Corrinne T Sullivan | Western Sydney University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Corrinne T Sullivan

Research paper thumbnail of Contesting Digital Colonial Power

Routledge eBooks, Aug 4, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Indigenous Australian Sexualities Explored Through the Lens of Sex Work

Routledge eBooks, Apr 8, 2020

One way to map Indigenous sexuality is to chronicle Indigenous peoples’ lives in sexual spaces. I... more One way to map Indigenous sexuality is to chronicle Indigenous peoples’ lives in sexual spaces. In this chapter, I engage with Indigenous Australian people in the sphere of sex work. The space of the body and its geographies of sexuality and gender are highlighted within the bounds of sex-work labour, economics and sexual autonomy. Such research on Indigenous Australians’ sexual relations aims to encourage new understandings of sex, sexuality and gender and to stimulate different ways of (re)imagining Indigenous bodies. This chapter is offered as an affirmation of Indigenous rights to self-determination, as well as a form of resistance against the misrepresentation of Indigenous sexualities and gender diversity. Indigenous sexuality is not just about having sex; it is about identity and self-determination (Barker 2017b). It is about gender, body and the expression of those two things

Research paper thumbnail of Ageing, sexualities and place: Aligning the geographies of gerontology and sexualities

Geography Compass, Aug 1, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of When the City Calls: Mapping Indigenous Australian Queer Placemaking in Sydney

Research paper thumbnail of Be(com)ing in the City

The Routledge Handbook of Australian Indigenous Peoples and Futures

Research paper thumbnail of ‘We never get a space to just have a good time together’: indigenous LGBTIQSB+ young people carving out alternative viable lives

Research paper thumbnail of Dalarinji - 'Your Story': Final Report to Community

This project would not have been possible without the tireless support and guidance of BlaQ Abori... more This project would not have been possible without the tireless support and guidance of BlaQ Aboriginal Organisation and the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON). We would also like to extend our thanks to Aunty Esther Montgomery who gave us the benefit of her wisdom and years of experience.

Research paper thumbnail of The S.S. Academy

Research paper thumbnail of Transforming colonial social suffering

Routledge eBooks, Mar 10, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Addressing Intersectionality in Gender ‘Equity’ at WSU: Experiences, policies, and everyday practices

This research explored Western Sydney University (WSU) staff understandings, perceptions and expe... more This research explored Western Sydney University (WSU) staff understandings, perceptions and experiences of intersectionality and intersectional disadvantage. A key aim was to contribute to the development of relevant WSU policies and practices, especially related to the WSU Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan goals.

Research paper thumbnail of Indigenous LGBTIQSB + People’s Experiences of Family Violence in Australia

Journal of Family Violence

Purpose This article uses an Indigenous concept of family violence as a frame to interrogate inte... more Purpose This article uses an Indigenous concept of family violence as a frame to interrogate interviews held with Indigenous LGBTIQSB + people in Australia. The article reorients family violence away from Western heteronormative framings and aims to contribute towards a new conversation about family violence. Methods A qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse 16 interviews with Indigenous LGBTIQSB + people in the state of New South Wales, Australia. This is one of a series of articles that provide preliminary findings from a research project into the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous LGBTIQSB + young people living in New South Wales. Results The interviews highlight the complex impact family violence on Indigenous LGBTIQSB + youth. The article shows differences in reactions between family and community in urban settings with those experienced in rural settings highlighting intergenerational differences, with older family members such as grandparents, more likely ...

