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Diversity, Disruption, Continuity: Parenting and Social and Emotional Wellbeing Amongst Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2012

Fiona Heath ,
William Bor ,
Jenny Thompson  and
Leonie Cox
Fiona Heath
Affiliation:
Mater Private Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
William Bor*
Affiliation:
Mater Private Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Jenny Thompson
Affiliation:
Mater Private Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Leonie Cox
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Dr William Bor, Mater Hospital, Annerley Rd, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia. Email: William.Bor@mater.org.au
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Abstract

This paper reviews the diversity in parenting values and practices amongst Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. First, issues arising from the historical traumatic disruption of families' attachments are discussed. Then the contribution Indigenous parenting makes to the development of healthy and vulnerable individuals becomes the central focus. Family therapists can draw from a broad understanding of the diversity of parenting values and practices in the context of a strength-based approach.

Keywords

Aboriginal peoplesTorres Strait Islandersparentingresilience
Type
Articles
Information
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 300 - 313
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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