Proving Culture and Voice Works: Towards Creating the Evidence Base for Resilient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in Australia

Abstract

Since colonisation, the overt and covert forms of violence imposed on Australia's First Peoples has created an environment which is socially toxic for their children. The challenge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and family service agencies is to demonstrate that culturally based services, programs, policies and processes which enable self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families and children will improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family service agencies are seeking to frame a methodology to create an evidence base which pays due respect to both Indigenous and Western forms of knowledge and practice. Such an approach requires creating culturally respectful hybrid systems of research and evidence gathering.