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19, “Black Lives Matter” and Indigenous Australians: A Tale of Two Intersecting Pandemics

COVID-19 and a World of Ad Hoc Geographies, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of (Re)Claiming Health: The Human Rights of Young LGBTIQ+ Indigenous People in Australia

Health and Human Rights, Jun 1, 2022

The human rights of both LGBTIQ+ and Indigenous peoples are far from realized. When conjoined, in... more The human rights of both LGBTIQ+ and Indigenous peoples are far from realized. When conjoined, intersecting identities reveal how racism and queer phobia affect well-being, negating the right to health and resulting in devastating impacts on people’s social, cultural, and emotional well-being. This paper documents the lived experiences of a sample of young gender- and sexuality-diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from a research project conducted in New South Wales, Australia. Their perspectives reveal how, for this cohort, discrimination and privation is manifest at the family, community, and institutional levels. This paper informs an understanding of human rights as experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+-identified peoples, where racism and queer phobia are evident in the spheres of education, employment, and service provision. Adopting a critical human rights stance, our analysis illustrates how settler colonialism manifests through the processes and outcomes of settler colonial institutions and structures.

Research paper thumbnail of “She’s Always Been a Fighter for Me”: Indigenous Mothers as Advocates and Defenders of Their LGBTIQSB + Children

LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal

Research paper thumbnail of ‘We Want to Help but We Don’t Know What to Do’: Service Providers Working with Indigenous LGBTIQ+ Youth in Australia

Sexes

Access to adequate and appropriate service provision has a direct positive impact on health and w... more Access to adequate and appropriate service provision has a direct positive impact on health and wellbeing. Experiences of inaccessible, discriminatory, and culturally unsafe services and/or service providers are considered a root cause for the health inequalities that exist among Indigenous queer youth. Experiences of discrimination and cultural inappropriateness are commonplace, with Indigenous queer youth noting issues related to access to services and treatment, stereotyping, and a lack of quality in the care provided, which discourage Indigenous people from accessing care. This paper examines the perspectives of Indigenous LGBTIQ+ youth and health service providers to identify what challenges, obstacles and opportunities are currently being faced and what could be implemented to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for Indigenous LGBTIQ+ youth in the future.

Research paper thumbnail of Not in my backyard : the impact of culture shock on Indigenous Australians in higher education

The body of literature providing evidence that Indigenous Australians are significantly under-rep... more The body of literature providing evidence that Indigenous Australians are significantly under-represented in higher education is steadily increasing. For instance, the Review of Australian Higher Education (2008) identified Indigenous Australians as one of the three most under-represented groups. Similarly, key bodies such as the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council refer to significant disparity when undertaking statistical data analysis of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. In other words, the fact that Indigenous Australians participate in higher education at a lower rate than that of other students is widely acknowledged – however the reasons underpinning such disparity are less transparent. This paper purports that the culture shock Indigenous Australian students experience when accessing higher education can be detrimental to their academic aspirations and outcomes. When exploring the notion of culture shock there is a tendency to assume that this only affects international students, when in fact it is rampant in our own back yard. The paper concludes by offering a set of recommendations designed to assist institutions to implement strategies to reduce the negative impact of culture shock experienced by Indigenous Australian university students.8 page(s

Research paper thumbnail of “I felt invisible”: First nations LGBTIQSB+ young people’s experiences with health service provision in Australia

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2022

There is an absence of research into the effectiveness of service provision for First Nations LGB... more There is an absence of research into the effectiveness of service provision for First Nations LGBTIQSB+ young people in Australia. To address this gap, interviews were conducted in Australia to highlight young people’s perspectives on essential components of service provision. Participants expressed their concerns about the ongoing impact of implicit and explicit settler-colonial heteronormativity and racism on services providing support for young First Nations LGBTIQSB+ peoples. Although set in Australia, this research supports the body of international research. This research has the potential to create policies and practices centered on the voices and needs of First Nations LGBTIQSB+ youth.

Research paper thumbnail of Aboriginal Inmate Experiences of Parramatta Girls Home

Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2017

The treatment of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates of Parramatta Girls Home highlights a powe... more The treatment of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates of Parramatta Girls Home highlights a powerful convergence of a shared history. The recollections of both groups of inmates tell a similar story of shame, abuse, violence and neglect. Both groups have had to fight hard to get their stories heard, known and acknowledged. The Bringing them home report (HREOC 1997), the Forgotten Australians report (Australian Senate 2004) and the 2014 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have brought the experiences of former inmates of Parramatta Girls Home to the fore of public acknowledgment. It is estimated that more than 30,000 girls were incarcerated in the Home between 1887 and 1974. At any given time the Home held between 160 and 200 inmates. The girls were generally incarcerated for between six months and three years, and were eligible for release when they were 18 years of age (Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 2014c).

