Issues
Volume 223 Issue 6
Cover image credit: Mer Island, Torres Strait | Aspect Drones/shutterstock.com
Editor’s choice
Land, culture, rights and self‐determination: foundations of Indigenous health
This issue of the MJA is the second of this year with a specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. It includes three articles that were originally selected by the Guest Editors for the NAIDOC week Special Issue, which was published in July, 2025.1,2 We were in the fortunate position of having too many accepted articles for that issue, so we are delighted to now publish them, alongside other articles on Indigenous health that went through regular MJA editorial processes. Two of the articles previously selected are research articles: a study by Alasdair Vance and colleagues evaluates Elder‐governed cultural therapy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with mental health conditions,3 and Karrina DeMasi and colleagues describe the development of an Aboriginal women‐led maternal and child health model when cardiometabolic complications are experienced in pregnancy.4 The third article is a perspective from Paul Gray and colleagues that discusses the need to move towards epistemic pluralism, cultural safety, and critical reflexivity in Australian psychology.5 Together, these articles reflect the depth and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Islander‐led research and community, strength‐based approaches. These values are also reflected in the other articles of this issue, which demonstrate a huge diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research and critical thought, ranging from voluntary assisted dying in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, to exploring the need for meaningful partnerships in health and medical research grant applications. This issue was timed for the 18th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — an important international resolution. The editorial for this issue reflects on the Declaration and, despite endorsing it, the failure of successive Australian governments to incorporate it into national law. As the editorial concludes “The 18th anniversary of UNDRIP is a historical marker but serves as a powerful call to action. It reminds us that health is inextricably linked to human rights, self‐determination and cultural integrity”. The cover for this issue of the MJA features an image of Mer Island in the Torres Strait. Sophie Pitt, who authored the editorial, explains the how this image calls us to recognise the links between the escalating climate crisis, Indigenous rights, and health, as it represents “both a celebration of the enduring connection to Country and a reminder of what can be lost” (Box). For this issue, as for the previous NAIDOC week issue, we are very grateful for all the expertise and wisdom generously provided by the Guest Editors, and the care they took in assessing and selecting papers for these two Indigenous health issues. Box – Cover connection
Virginia Barbour
Perspective
The contribution of evidence‐based practice and the practice‐based evidence approaches to contemporary Australian psychology: implications for culturally safe practice
Adopting a broader and more inclusive approach to evidence represents an important step toward addressing the persistent inequities experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and diverse communities
Paul Gray (Wiradjuri) · Dawn Darlaston‐Jones · Pat Dudgeon AM (Bardi) · Kate Derry · Joanna Alexi · William Smith (Wiradjuri and Wemba Wemba) · Tanja Hirvonen (Jaru and Bunuba) · David Badcock · Shraddha Kashyap · Belle Selkirk (Noongar)
Explaining risk in chronic conditions: the Yolŋu science of signs
Health practitioners should examine their communication practices seeking to replace terms that cause harm, such as “risk”, to ensure a safe environment for health decision making
Emma Haynes · Alison Mitchell · Minitja Marawili (Yolŋu) · Dawn C Bessarab (Bardi)
Voluntary assisted dying: challenges in Northern Territory remote Aboriginal communities
Discussion of findings from a public voluntary assisted dying consultation process in the Northern Territory and how to ensure equitable access and cultural safety. Telehealth could improve access but presents clinical and legal challenges
Geetanjali Lamba · Kane Vellar · C Paul Burgess · Camille La Brooy · Paul A Komesaroff
Systemic challenges for meaningful partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research grant applications: a critical reflection
Examination of an Australian government scheme to fund health and medical research targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Heather McCormack · Troy Combo · Bridget G Haire
Reflection
Alison Bush memorial oration: supporting First Nations community‐designed and led maternal health initiatives
This reflection honours Sister Alison Bush’s impact on First Nations health care, emphasising the ongoing fight for equity for First Nations women
Karel Williams
Editorial
Beyond endorsement: reflecting on the 18th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
A critical examination of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its application in Australia, particularly concerning Indigenous self-determination and health equity
Sophie Pitt
Research
Country revealing the way: evaluating Elder‐governed cultural therapy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with mental health conditions
Cultural therapy may be an effective intervention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with mental health conditions and should be offered alongside but separate from Western mental health management
Alasdair Vance · Janet McGaw · Jo Winther · Naomi Tootell · Herb Patten · Sandra Eades
An Aboriginal women‐led approach to design a maternal and child health model when cardiometabolic complications are experienced in pregnancy in South Australia
Culturally responsive, person-centred care can bridge gaps between Aboriginal knowledge systems and biomedical paradigms, improving maternal, child and family health outcomes holistically
Karrina DeMasi (Barkandji) · Dana Shen (Ngarrindjeri) · Phoebe McColl · Amanda Richards‐Satour (Adnyamathanha and Barngarla) · Carolyn Renehan (Central Arrernte) · Kim Morey (Anmatyerr and Eastern Arrernte) · Karen Glover (Mein:tnk and Wotjobaluk) · Cathy Leane (Dharug) · Kristine Woods‐Hampton (Anmatijerre) · Lorraine Garay (Anangu) · Eloise Baker (Adnyamathanha and Barngarla) · Rebecca Nielsen (Kalkadoon) · Katharine Brown
Scoping review
Values in health and health care for Indigenous people globally: an umbrella review
Culture, strong cultural identity, connection to land and Country, and spirit and spirituality are important values in health for Indigenous people
Lynda J Coe · Yvonne Dimitropoulos · Kiri Mealings · Dylan Barnes · Catherine M McMahon
Special issue on gender and health: listening to the voices of patients
Elizabeth Zuccala
Cass Review does not guide care for trans young people
Julia K Moore · Cate Rayner · S Rachel Skinner · Katie Wynne · Blake S Cavve · Brodie Fraser · Uma Ganti · Claire McAllister · Gideon Meyerowitz‐Katz · Tram Nguyen · Anja Ravine · Brian Ross · Darren B Russell · Liz A Saunders · Aris Siafarikas · Ken C Pang
Advancing equity: the urgent need to include trans and gender diverse people in cervical cancer prevention in Australia
Kade Booth · Jamie Bryant · Shiva Chandra · Cristyn Davies · Lucille Kerr · Katie Wynne · Melissa A Carlson · Barrie Shannon · Sav Zwickl · Tamara Butler · Lisa J Whop
Linguistic manoeuvres: obstetric violence camouflages harm and loss of consent from birth
Harsha Ananthram · Liz Sutton · Rebecca Matthews · Nadine Montgomery · James Titcombe · Ajay Rane
Updates on chronic liver disease
Alison Williams
A precautionary approach to social media: protecting young minds in an evolving digital world
Ivana Stankov · Yonatal Tefera · Melissa Bradley · Alison Pickering · Emma Willoughby · Carmel Williams
Medical colleges have an obligation to ensure full participation in Clinical Quality Registries
Robert J Aitken · Julian A Smith · Guy J Maddern
Ante‐mortem interventions for deceased donation: legal barriers and uncertainty in Australia's decision‐making frameworks
Shih‐Ning Then · Dominique E Martin · Helen I Opdam