Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention
Objective: To identify the key components of an Aboriginal model for alcohol (and other drug) harm prevention and intervention. Method: Part of a wider, two-year, Aboriginal-initiated study into the context and Indigenous perceptions of Aboriginal alcohol use and intervention, using a descriptive, g...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal
2010
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35006 |
| _version_ | 1848754378627874816 |
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| author | Nichols, Fiona |
| author_facet | Nichols, Fiona |
| author_sort | Nichols, Fiona |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: To identify the key components of an Aboriginal model for alcohol (and other drug) harm prevention and intervention. Method: Part of a wider, two-year, Aboriginal-initiated study into the context and Indigenous perceptions of Aboriginal alcohol use and intervention, using a descriptive, grounded theory, participatory action study design. A demographically comprehensive sample of 170 Aboriginal people participated in qualitative, semi-structured interviews within three types of participant groups: the "model planning group" progressively distilling all participants' proposals into the intervention model described here. Results: The model proposes a remotely located, multi-component, youth and family-focused residential Bush College program with integral "cultural", vocational/life skills and followup support components. The program would be staffed by a network of permanent on-site Aboriginal staff, language group elders in residence for "cultural teaching" components, and visiting accredited vocational trainers. Family and peer co-residence would be encouraged. Detailed operational guidelines include staff selection criteria, assessment procedures, program content and operation, rules, follow-up, management, budget, evaluation (discussed in a separate paper), and local agency support. Core program components are presented, with further details available via weblink.Conclusions and implications: Among the study's remote area Aboriginal participants, recommendations for substance misuse prevention and intervention differ markedly from options generally available to them. In contrast with the substance use symptom-focus of most programs, participants detail instead a cause focused approach addressing issues of identity, economic and daily-life opportunity, and a sense of hope for the future. These findings have relevance for understandings of cultural appropriateness, Aboriginal-perceived social determinants and the design of culturally meaningful substance misuse prevention and intervention strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:39:28Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-35006 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:39:28Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-350062017-01-30T13:47:01Z Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention Nichols, Fiona Aboriginal model support intervention substance use prevention vocational training participatory action research social determinants capacity building culture Objective: To identify the key components of an Aboriginal model for alcohol (and other drug) harm prevention and intervention. Method: Part of a wider, two-year, Aboriginal-initiated study into the context and Indigenous perceptions of Aboriginal alcohol use and intervention, using a descriptive, grounded theory, participatory action study design. A demographically comprehensive sample of 170 Aboriginal people participated in qualitative, semi-structured interviews within three types of participant groups: the "model planning group" progressively distilling all participants' proposals into the intervention model described here. Results: The model proposes a remotely located, multi-component, youth and family-focused residential Bush College program with integral "cultural", vocational/life skills and followup support components. The program would be staffed by a network of permanent on-site Aboriginal staff, language group elders in residence for "cultural teaching" components, and visiting accredited vocational trainers. Family and peer co-residence would be encouraged. Detailed operational guidelines include staff selection criteria, assessment procedures, program content and operation, rules, follow-up, management, budget, evaluation (discussed in a separate paper), and local agency support. Core program components are presented, with further details available via weblink.Conclusions and implications: Among the study's remote area Aboriginal participants, recommendations for substance misuse prevention and intervention differ markedly from options generally available to them. In contrast with the substance use symptom-focus of most programs, participants detail instead a cause focused approach addressing issues of identity, economic and daily-life opportunity, and a sense of hope for the future. These findings have relevance for understandings of cultural appropriateness, Aboriginal-perceived social determinants and the design of culturally meaningful substance misuse prevention and intervention strategies. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35006 Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Aboriginal model support intervention substance use prevention vocational training participatory action research social determinants capacity building culture Nichols, Fiona Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention |
| title | Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention |
| title_full | Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention |
| title_fullStr | Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention |
| title_short | Take the Best from Both Cultures: An Aboriginal Model for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention |
| title_sort | take the best from both cultures: an aboriginal model for substance use prevention and intervention |
| topic | Aboriginal model support intervention substance use prevention vocational training participatory action research social determinants capacity building culture |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35006 |