Research paper thumbnail of Not My Family: Understanding the Prevalence and Impact of Racism Beyond Individualistic Experiences

A substantial amount of national and international research addresses the topic of racism but the... more A substantial amount of national and international research addresses the topic of racism but there remains a limited literature base as to how it may be experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This chapter uses LSIC data which explore parental perceptions of racism. Specific variables include the data captured by LSIC questions on parents’ interpersonal experiences of racism, their experiences of racism experienced within the family, and of their child being treated unfairly because of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. These perceptions are then mapped across varying situational contexts (including varying levels of relative disadvantage and remoteness), and investigated for racism associations with socio, cultural, and emotional wellbeing (e.g., depression, health, and cultural engagement). The results suggest the negative impact of racism is not only concentrated on lower levels of mental and physical health of the parents, but this i...

Research paper thumbnail of Post-Colonialism (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience discrimination due to individual, gro... more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience discrimination due to individual, group and systemic oppressions. Individual and community attitudes and experiences of discrimination can impact on a person’s wellbeing, Allied health professionals are constantly called on to recognise the multi-layered impact of colonialism on those who seek their help, while simultaneously challenging their own perceptions and stereotypes. The chapter starts with definitions and statistics to contextualise the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within the contemporary Australian environment. The link between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and emotional, physical and mental health is critically examined followed by the personal experiences of individuals as they navigate living with the impact of colonialism, discrimination and bias. Experiential activities that encourage the learner to test and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater understanding of environmental, social and institutional barriers faced by Indigenous Australians will conclude this chapter.

Research paper thumbnail of Contesting Digital Colonial Power

Routledge eBooks, Aug 4, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Indigenous Australian Sexualities Explored Through the Lens of Sex Work

Routledge eBooks, Apr 8, 2020

One way to map Indigenous sexuality is to chronicle Indigenous peoples’ lives in sexual spaces. I... more One way to map Indigenous sexuality is to chronicle Indigenous peoples’ lives in sexual spaces. In this chapter, I engage with Indigenous Australian people in the sphere of sex work. The space of the body and its geographies of sexuality and gender are highlighted within the bounds of sex-work labour, economics and sexual autonomy. Such research on Indigenous Australians’ sexual relations aims to encourage new understandings of sex, sexuality and gender and to stimulate different ways of (re)imagining Indigenous bodies. This chapter is offered as an affirmation of Indigenous rights to self-determination, as well as a form of resistance against the misrepresentation of Indigenous sexualities and gender diversity. Indigenous sexuality is not just about having sex; it is about identity and self-determination (Barker 2017b). It is about gender, body and the expression of those two things

Research paper thumbnail of Ageing, sexualities and place: Aligning the geographies of gerontology and sexualities

Geography Compass, Aug 1, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of When the City Calls: Mapping Indigenous Australian Queer Placemaking in Sydney

Research paper thumbnail of Be(com)ing in the City

The Routledge Handbook of Australian Indigenous Peoples and Futures

Research paper thumbnail of ‘We never get a space to just have a good time together’: indigenous LGBTIQSB+ young people carving out alternative viable lives

Research paper thumbnail of Dalarinji - 'Your Story': Final Report to Community

This project would not have been possible without the tireless support and guidance of BlaQ Abori... more This project would not have been possible without the tireless support and guidance of BlaQ Aboriginal Organisation and the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON). We would also like to extend our thanks to Aunty Esther Montgomery who gave us the benefit of her wisdom and years of experience.

