A model of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoner health and wellbeing in South Australia
Abstract
Purpose
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people are overrepresented in Australian prisons, where they experience complex health needs. A model of care was designed to respond to the broad needs of the Aboriginal prisoner population within the nine adult prisons across South Australia. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods and findings of the Model of Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Prisoner Health and Wellbeing for South Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
The project used a qualitative mixed-method approach, including a rapid review of relevant literature, stakeholder consultations and key stakeholder workshop. The project was overseen by a Stakeholder Reference Group, which met monthly to ensure that the specific needs of project partners, stakeholders and Aboriginal communities were appropriately incorporated into the planning and management of the project and to facilitate access to relevant information and key informants.
Findings
The model of care for Aboriginal prisoner health and wellbeing is designed to be holistic, person-centred and underpinned by the provision of culturally appropriate care. It recognises that Aboriginal prisoners are members of communities both inside and outside of prison. It notes the unique needs of remanded and sentenced prisoners and differing needs by gender.
Social implications
Supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous prison populations can improve health outcomes, community health and reduce recidivism.
Originality/value
Only one other model of care for Aboriginal prisoner health exists in Australia, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation-initiated in-reach model of care in one prison in one jurisdiction. The South Australian model of care presents principles that are applicable across all jurisdictions and provides a framework that could be adapted to support Indigenous peoples in diverse prison settings.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the Adelaide Aboriginal Grannies Group and Aboriginal Elders Visiting Program members, who have been working for decades to support Aboriginal prisoners and reduce Aboriginal incarceration. The authors acknowledge with gratitude the valuable contributions of members of the Project Governance Reference Group, who met monthly to guide this project. They thank all those who participated in consultations for this study, including those who attended the stakeholder workshop. And they thank Associate Professor Odette Pearson and Associate Professor Kim Morey for reviewing the manuscript for cultural context. Further, the authors acknowledge that this project was funded and supported by the Government of South Australia through the South Australian Prison Health Service. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Government of South Australia.
Citation
Sivak, L., Cantley, L., Reilly, R., Kelly, J., Hawke, K., Stewart, H., , McKivett, A., Rankine, S., Miller, W., Towers, K. and Brown, A. (2024), "A model of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoner health and wellbeing in South Australia", International Journal of Prison Health, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-06-2023-0035
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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