IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i6p3053-d517866.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining the Associations between Indigenous Rangers, Culture and Wellbeing in Australia, 2018–2020

Author

Listed:
  • Alyson Wright

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, 64 Mills Road, Acton 2600, Australia)

  • Mandy Yap

    (Centre for Aboriginal Economic and Policy Research, The Australian National University, Acton 2600, Australia)

  • Roxanne Jones

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, 64 Mills Road, Acton 2600, Australia)

  • Alice Richardson

    (Statistical Consulting Unit, The Australian National University, Acton 2600, Australia)

  • Vanessa Davis

    (Tangentyere Council, 1 Elders St, Alice Springs 0870, Australia)

  • Raymond Lovett

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, 64 Mills Road, Acton 2600, Australia)

Abstract

The centrality of culture to Indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing is becoming increasingly acknowledged in government policy. In Australia, the Indigenous Ranger program is a leading example of employment that supports increased cultural participation. In 2017, we demonstrated higher life satisfaction and family wellbeing among Indigenous Rangers compared to non-Rangers in Central Australia. Using an expanded national dataset, this present study aimed to: examine if associations between Ranger status and wellbeing continued to be observed in Central Australia; assess if these associations were observed among non-Central Australian Rangers; and, quantify the effect of mediating variables (Rangers status, cultural factors) on wellbeing outcomes. We analyzed Mayi Kuwayu baseline data ( n = 9691 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and compared participants who identified as past or currently employed Rangers compared to non-Rangers across two geographic locations (Central Australia, non-Central Australia). Ranger participation was significantly associated with very high life satisfaction and family wellbeing in Central Australia (high life satisfaction PR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09–1.57, and family wellbeing (PR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.36) and non-Central Australia (high life satisfaction PR 1.29, 95% CI 1.06–1.57), family wellbeing (PR 1.37, 95% CI 1.14–1.65). These findings concord with those observed in the 2017 proof-of-concept study. Additionally, we found that Ranger status partially mediated the relationships between existing cultural practices (first language as your Indigenous language and living on your country) and the two wellbeing outcomes. Current cultural practices, spending time on country and speaking your Aboriginal language, also partially mediated the associations between Ranger status and high life satisfaction, and between Ranger status and high family wellbeing. This analysis supports evidence that both Ranger employment and cultural participation are contributors to wellbeing. Ranger work is not only good for land, but it is good for people. As such, determining policies that mutually acknowledge and enhance culture, health and wellbeing will likely have additional benefits for the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

Suggested Citation

  • Alyson Wright & Mandy Yap & Roxanne Jones & Alice Richardson & Vanessa Davis & Raymond Lovett, 2021. "Examining the Associations between Indigenous Rangers, Culture and Wellbeing in Australia, 2018–2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3053-:d:517866
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3053/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3053/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roxanne Jones & Katherine A. Thurber & Alyson Wright & Jan Chapman & Peter Donohoe & Vanessa Davis & Raymond Lovett, 2018. "Associations between Participation in a Ranger Program and Health and Wellbeing Outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Central Australia: A Proof of Concept Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Le Grande, M. & Ski, C.F. & Thompson, D.R. & Scuffham, P. & Kularatna, S. & Jackson, A.C. & Brown, A., 2017. "Social and emotional wellbeing assessment instruments for use with Indigenous Australians: A critical review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 164-173.
    3. Jonathan Kingsley & Mardie Townsend & Claire Henderson-Wilson & Bruce Bolam, 2013. "Developing an Exploratory Framework Linking Australian Aboriginal Peoples’ Connection to Country and Concepts of Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kaley Butten & Peter A. Newcombe & Anne B. Chang & Jeanie K. Sheffield & Kerry-Ann F. O’Grady & Newell W. Johnson & Neil King & Maree Toombs, 2021. "Concepts of Health-Related Quality of Life of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children: Parent Perceptions," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1653-1671, August.
    2. Jonathan Kingsley & Aisling Bailey & Nooshin Torabi & Pauline Zardo & Suzanne Mavoa & Tonia Gray & Danielle Tracey & Philip Pettitt & Nicholas Zajac & Emily Foenander, 2019. "A Systematic Review Protocol Investigating Community Gardening Impact Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Bridget Allen & Karla Canuto & John Robert Evans & Ebony Lewis & Josephine Gwynn & Kylie Radford & Kim Delbaere & Justin Richards & Nigel Lovell & Michelle Dickson & Rona Macniven, 2021. "Facilitators and Barriers to Physical Activity and Sport Participation Experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Adults: A Mixed Method Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-28, September.
    4. Matilde Breth-Petersen & Jasper Garay & Kaiwarr Clancy & Michelle Dickson & Candace Angelo, 2023. "Homesickness at Home: A Scoping Review of Solastalgia Experiences in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Ella Gorman & Brody Heritage & Carrington C. J. Shepherd & Rhonda Marriott, 2021. "Measuring Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Using Strong Souls: A Rasch Measurement Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-18, August.
    6. Bruno Marques & Claire Freeman & Lyn Carter, 2021. "Adapting Traditional Healing Values and Beliefs into Therapeutic Cultural Environments for Health and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Pamela Ming Wettasinghe & Wendy Allan & Gail Garvey & Alison Timbery & Sue Hoskins & Madeleine Veinovic & Gail Daylight & Holly A. Mack & Cecilia Minogue & Terrence Donovan & Gerald A. Broe & Kylie Ra, 2020. "Older Aboriginal Australians’ Health Concerns and Preferences for Healthy Ageing Programs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Pat Dudgeon & Kate L. Derry & Carolyn Mascall & Angela Ryder, 2022. "Understanding Aboriginal Models of Selfhood: The National Empowerment Project’s Cultural, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing Program in Western Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    9. Silva Larson & Natalie Stoeckl & Diane Jarvis & Jane Addison & Daniel Grainger & Felecia Watkin Lui & Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation & Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC & Ewamian Aborig, 2019. "Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs (ILSMPs) Enhance the Wellbeing of Indigenous Australians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Julie H. Dean & Danielle F. Shanahan & Robert Bush & Kevin J. Gaston & Brenda B. Lin & Elizabeth Barber & Lara Franco & Richard A. Fuller, 2018. "Is Nature Relatedness Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, June.
    11. Evans, John Robert & Wilson, Rachel & Coleman, Clare & Man, Wing Young Nicola & Olds, Tim, 2018. "Physical activity among indigenous Australian children and youth in remote and non-remote areas," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 93-99.
    12. Elaina Elder-Robinson & Abbey Diaz & Kirsten Howard & Darshit Rajeshkumar Parikh & Giam Kar & Gail Garvey, 2021. "Quality of Life in the First Year of Cancer Diagnosis among Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal People Living in Regional and Remote Areas of Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Christina M Bernardes & Patricia C Valery & Brian Arley & Gregory Pratt & Linda Medlin & Judith A Meiklejohn, 2020. "Empowering Voice through the Creation of a Safe Space: An Experience of Aboriginal Women in Regional Queensland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-10, February.
    14. Joseph K. Kamara & Blessing J. Akombi & Kingsley Agho & Andre M. N. Renzaho, 2018. "Resilience to Climate-Induced Disasters and Its Overall Relationship to Well-Being in Southern Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-27, October.
    15. Courtney Ryder & Jacqueline H. Stephens & Shahid Ullah & Julieann Coombes & Nayia Cominos & Patrick Sharpe & Shane D’Angelo & Darryl Cameron & Colleen Hayes & Keziah Bennett-Brook & Tamara Mackean, 2022. "Community Engagement and Psychometric Methods in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Surveys—A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3053-:d:517866. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.