Reframing spaces by building relationships: Community collaborative participatory action research with Aboriginal mothers in prison

Abstract

Aboriginal women are vastly over-represented in the Australian prison system. Their recidivism rates are high. Aboriginal women in contact with the criminal justice system also have higher rates of mental health disorders and are likely to have been a victim of violence. The majority of these women are mothers. Their increasing incarceration therefore has serious implications for the health and social and emotional wellbeing of their Aboriginal children, families and communities. Illustrating and exploring this situation requires an Indigenous informed conceptual framework utilising a decolonising research methodology inclusive of enduring community and stakeholder dialogue and consultation. Respectful and ethical praxis are central to this approach. We will describe how this methodology has been applied within a current National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) research project in NSW, Australia. The NHMRC guidelines for research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples have supported our process and will be highlighted in illustrating our research experience.

Holistic Conceptualizations of Health by Incarcerated Aboriginal Women in New South Wales, Australia

“…Qualitative interviews were also conducted in WA, but followed a different methodological approach on the guidance of the WA project advisory group (PAG) (Wilson et al, 2017; Wilson, Jones, & Gilles, 2014). In acknowledgment of the heterogeneity of Aboriginal communities and experiences of colonization across Australia, the larger project was designed to be responsive to the advice of local Aboriginal researchers and community experts regarding the methods of data collection and analysis in each state (this is discussed in detail in the “Method” section) (Sherwood & Kendall, 2013). Privileging the voices, knowledge, and paradigms of Aboriginal people is a foundational principle guiding health research with Aboriginal communities (Rigney, 1999; Rynne & Cassematis, 2015; Sherwood & Kendall, 2013).…”

Involving incarcerated individuals in the research process: Perspectives of key stakeholders

“…The few examples of PAR in prisons have reported mixed success in using PAR to create positive change and empower participants (e.g. Bennett, Perry, & Lapworth, 2010; Drake, 2014; Fine and Torre, 2006; Martin et al., 2013; Martin, Murphy, Chan, et al., 2009; Martin, Murphy, Hanson, et al., 2009; Sherwood & Kendall, 2013; Sullivan, Hassal, & Rowlands, 2008; Walsh, Forsyth, Senior, O’Hara, & Shaw, 2014; Ward, Bailey, & Boyd, 2012). For example, Drake (2014) used action research-inspired approaches to gain prisoners’ perspectives on the realities of being imprisoned, creatively collaborating with correctional officers to gather the data.…”

Healthcare challenges of incarcerated women in Australia: An integrative review

“…[36] Aboriginal women are also at higher risk of mental health issues and more likely to have been victims of violence. [37] The relationship between prior history of childhood physical and sexual abuse and mental health illness equally applies here as identified earlier. It has been suggested that a major factor impacting on Aboriginal women's mental health is stress and anxiety attributed to family and children whilst incarcerated.…”