ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Smallwood, Gracelyn (2011) Human rights and first Australians' well-being. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/20193 The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/20193 Human Rights and First Australians’ Well-being by Gracelyn Smallwood AM Registered Nurse Registered Midwife Indigenous Mental Health Certificate Master of Science in Tropical Medicine Science Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences James Cook University October 2011 Statement of Contribution of Others: Nature of Names, Titles and Affiliations of Co- Contribution Assistance contributers Intellectual support Proposal writing Professor Rick Speare, Supervisory, James Editorial assistance Cook University Dr Jenni Judd, Co-Supervisor, James Cook University Dr Garry MacLennan, Division of Indigenous Education and Training Futures, Department of Education Queensland Editorial assistance Ms Tricia Emmanuel, Anton Breinl Centre, James Cook University Financial Support Grant writing Dr Jenni Judd, Co-Supervisor James Stipend Cook University NHMRC Indigenous Capacity Building Grant (431504) PHCRED Fellowship, MICRRH, Mt Isa, James Cook University Native Titles Centre, James Cook University Data Collection Research Dr Gary MacLennan, Division of assistance Indigenous Education and Training Futures, Department of Education Document Queensland retrieval ii Statement of access I, the undersigned author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the university library and via the Australian Digital Thesis Network, for use elsewhere. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this work. _________________________ _________________ Signature Date iii Statement of sources I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. _________________________ _______________ Signature Date iv Electronic Copy I, the undersigned, the author of this work, declare that the electronic copy of this thesis provided to the James Cook University Library is an accurate copy of the print thesis submitted, within the limits of the technology available. _________________________ _______________ Signature Date v Declaration on Ethics The research presented and reported in this thesis was conducted within the guidelines for research ethics outlined in the National Statement on Ethics Conduct in Research Involving Humans (1999), the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997), the James Cook University Policy on Experimentation Ethics, Standard Practices and Guidelines (2001), and the James Cook University Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (2001). Given there were no interviews conducted in this research and that all information was publicly available, no ethics approval was required. _________________________ ________________ Signature Date vi Acknowledgements I would like to make the following acknowledgements with the hope that in this process, I do not leave anyone out. It would be impossible to mention all who have assisted me during my lifetime, and in the writing of my thesis. Still I will try to do everyone justice in this short summary. Firstly, I want to thank my Creator and Ancestors, as my prayers always seem to be answered. To my amazing, strong political and cultural family, you are all “TOO DEADLY”. My Grandparents Alf and May Stanley and family, have had a profound effect on my life, thank you for being there. I expecially want to thank my Parents: Grace and Archie Smallwood for teaching me how to be an Activist from a very young age.Thank you to all of my siblings and offspring as there are way too many to mention. What can I say? Thank you for being there through thick and thin and supporting me on my long journey, both in life and with this thesis. A particular thank you to my Eldest sister, Dorothy, her husband Sammy, and their family, my achievements would not be possible without your strong cultural and family support to myself, my children and my grandchildren. Thank you to my Sister Jeanette Wyles for your honesty when proof reading my work over the years, especially for telling me like it is. To my brother Alfred Smallwood, after 40yrs of alcoholism and now six years sober, you are certainly an inspiration- keep strong. Thank you for making our dream a reality, and for working tirelessly in our community, with those who are less well off. Keep cleansing our spirits. A special thank you to my sister Lyn Munns for your prayer chain and prayers, I need all the help I can get. I especially want to thank my Principal Supervisor, Professor Rick Speare, both to you and your wonderful wife, Dr Kerry Kelly. You have both played a major role in my life over the past 30 yrs. I am deeply grateful, as you continue to advocate for our community in “Closing the Gap” and you are a constant inspiration. vii To my other Supervisor, Dr Jenni Judd, to both you and your wonderful partner Louise Scanlan, who have kept me fully nourished with healthy food, occasionally your lovely processed grape juice, and a comfortable bed, a heartfelt thanks. Also I am eternally grateful for those many long hours in your peaceful home during your supervision of this thesis. I am so grateful to my research mentor and friend – Dr Gary MacLennan, what can I say? Apart from being so emotional and humorous for the long hours you and your wonderful family spent with me over the years. Gary assisted me to access documents and references. However, his major academic role was helping me build my research capacity in critical realism, the theoretical foundation of the methodology of my thesis.To my administration ‘guru’ - Rebecca Smith, with all of your children, thank you so much for being on call 24 hrs a day, with no pay! Marcia Croucher, thank you for your friendship for the past 25years and for all of yours and Judy Woosnam’s expertise and support from the Anton Breinl Centre. Your contributions have been invaluable Dr Ian Wronski and Maggie Grant who I met in the Kimberley’s 35 years ago, thank you Ian for advising me to go to that Nookenbah demonstration in WA, where they locked me up, seriously thanks for the memories from Broome Aboriginal Medical Service. Also to Karen Lusk, thank you for your toughness and guidance, during my time whilst employed at James Cook University. To BIRC: Whilst working on this thesis I was fortunate to be a Team Investigator on the Building Indigenous Research Capacity Grant (BIRC; NHMRC-431504) at James Cook University from 2007-2012. The BIRC grant had three objectives: 1) to build the research capacity of a cohort of 13 (expanding to 18) Indigenous researchers based in Northern Australia, South Australia and NSW;2) to establish a network to promote Indigenous health research and build capacity in a number of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council; South Australia Health Council and Waminda (South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation) who were already involved in Indigenous and population health research; and 3) to investigate and analyse models of how Universities can best build research capacity in Indigenous population health researchers. As a result of BIRC, which provided additional monetary support, research training and mentoring and support from Dr Jenni Judd, I was able to take advantage of some study funding of $12,500 to support my study needs. I was also supported to apply for a PHCRED (Primary Health Care Research Education and Development) grant through Mt Isa Centre for Rural and viii Remote Research. As a Kalkadoon descendant (the other part of my heritage) I was eligible to apply for this grant. I was successful in gaining this grant which enabled me to employ Dr Gary MacLennan as a research officer, and to work full time on my thesis for 3 months. Gary was able to offer research capacity training and development by assisting me to access documents and references; and to develop my capacity in Critical realism as an important theoretical framework in which to position my research. These additional resources contributed positively to my progress in completing my PhD. To my Elders: Dorothy and Sam Savage, Aunty Renata Prior, Aunty Jean Walker, Aunty Dorothy Murphy, Aunty Josie Sailor (and your daughter, Deanne), Dr Ernie Hoolihan and your deceased wife Aunty Maude, Mr Jim Gaston, Aunty Phyllis Nuggins, Uncle David Tapim and Aunty Mary Tapim (Deceased), Pop Eric and Bessie Lymburner (Deceased). A big thank you for your support, language, culture, politics, and stories over the years. To my Friends: Thank you to Mrs Karel Gallagher nee Spina, your three sons Mario, Michael, Marty and Mr Joe Spina for giving me my first job at the age of 14yrs and for our continued friendship over the years. To Sister Shereen Malamoo, thanks sis, for all of those years of jazz when life was down. Dr Betty McLellan, thank you for your support and healing over the last 30 years Thanks also to Randal Ross, my Red Dust Healing Brother! Sponsors in-kind and/or financial: I would like to make a particular mention and thanks to the Building Indigenous Research Capacity (BIRC) NHMRC project and my fellow BIRC Scholars for their peer support, research training, mentoring, and the Internal grant support.