Strong in the City: towards a strength-based approach in Indigenous health promotion
Mark Brough and Chelsea Bond, School of Population Health, University of Queensland
Julian Hunt, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland

Abstract

Issue addressed:
To describe the potential for strength-based approaches in health promotion with the example of an urban Indigenous community.

Methods:
Qualitative methods were used to describe an Indigenous perspective about community strength. The results were then used to inform a community development approach to health promotion.

Results:
Five key strengths were described: 1) extended family; 2) commitment to community; 3) neighbourhood networks; 4) community organisations; and 5) community events. Working with these strengths, five kinds of resourcing strategies were pursued through various community development activities. These included: 1) professional support and development; 2) networking resources; 3) management support; 4) specialist support; and 5) financial support.

Conclusion:
Standard needs assessment logic generally focuses our attention on gaps and weaknesses. This does not allow health promotion practice to acknowledge the existing socio-cultural resources within communities, which should be supported to promote better health. We suggest there are significant lessons here for community capacity building agendas, currently popular in social policy.

Keywords:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; health promotion; community development; capacity building.



Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004;15:215-20