Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices, and names of people who have passed away.

Research Overview

Aboriginal Gender Study

Partnering with the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, the Aboriginal Gender Study investigated contemporary understandings of gender, gender roles, and the concept of gender equity in three Aboriginal communities in South Australia. The study applied Indigenous research methodologies which privileged Aboriginal people as experts in their own lives, and centralised culturally safe approaches, including yarning circles and ongoing community engagement. Between 2017 and 2018 yarning circles were held with 49 community members across a diverse range of ages (above 18 years) and gender identities in metropolitan and regional sites.

For more information, please visit aboriginalgenderstudy.ahcsa.org.au and note that the community report and final report are accessible from the links below:

Understanding Stress and Staying Strong - Workforce Research Project

Understanding Stress and Staying Strong research project, a Lowitja Institute funded partnership between AHCSA and the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Research team at SAHMRI, explored challenges faced by health and human services’ workforce and the individual and collective ways people stay strong in the presence of stressful working conditions.

Yarning with over 110 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers across metro, regional and remote locations across Australia, we have explored aspects that contribute to stressful working conditions, specific and unique challenges and the strategies that enables a workforce to stay strong.

The project was Aboriginal-led and guided by a national governance panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce representatives, and findings were interpreted and confirmed through expert roundtable discussions. Understanding the key challenges and strengths of workforce informed the development of guidelines and recommendations for workers, managers and policy makers to drive improvements in the working lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and the broader communities.

The insights and lessons learned from this project are multifaceted and are shared in guides for workforce and managers. These Guides are accessible from the links below. The Guide for Workforce elaborates on the ways Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander workers overcome challenges and stay strong. The Guide for Management outlines examples of how workforce can be supported to stay strong and to thrive.