Racism. It Stops With Me acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and pays respect to Elders, past, present and future. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images, voices, or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or text.

Deficit Discourse and Strengths-based Approaches: Changing the Narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing

by The Lowitja Institute, National Centre for Indigenous Studies and Australian National University | 2018 | Research Publication
This report explores strengths-based approaches to thinking about, discussing and responding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.

Link to resource. 

Authors: William Fogarty, Melissa Lovell, Juleigh Langenberg and Mary-Jane Heron

The report outlines how deficit discourses can create barriers to improving health outcomes for First Nations People. In this context, strengths-based approaches are argued to overcome the limits and harms of deficit-based models and provide alternative ways to understand and respond to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues. 

The report also draws on a number of strengths-based Indigenous health program case studies which provide examples of how strengths-based approaches can change the narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.