moreRead less
Indigenous Australians and alcohol control: The impact of hotel ownership on harm reduction and social and economic development. This project investigates Indigenous social enterprise that intersects with the alcohol industry. Findings will benefit the Indigenous governing bodies of licensed premises and their communities, health and liquor regulation authorities and the country as a whole. The research addresses policy uncertainty surrounding Indigenous ownership of licensed premises and whethe ....Indigenous Australians and alcohol control: The impact of hotel ownership on harm reduction and social and economic development. This project investigates Indigenous social enterprise that intersects with the alcohol industry. Findings will benefit the Indigenous governing bodies of licensed premises and their communities, health and liquor regulation authorities and the country as a whole. The research addresses policy uncertainty surrounding Indigenous ownership of licensed premises and whether this achieves anticipated economic and social goals and reduces alcohol-related problems. Harm minimisation is an object of liquor licensing acts in most jurisdictions in Australia. Indigenous-owned licensed premises are well-placed to implement responsible alcohol service and promote harm minimisation in keeping with Australian best practice.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