a resource to help increase awareness of culturally safe and effective, evidence-based wellbeing programs specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custodial and forensic systems. A self-paced, evidence-based learning kit, called ‘Challenge Yourself’.

1. D. Veraguth, 2016
A self-paced, evidence-based introductory learning kit
Professional practice
to improve the
health and wellbeing of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
in the criminal justice system

2. more likely to die prematurely
than young people in the general
population. Top three causes are:
drug related, suicide, or non-
intentional injury (2)
40x9x
Mortality
in young offenders Poverty(3)
NT
87%NT: Highest
Indigenous
incarceration
rate in
Australia(4, 5)
In the cells of correctional facilities around Australia, the over-representation of
Indigenous Australians is common. Have a look below to see how the statistics compare
with the general population. It is clear incarceration has a major role in compounding
disadvantage and health inequality for Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander peoples.
of young people in custody have 2 or
more mental disorders (8)
>90%
have
hearing
loss (7)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
more likely to be incarcerated (4, 6)
73%
THE
GAP
Rates rose
Among Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander people
2000-2013 (1)
15:1
24:1
Adult
“We are at a state of
emergency, we can't
afford any more
experiment”
Shane Phillips (9)
22.4%
Non-
Aboriginal
Rise in
Imprisonment
rates for women
(2000-2010) (4)
Youth
58.6%
Aboriginal
THE GREAT DIVIDE WITHIN THE
AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
57%

3. UNDERSTAND
INDIGENOUS HOLISTIC
VIEW OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL
WELLBEING
DEVELOP YOUR OWN
SELF-AWARENESS
IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE
CULTURALLY-INFORMED
CARE MODELS
REFORM POLICY
’The Roadmap’
ALIGN WITH POLICY
‘The Health Plan’
UTILISE
CRITICAL
SUCCESS FACTORS
FORM PARTNERSHIPS
COLLABORATE WITH ABORIGINAL
AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER
COMMUNITY CONTROLLED HEALTH
SERVICES AND OTHER
COMMUNITY- RUN SERVICES
Click on the text to open up these professional practice topics.
Then, use the Menu button to return here.

4. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
MENU
DEVELOP YOUR OWN SELF-AWARENESS
Understanding the Self rather than attempting to understand the ‘other’
(10):
http://aboriginal.telethonkids.org.au/media/673981/wt-part-3-chapt-12-
final.pdf
Test your implicit, unconscious views:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/
Reflective exercises:
http://aboriginal.telethonkids.org.au/media/673981/wt-
part-3-chapt-12-final.pdf
CHALLENGE YOUR BELIEFS & OVERCOME BARRIERS TO ENGAGING WITH
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES AND CULTURES

5. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
MENU
“The Health Plan recognises that social and emotional
wellbeing problems are distinct from mental illness,
although the two interact and influence each other” (12).
UNDERSTAND
HOLISTIC VIEW OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL &
EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ view of health
orients away from an individualistic, diagnostic perspective.
It has a broader view of ‘social and emotional wellbeing’
that draws upon a deep connection to land, spirituality,
family, belief system and community (11).

6. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
MENU
FORM PARTNERSHIPS
Aboriginal Offender Rehabilitation Model
COLLABORATE WITH ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITY
CONTROLLED HEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER COMMUNITY- RUN SERVICES

7. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS:
• Red Dust Healing Program
• Family Wellbeing Program
• Getting Back on Track: Aboriginal Men’s Family
Violence Program
• Strong Spirit Strong Mind Model
• Marumali Program
• We Al li
IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE
CULTURALLY-INFORMED CARE MODELS
The best results will be
achieved when Aboriginal
Community Controlled Health
services are leaders and are
engaged in partnership to
improve the quality of care for
Aboriginal patients in custody
and post-prison release.
MENU
More information
More partnerships are required for research and evaluation, to enable processes and
outcomes of programs to be considered as ‘evidence’. Research must be based on the
NHMRC

8. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
MENU
UTILISE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS (14)
Email: m.haswell@unsw.edu.au Web Site: http://www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/centres-units/muru-marri
Haswell,M.R.,Blignault,I.,Fitzpatrick,S.,&JacksonPulver,L.(2013).TheSocialand
EmotionalWellbeingofIndigenousYouth:Reviewingandextendingtheevidenceand
examiningitsimplicationsforpolicyandpractice.UNSWSydney:MuruMarriandrelated
casestudies(FamiliesandHousing,CommunityServicesandIndigenousAffairs).

9. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
MENU
REFORM POLICY
10 Targeted Strategies from this policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:
Click here for the full policy
1. Increase the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families, carers and service providers
in developing culturally appropriate mental health and social and emotional wellbeing programs (Strategy 5).
2. Renew and implement the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework
(Strategy 11).
3. Complete and implement the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy (Strategy 12).
4. Support the implementation of community led healing programs (Strategy 13).
5. Recognise and address the impact that trauma, grief and loss related to past government policies, including the
removal of children from their parents, can have on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples (Strategy 8).
6. Strengthen the cultural competency of frontline professionals, including police, education, and early childhood
providers and health care professionals to detect and appropriately intervene in mental health concerns for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Strategy 25).
7. Enhance the cultural competence and training of those providing mental health services and supports to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples (Strategy 36).
8. Establish protocols for service providers working with interpreters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
(Strategy 37).
9. Increase and promote employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in mental health and
social and emotional wellbeing service areas (Strategy 38).
10. Expand the availability, and ensure a range, of high quality and culturally appropriate mental health services and
supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a mental health issue to enable their participation in
education, employment and their community (Strategy 45).
Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
The Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform 2012–2022

10. Let’s fund and deliver offender rehabilitation programs that work for our
First Nations people!
MENU
ALIGN WITH POLICY FRAMEWORKS
Principles of the Health Plan
• Health Equality and a Human Rights
Approach
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Community Control and Engagement
• Partnership
• Accountability (15, 16).
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Plan 2013–2023

11. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Developed by Dayna Veraguth, 2016, as part of UNSW Masters of Forensic Mental Health and its PHCM9630 ‘Public Health Perspectives of Indigenous Health’ course
assessment. Permission granted for #JustJustice use, linked to article ‘Calling for improved services in custodial and forensic systems’ available at
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/justjustice-stopping-the-over-incarceration-of-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/
Additional support provided by Dr Megan Williams, Senior Research Fellow, Muru Marri Collaboration, Centre for Health Research, Western Sydney University.
Contact megan.williams@westernsydney .edu.au for more information.
REFERENCES
1. Kidd, J. (2014). Over-representation of Indigenous Australians in prison a catastrophe, says Mick Gooda, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commissioner. ABC News. Online article. Retrieved from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-04/number-of-indigenous-australians-in-prison-a-'catastrophe'/5945504
2. Coffey, C., Veit, F., Wolfe, R., Cini, E., & Patton, G. (2003). Mortality in young offenders: retrospective cohort study. British Medical Journal, 326(7398). DOI:
10.1136/bmj.326.7398.1064. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC155689/
3. Johnston, E. (1991). Report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. Retrieved from:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/rciadic/
4. ABS. (2014). Prisoners in Australia, 2013 (Cat. no. 4517.0). Canberra: Author. Retrieved from
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4517.0main+features42013
5. Milliken, R. (2015). Unlocking Indigenous incarceration. Inside Story. Online article. Retrieved from: http://insidestory.org.au/unlocking-indigenous-incarceration
6. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2015). Youth justice in Australia. Bulletin 127. Canberra: Australian Government. Retrieved from
http://www.aihw.gov.au/youth-justice/
7. Vanderpoll, T. & Howard, D. (2011). Investigation into hearing impairment among Indigenous prisoners within the Northern Territory Correctional Services. Darwin:
Phoenix Consulting. Retrieved from: http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/uploads/resources/21173_21173.pdf
8. Indig, D., Vecchiato, C., Haysom, L., Beilby, R., Carter, J., Champion, U. … Whitton, G. (2011). 2009 NSW Young people in Custody Health Survey: Full Report. Sydney: Justice
Health and Juvenile Justice.
9. Korff, J. (2015). Aboriginal prison rates. Online article. Retrieved from: http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/law/aboriginal-prison-rates#axzz3xqY1DpLG
10. Walker, R., Schultz, C. & Sonn, C. (2010). Cultural competence: Transforming policy, services, programs and practice. In N. Purdie, P. Dudgeon & R. Walker (Eds.). Working
together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice (pp. 75-90). Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from:
http://aboriginal.telethonkids.org.au/media/54847/working_together_full_book.pdf
11. Social Health Reference Group (SHRG). (2004). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council and National Mental Health Working Group.
12. Zubrick, S., Holland, C., Kelly, K., Calma, T. & Walker, R. (2010). The evolving policy context in mental health and wellbeing. In N. Purdie, P. Dudgeon & R. Walker (Eds.).
Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice (pp. 75-90). Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved
from: http://aboriginal.telethonkids.org.au/media/54847/working_together_full_book.pdf
13. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). (2003). Values and ethics: Guidelines for ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research.
Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/e52.pdf
14. Haswell, M.R., Blignault, I., Fitzpatrick, S., & Jackson Pulver, L. (2013). The Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Indigenous Youth: Reviewing and extending the evidence and
examining its implications for policy and practice. UNSW Sydney: Muru Marri and related case studies (Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs).
Retrieved from: https://sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/muru-marri/our-research/research-monographs
15. Commonwealth of Australia. (2013). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023. Canberra: Australian Government. Retrieved from:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/B92E980680486C3BCA257BF0001BAF01/$File/health-plan.pdf
16. Department of Health. (2015). Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023. Canberra: Australian Government.
Retrieved from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/indigenous-implementation-plan
Final note