Research paper thumbnail of The S.S. Academy

Research paper thumbnail of Transforming colonial social suffering

Routledge eBooks, Mar 10, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Addressing Intersectionality in Gender ‘Equity’ at WSU: Experiences, policies, and everyday practices

This research explored Western Sydney University (WSU) staff understandings, perceptions and expe... more This research explored Western Sydney University (WSU) staff understandings, perceptions and experiences of intersectionality and intersectional disadvantage. A key aim was to contribute to the development of relevant WSU policies and practices, especially related to the WSU Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan goals.

Research paper thumbnail of Indigenous LGBTIQSB + People’s Experiences of Family Violence in Australia

Journal of Family Violence

Purpose This article uses an Indigenous concept of family violence as a frame to interrogate inte... more Purpose This article uses an Indigenous concept of family violence as a frame to interrogate interviews held with Indigenous LGBTIQSB + people in Australia. The article reorients family violence away from Western heteronormative framings and aims to contribute towards a new conversation about family violence. Methods A qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse 16 interviews with Indigenous LGBTIQSB + people in the state of New South Wales, Australia. This is one of a series of articles that provide preliminary findings from a research project into the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous LGBTIQSB + young people living in New South Wales. Results The interviews highlight the complex impact family violence on Indigenous LGBTIQSB + youth. The article shows differences in reactions between family and community in urban settings with those experienced in rural settings highlighting intergenerational differences, with older family members such as grandparents, more likely ...

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19, “Black Lives Matter” and Indigenous Australians: A Tale of Two Intersecting Pandemics

COVID-19 and a World of Ad Hoc Geographies, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of (Re)Claiming Health: The Human Rights of Young LGBTIQ+ Indigenous People in Australia

Health and Human Rights, Jun 1, 2022

The human rights of both LGBTIQ+ and Indigenous peoples are far from realized. When conjoined, in... more The human rights of both LGBTIQ+ and Indigenous peoples are far from realized. When conjoined, intersecting identities reveal how racism and queer phobia affect well-being, negating the right to health and resulting in devastating impacts on people’s social, cultural, and emotional well-being. This paper documents the lived experiences of a sample of young gender- and sexuality-diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from a research project conducted in New South Wales, Australia. Their perspectives reveal how, for this cohort, discrimination and privation is manifest at the family, community, and institutional levels. This paper informs an understanding of human rights as experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+-identified peoples, where racism and queer phobia are evident in the spheres of education, employment, and service provision. Adopting a critical human rights stance, our analysis illustrates how settler colonialism manifests through the processes and outcomes of settler colonial institutions and structures.

Research paper thumbnail of “She’s Always Been a Fighter for Me”: Indigenous Mothers as Advocates and Defenders of Their LGBTIQSB + Children

LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal

Research paper thumbnail of ‘We Want to Help but We Don’t Know What to Do’: Service Providers Working with Indigenous LGBTIQ+ Youth in Australia

Sexes

Access to adequate and appropriate service provision has a direct positive impact on health and w... more Access to adequate and appropriate service provision has a direct positive impact on health and wellbeing. Experiences of inaccessible, discriminatory, and culturally unsafe services and/or service providers are considered a root cause for the health inequalities that exist among Indigenous queer youth. Experiences of discrimination and cultural inappropriateness are commonplace, with Indigenous queer youth noting issues related to access to services and treatment, stereotyping, and a lack of quality in the care provided, which discourage Indigenous people from accessing care. This paper examines the perspectives of Indigenous LGBTIQ+ youth and health service providers to identify what challenges, obstacles and opportunities are currently being faced and what could be implemented to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for Indigenous LGBTIQ+ youth in the future.

