Aboriginal Wellbeing and Health

Aboriginal wellbeing and health are holistic and intrinsically linked, encompassing the important concept of mabu liyan (in Yawuru language). This term refers to a good feeling or inner spirit.  It is also known as mapu ngarlu in Karajarri.  As Nulungu’s research ultimately aims to improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people (that is, to foster mabu liyan/mapu ngarlu), in essence this theme underpins and is embedded within the majority of our projects. Whether the focus is culture, Country and language; education; or cultural security and social justice, our research is conducted within a strengths-based model that challenges deficit discourse and colonial concepts that influence the wellbeing (mental, physical and spiritual) of Aboriginal people.

Throughout our endeavours, Nulungu supports a range of research projects which specifically target wellbeing and health across vocations and demographics. From 2013-2016 we partnered with the Australian National University on a Collaborative Research Network grant which specifically focused on Aboriginal wellbeing and health across the Kimberley region. Nulungu also has a working partnership with the Majarlin Kimberley Centre for Remote Health, based at the Broome campus, which links our work under this theme with a more mainstream understanding of wellbeing and health research, in particular in the allied health field.

Examples of Aboriginal Wellbeing and Health research:

• Kimberley Girl Evaluation
• Yiriman Traditional Healing Evaluation
• Voicing Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals: Examining the Contemporary financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing
• Social, community and governance benefits for Working on Country Ranger teams

Post Graduate and Doctoral Researchers Working in the Broad Aboriginal Wellbeing and Health Space:

• Anne Poelina
• Stefanie Oliver
• Anna Dwyer

Previous Projects

Examples of Aboriginal Wellbeing and Health research:

• Bidyadanga Electricity Security
  University of Notre Dame Australia (Research Office) – Research Incentive Scheme
  This project examined electricity usage and its relationship to individual and community wellbeing in Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community. Karajarri traditional owners and Bidyadanga Community residents were interviewed to assess their access to electricity, energy use, and payment methods. A report has been produced : Power usage in the Bidyadanga community and its relationship to community health and well-being.

• Living on the Anne Street Reserve – Broome, 1968 - 1982
  The Living on the Reserve project documented, via personal accounts, stories, recollections, photographs and with some reference to archival material, what life was like for Aboriginal families living on the Anne St Reserve in Broome, from the late 1960s until the early 80s. You can listen to an ABC radio interview about the project here: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/editorschoice/annestreet/8087482 or watch a research presentation here: Living on the Anne Street Reserve.

  More information is available here: Living on the Reserve – Broome, 1968 - 1982.