Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia
Abstract
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lived on their traditional lands across Australia, including the Torres Strait Islands, for upwards of 50,000 years and their continuity, history and cultural traditions are unrivalled in the world [1,2] . Before colonisation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in family and community groups, and moved across the land following seasonal changes [1] . Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people developed complex societies, trading systems and agricultural activities that were celebrated and recorded in dance, song and stories [2] . The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concept of health is not just about the individual person, but a whole-of-life view that includes the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the community [3] . ..