Research paper thumbnail of Not in my backyard : the impact of culture shock on Indigenous Australians in higher education

The body of literature providing evidence that Indigenous Australians are significantly under-rep... more The body of literature providing evidence that Indigenous Australians are significantly under-represented in higher education is steadily increasing. For instance, the Review of Australian Higher Education (2008) identified Indigenous Australians as one of the three most under-represented groups. Similarly, key bodies such as the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council refer to significant disparity when undertaking statistical data analysis of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. In other words, the fact that Indigenous Australians participate in higher education at a lower rate than that of other students is widely acknowledged – however the reasons underpinning such disparity are less transparent. This paper purports that the culture shock Indigenous Australian students experience when accessing higher education can be detrimental to their academic aspirations and outcomes. When exploring the notion of culture shock there is a tendency to assume that this only affects international students, when in fact it is rampant in our own back yard. The paper concludes by offering a set of recommendations designed to assist institutions to implement strategies to reduce the negative impact of culture shock experienced by Indigenous Australian university students.8 page(s

Research paper thumbnail of “I felt invisible”: First nations LGBTIQSB+ young people’s experiences with health service provision in Australia

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2022

There is an absence of research into the effectiveness of service provision for First Nations LGB... more There is an absence of research into the effectiveness of service provision for First Nations LGBTIQSB+ young people in Australia. To address this gap, interviews were conducted in Australia to highlight young people’s perspectives on essential components of service provision. Participants expressed their concerns about the ongoing impact of implicit and explicit settler-colonial heteronormativity and racism on services providing support for young First Nations LGBTIQSB+ peoples. Although set in Australia, this research supports the body of international research. This research has the potential to create policies and practices centered on the voices and needs of First Nations LGBTIQSB+ youth.

Research paper thumbnail of Aboriginal Inmate Experiences of Parramatta Girls Home

Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2017

The treatment of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates of Parramatta Girls Home highlights a powe... more The treatment of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates of Parramatta Girls Home highlights a powerful convergence of a shared history. The recollections of both groups of inmates tell a similar story of shame, abuse, violence and neglect. Both groups have had to fight hard to get their stories heard, known and acknowledged. The Bringing them home report (HREOC 1997), the Forgotten Australians report (Australian Senate 2004) and the 2014 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have brought the experiences of former inmates of Parramatta Girls Home to the fore of public acknowledgment. It is estimated that more than 30,000 girls were incarcerated in the Home between 1887 and 1974. At any given time the Home held between 160 and 200 inmates. The girls were generally incarcerated for between six months and three years, and were eligible for release when they were 18 years of age (Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse 2014c).

Research paper thumbnail of Not My Family: Understanding the Prevalence and Impact of Racism Beyond Individualistic Experiences

A substantial amount of national and international research addresses the topic of racism but the... more A substantial amount of national and international research addresses the topic of racism but there remains a limited literature base as to how it may be experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This chapter uses LSIC data which explore parental perceptions of racism. Specific variables include the data captured by LSIC questions on parents’ interpersonal experiences of racism, their experiences of racism experienced within the family, and of their child being treated unfairly because of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. These perceptions are then mapped across varying situational contexts (including varying levels of relative disadvantage and remoteness), and investigated for racism associations with socio, cultural, and emotional wellbeing (e.g., depression, health, and cultural engagement). The results suggest the negative impact of racism is not only concentrated on lower levels of mental and physical health of the parents, but this i...

Research paper thumbnail of Post-Colonialism (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience discrimination due to individual, gro... more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience discrimination due to individual, group and systemic oppressions. Individual and community attitudes and experiences of discrimination can impact on a person’s wellbeing, Allied health professionals are constantly called on to recognise the multi-layered impact of colonialism on those who seek their help, while simultaneously challenging their own perceptions and stereotypes. The chapter starts with definitions and statistics to contextualise the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within the contemporary Australian environment. The link between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and emotional, physical and mental health is critically examined followed by the personal experiences of individuals as they navigate living with the impact of colonialism, discrimination and bias. Experiential activities that encourage the learner to test and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater understanding of environmental, social and institutional barriers faced by Indigenous Australians will conclude this chapter.

Research paper thumbnail of Comic Art Poster 1/4: "Extraction Zombies"

Ad Astra Comix, 2020

EXTRACTION ZOMBIES Smith, C, Piatote, B, Sullivan, C, Weir, J, Diver, S, Burton, NM, and H Gold... more EXTRACTION ZOMBIES
Smith, C, Piatote, B, Sullivan, C, Weir, J, Diver, S, Burton, NM, and H Goldring 2020. ‘Extraction Zombies’, So you care about Indigenous scholars? poster series, Ad Astra Comix, Canada.

