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Indigenous Australians and Ageing: Responding to Diversity in Policy and Practice

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Ageing in Australia

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Aging ((Int. Perspect. Aging,volume 16))

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of ageing and aged care in the Indigenous population of Australia. Based on a review of current research and literature on this topic, the overarching theme is responding to diversity. Understanding the social and cultural diversity of the Indigenous population is essential for those working in any area of Indigenous health. This is no less the case for policy makers and practitioners working in the aged care sector. The chapter identifies the challenges and opportunities for addressing the health and other needs of Indigenous Australians as they age.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The grey literature’ includes reports, conference papers, theses, bibliographies, and government reports and documents not published commercially (Lawrence et al. 2014; New York Academy of Medicine 2002).

  2. 2.

    The terms ‘Indigenous Australian’ and ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ are used interchangeably in this chapter to describe the Indigenous peoples of Australia. The term ‘indigenous people’ is used more broadly to describe the indigenous peoples of various nations. The terms Koori/Murri/Nunga and other such terms are directly derived from Aboriginal languages and are the names used by Aboriginal people in specific areas when referring to themselves.

  3. 3.

    The word ‘Nunga’ or ‘Noongar’ refers to Aboriginal people in South Australia.

  4. 4.

    There are a number of useful resources which offer practical advice for service providers and practitioners (see e.g. Wall 2013; Brooke 2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Level 1, Building 234 iC Enterprise 1, Innovation Campus, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Kathleen Clapham B.A. (Hons.), Ph.D. & Cathy Duncan B.S.W. Grad. Cert. H.S.R.

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  1. Kathleen Clapham B.A. (Hons.), Ph.D.
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  2. Cathy Duncan B.S.W. Grad. Cert. H.S.R.
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Correspondence to Kathleen Clapham B.A. (Hons.), Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ageing, Work and Health Research Unit Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia

    Kate O’Loughlin

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia

    Colette Browning

  3. ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia

    Hal Kendig

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Clapham, K., Duncan, C. (2017). Indigenous Australians and Ageing: Responding to Diversity in Policy and Practice. In: O’Loughlin, K., Browning, C., Kendig, H. (eds) Ageing in Australia. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 16. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6466-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6466-6_7

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