Literature review: Spirituality and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ social and emotional wellbeing

We propose to develop a comprehensive review of Australian and international literature about Indigenous spirituality that synthesises existing research into a comprehensive report, including all references and methodology.  To assist in undertaking such a review comprehensively we will establish an Advisory Panel to the project in conjunction with CRCAH.

The literature review will have as its focus Indigenous knowledge and so will incorporate the written, oral, recorded and filmed testimonies of Indigenous Australians who are custodians of spiritual knowledge and who speak of spirituality, covering all Indigenous groups in Australia, the urban, rural and remote. All material used will have the appropriate permissions; it will be properly sourced to individuals, communities and particular language groups in accordance with Indigenous protocols and intellectual property considerations.

The literature review will incorporate the findings of historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, journalists, social commentators and various government reports about Indigenous knowledge around spirituality, subject to analysis from our researchers and other Indigenous academics.

The literature review will also incorporate the findings of international organisations such as the United Nations and its agencies in areas to do with Indigenous rights around cultural heritage including wellbeing, intangible cultural heritage and spirituality - specifically targeted to support the findings of the Australian literature review. The International Indigenous material will focus on other colonial settler societies such as Canada, North America, New Zealand, South America and South Africa.

Summary of projected outcomes

While we would in the first instance provide a written report we are also very interested in providing a report, or aspects of the sourced data and report, in innovative ways that can effectively reach more Indigenous Australians, such as in an online database or website and we would be actively seeking opportunities to source funds for such initiatives.

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