ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Thomas, Yvonne Angela (2012) An occupational perspective of wellbeing: a case study of homelessness in Townsville. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24920 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/24920 An Occupational Perspective of Wellbeing: A Case Study of Homelessness in Townsville Thesis submitted by Yvonne Angela THOMAS DipCOT, GradDip, MEd in January 2012 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Indigenous Australian Studies James Cook University i 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 Theses 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 I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and I do not wish to place further restrictions on this work. ______________________________ _____31 January 2012__________ Signature Yvonne Thomas Date ii STATEMENT OF SOURCES DECLARATION 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 Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. Every reasonable effort has been made to gain permission and acknowledge the owners of copyright material. I would be pleased to hear from any copyright owner who has been omitted or incorrectly acknowledged. ______________________________ _____31 January 2012__________ Signature Yvonne Thomas Date iii STATEMENT ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF OTHERS I declare that all persons whom have contributed to this thesis have been included as co-authors for published papers or are acknowledged below. The contribution of my two supervisors; Professor Marion Gray and Professor Sue McGinty throughout the research, in the publication of papers and in the completion of this thesis is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. A significant contribution has been provided by my cultural mentors; Albert Abdul- Rahman, Chris Henaway, Robert Cedar and Peter Malouf who have provided guidance in relation to understanding Indigenous homelessness. These four contributors provided feedback on Chapter 9: Indigenous Homelessness. Dr Linda Wilson of Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand, contributed to the thesis through her role as ‘critical friend’. At a critical time in the production of the thesis Linda’s wisdom and insights brought a level of clarity to the integration of the findings. Sally Ebringer provided encouragement and input to the production of publication of the pilot project included as chapter 6 in this thesis and has been included as co- author. Deb Miles provided assistance and advice on the publication of Chapter 7 in a social work journal and is acknowledged as an advisor for this publication. Numerous individuals and organisations concerned with the homeless community in Townsville have contributed their time and knowledge. Some names and organisations have been included in the thesis, although many are not. The author has received no external financial assistance for this thesis. All expenses have been covered by James Cook University, School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences or by the author. iv The contributions are listed below: Nature of Contribution Co-Contributors Assistance Intellectual Research Design Prof Marion Gray, Adjunct Professor, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of Support and Analysis Public Health Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University and Head of Occupational Therapy, University of Sunshine Coast Prof Sue McGinty, Associate Dean of Research, Professor of School of Indigenous Australian Studies, Faculty of Arts Education and Social Sciences, James Cook University Cultural Albert Abdul-Rahman, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Council and Aboriginal and Mentoring Torres Strait Islander Comnunity Justice Chris Henaway, Occupational Therapist, Aboriginal and Islander Health, Queensland Robert Cedar, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service, Department of Communities Peter Malouf, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service, Department of Communities Publication co- Prof Marion Gray, Adjunct Professor, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, School of authors Public Health Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University and Head of Occupational Therapy, University of Sunshine Coast Prof Sue McGinty, Associate Dean of Research, Professor of School of Indigenous Australian Studies, Faculty of Arts Education and Social Sciences, James Cook University Sally Ebringer, Nurse and Artist, Artbox Publication Dr Debra Miles, Director, Centre for Women’s Studies and Senior Lecturer advisor School of Arts & Social Sciences Critical Friend Dr Linda Wilson, Principal Lecturer, Occupational Therapy, Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand Editorial Formatting and Samantha Talbot, Townsville Support checking 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 Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans (2007), the Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research (NHMRC 2003), and the James Cook University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007). The research methodology outlined here received clearance from the James Cook University Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number # H2905). ______________________________ _____31 January 2012__________ Signature Yvonne Thomas Date vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Completing this PhD over the last five years has been a tremendous adventure. Unlike anything I have ever embarked on before I liken this life changing experience to ‘a journey of discovery’. This journey has been personal, professional and intellectual and as I come to its conclusion I want to pay tribute to those who have journeyed with me. I thank Professors Sue McGinty and Marion Gray, who have been not only excellent supervisors but have been my friends, counsellors, mentors, role models and constructive critiques throughout the journey. Together they have guided, cajoled, prodded and steered me over numerous hurdles and celebrated my achievements on the way. A special thank you goes to Linda Wilson, my critical and trusted friend who read my findings with fresh eyes and helped me to see what I had been looking for. I thank all three of you for making this journey achievable and fun! Importantly I thank all the people in Townsville who have contributed to the project in many different ways, as participants, advisers, consultants and mentors. Some people I have met just once, others have been companions over the whole five years; regardless their input and insights have been invaluable. It is impossible to mention all by name but collectively they have allowed me to access and experience a diverse world of homelessness in Townsville. I have been supported in my studies by numerous individuals at James Cook University. I thank my colleagues and friends in Occupational Therapy who have encouraged and supported me throughout the five years and specifically during two semesters of Study Leave, without which this work would never have been completed. Thanks also go to my fellow PhD peers, in the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences and the School of Australian Indigenous Studies, for sharing experiences formally and informally and ongoing encouragement to keep at it. On a personal level my heartfelt thanks go to my husband, Kyle, who has loved and supported me through to the end, taken on more than a fair a share of the domestic vii tasks, forgotten all expectations of weekends of relaxation and never reminded me of the toll that this study has taken without a smile and a kiss. The personal journey that we have shared over the last five years has included great joy and great sadness. You have been by my side through thick and thin and I could not have asked for more. Sadly in the course of this thesis three people in my life have died; my father, Aubrey Ludwig Thomas; my eldest brother, Christopher William Thomas; and my oldest friend Claire Ruth Foster. The sad loss of these three people has inspired me to finish this project in their honour. I dedicate this thesis to them. viii ABSTRACT There is a growing concern within the occupational therapy profession regarding the needs of people experiencing occupational injustice within our societies. People experiencing homelessness in Australia have limited opportunities for occupational engagement and are currently a focus of the government’s social inclusion agenda. An initial review of the occupational therapy literature on homelessness grounded this study in an occupational therapy perspective, which I have termed ‘rebuilding lives’. Literature from other disciplines demonstrates the precarious position of the marginalised that results in poor health