Illustrated by Nicole Marie Burton

This comic art poster highlights the tokenism and minority tax experienced by many Indigenous scholars, perhaps in your university department.

This poster is available for free PDF download, or to order as a print for the cost of printing and shipping (e-mail adastracomix@gmail.com for details).

This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution noncommercial noderivatives 4.0 international licence.

Research paper thumbnail of Comic Art Poster 3/4 "The SS Academy"

Ad Astra Comix, 2020

SS ACADEMY Smith, C, Sullivan, C, Piatote, B, Diver, S, Weir, J, Burton, NM, and H Goldring 202... more SS ACADEMY
Smith, C, Sullivan, C, Piatote, B, Diver, S, Weir, J, Burton, NM, and H Goldring 2020. ‘SS Academy’, So you care about Indigenous scholars? poster series, Ad Astra Comix, Canada.

Illustrated by Nicole Marie Burton

This poster depicts microaggressions experienced by Indigenous scholars, who are working in all corners of the academy but are not always appreciated for their merits.

This poster can be downloaded as a free PDF - or ordered for the cost of printing and shipping (e-mail adastracomix@gmail.com for details).

This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution noncommercial noderivatives 4.0 international licence.

Research paper thumbnail of Comic Art Poster 2/4 "Indigenous Land"

Ad Astra Comix , 2020

INDIGENOUS LAND Sullivan, C, Piatote, B, Smith, C, Weir, J, Diver, S, Burton, NM, and H Goldrin... more INDIGENOUS LAND
Sullivan, C, Piatote, B, Smith, C, Weir, J, Diver, S, Burton, NM, and H Goldring 2020. ‘Indigenous Land’, So you care about Indigenous scholars? poster series, Ad Astra Comix, Canada.

Illustrated by Nicole Marie Burton

This poster emphasizes that the university campus always was, always will be Indigenous land, and a place of Indigenous teaching.

This poster is available for free PDF download, or to order as a print for the cost of printing and shipping (e-mail adastracomix@gmail.com for details).

This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution noncommercial noderivatives 4.0 international licence.

Research paper thumbnail of Comic Art Poster 4/4 "Pass the Ball!"

Ad Astra Comix, 2020

PASS THE BALL Piatote, B, Sullivan, C, Smith, C, Diver, S, Weir, J, Burton, NM, and H Goldring ... more PASS THE BALL
Piatote, B, Sullivan, C, Smith, C, Diver, S, Weir, J, Burton, NM, and H Goldring 2020. ‘Pass the Ball’, So you care about Indigenous scholars? poster series, Ad Astra Comix, Canada.

Illustrated by Nicole Marie Burton

This poster expresses frustration about non-native scholars occupying the fields of Native knowledge and refusing to “pass the ball” or recognize Native scholars as experts in these very fields — and imagines a win for the team when Native scholars are valued.

This poster can be downloaded as a free PDF, or ordered for the cost of printing and shipping (e-mail adastracomix@gmail.com for details).

This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution noncommercial noderivatives 4.0 international licence.

Research paper thumbnail of Post-Colonialism (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology, 2021

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience discrimination due to individual, gro... more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can experience discrimination due to individual, group and systemic oppressions. Individual and community attitudes and experiences of discrimination can impact on a person’s wellbeing, Allied health professionals are constantly called on to recognise the multi-layered impact of colonialism on those who seek their help, while simultaneously challenging their own perceptions and stereotypes. The chapter starts with definitions and statistics to contextualise the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within the contemporary Australian environment. The link between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and emotional, physical and mental health is critically examined followed by the personal experiences of individuals as they navigate living with the impact of colonialism, discrimination and bias. Experiential activities that encourage the learner to test and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater understanding of environmental, social and institutional barriers faced by Indigenous Australians will conclude this chapter.