Remote Australia Online

The National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery (the National Partnership) is due to end on 30 June 2014. The National Partnership has made a solid start on a task that will take a generation to change, improving the quality of life for Indigenous people in remote communities to a level that is broadly consistent with that enjoyed by people across Australia. In this final year of the National Partnership, it is critical to prioritise effort on the issues that will deliver sustainable results for Indigenous people living in the 29 Remote Service Delivery communities. While a decision on successor arrangements for the National Partnership is clearly a matter for governments, the Remote Service Delivery communities will continue to exist and the Australian, State, Northern Territory and local governments will continue to provide services. The work done in the final year of the National Partnership must focus on building strengths and capacity that will last beyond this year. In this report I have not made any new recommendations. Instead, I have reviewed the recommendations from my previous reports and highlighted where priority action should be focused. Further action is required in three priority areas: • enhancing local governance capacity and local ownership of decision making; • reforming funding arrangements to support decision making at the local level; and • introducing simplified and meaningful monitoring and evaluation frameworks that can assess community perceptions of success. The lessons learned over the past four years should not be overlooked in designing and deciding on future initiatives. Drawing on my own experience, as well as others intimately involved in Remote Service Delivery, I have identified five key areas where continued momentum will yield significant results, the key strengths of each area and ways to move forward. Highlights from these sections include: Joint planning and engagement between communities and government The Local Implementation Plans reinforced that services based on locally (or regionally) identified needs are most effective and minimise the wastage that occurs when services are not targeted. I am strongly advocating for an agreed plan like the Local Implementation Plans to be refined and retained in future initiatives. But there is room for improvement. In future, these plans should be simpler and identify a smaller number of key priorities that will focus effort and make a sustainable difference. Governments have a responsibility to support communities’ transition from a passive to an active role in social reforms by supporting community governance and by understanding and hearing the community voice. A renewed focus on intergovernmental cooperation to achieve strategic objectives The Remote Service Delivery model has demonstrated that a place based approach can encourage agencies to look beyond program boundaries, but the energy and whole of government commitment has diminished over time. More effort is required to develop capabilities and clear working arrangements to allow officers from different agencies and different governments to work together as a coherent and united team. For remote strategies to succeed, a strong partnership between all three tiers of government is necessary, incorporating clear roles and responsibilities, high level policy commitment to service integration and shared accountability. Intergovernmental cooperation has generally been strongest in areas where a regional approach was taken. While regional approaches may not be appropriate everywhere, it is important to consider natural connections across communities and existing governance structures when determining the most appropriate geography for place based approaches. Local Government is well placed to provide advice in this area. Ongoing government presence in communities There is clear consensus that the Government Business Managers and Indigenous Engagement Officers (or similar), which provide an ongoing government coordination presence in communities, are a key strength of the Remote Service Delivery model. An ongoing government coordination presence in communities should be an essential feature of future initiatives. With some refinements to the model, the Government Business Managers and Indigenous Engagement Officers can be used to maximum effect. There is a need for clear guidelines outlining how the positions are used and how their local knowledge and relationships inform whole of government policy and service delivery. Consideration must be given to how Government Business Managers and Indigenous Engagement Officers can be equipped to work across multiple agencies of multiple governments on a day to day basis. Lessons learned about how to recruit and develop Government Business Managers and Indigenous Engagement Officers should be consolidated into a long term capability development strategy which emphasises continuous improvement. Greater shared responsibility for accountability and transparency A reporting and monitoring framework was built into the Remote Service Delivery model but governments disagreed on how the framework should be applied in practice. While large amounts of data were collected, they were difficult to interpret into meaningful statements of progress against the objectives of the National Partnership. In future, monitoring and reporting, and supporting systems, must be introduced from the start of new initiatives so that adjustments can be made as issues arise. Measures used should be developed in partnership with communities to ensure that monitoring and reporting represents an accurate view of progress against shared objectives. The process of monitoring and reporting should not be a burden but should be a useful tool to ensure that all stakeholders, including the community, are engaged in the process as well as being informed and able to contribute as equal partners. A strengthened independent monitoring and accountability mechanism An independent monitoring and accountability mechanism is important in any large scale initiative that seeks to effect lasting change. In my role as the Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services, I have helped to undo blockages and ensure the objectives of Remote Service Delivery are met. Strengths of my role include: a lack of vested interests, statutory powers resulting in good cooperation from agencies, an ability to leverage effective inter-governmental mechanisms, evidence-based perspectives based on nearly 150 community visits, established stakeholder networks and regular publicly available evidence based reports. These strengths can be built upon in future by reviewing and better utilising the statutory powers; expanding the focus beyond the 29 priority communities; advising on strategic Indigenous reforms; and enhancing the independence and implementation results of my Office by placing it within a central agency.

Objective: Inequities can negatively impact the health outcomes of children. The aims of this study were to: i) ascertain the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among regional and remote Western Australian (WA) children; and ii) determine which socio-demographic factors predicted child FI. Methods: Caregiver-child dyads (n=219) completed cross-sectional surveys. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 23. Results: Overall, 20.1% of children were classified as FI. Children whose family received government financial assistance were more likely to be FI (OR 2.60; CI 1.15, 5.91; p=0.022), as were children living in a Medium disadvantage area (OR 2.60; CI 1.18, 5.72; p=0.017), compared to High or Low SEIFA ratings. Conclusions: Study findings are suggestive of the impact low income has on capacity to be food secure. The higher FI prevalence among children from families receiving financial assistance and living in medium disadvantage areas indicates more support for these families is required. Recommendations include: ensuring government plans and policies adequately support disadvantaged families; increasing employment opportunities; establishing evidence on the causes and the potential impact of FI on children's health. Implications for public health: One in five children were FI, demonstrating that FI is an issue in Western Australia.

We examined all records of deaths held in the Derby Courthouse (1883 to 1895) and the Broome Courthouse (from 1896). Records of 3409 deaths (2659 males, 750 females) were analysed. Race of origin was ascertained from >99 per cent of records: 35.9 per cent of deaths were of Aboriginals, 42.8 per cent of Asians and 21.3 per cent were among other races. In the early decades (1880s to 1920s) most deaths were of young Asian males and related to deep-sea diving in the pearling industry; many other deaths were caused by homicide and suicide. Pearling deaths declined after World War I and the number of Aboriginal deaths increased. The 80 to 100 deaths caused by the Japanese air raid in March 1942 were not entered into the Broome register. After World War II deaths among young males and Asians decreased and reported Aboriginal deaths increased; many were of malnourished infants and young children with infections. In the 1970s and 1980s deaths of young adults in motor vehicle accidents and of young adults from homicide and suicide increased; some occurred in custody. The pearling industry caused hundreds of deaths in the late nineteenth century and in the first two decades of this century, particularly among young Asian divers. Many were recorded in the Derby and Broome Death Registries but others were not recorded. These official records show changing patterns of mortality, for example, mortality associated with violence, infection and undernutrition (in young Aboriginal children), and more recently, motor vehicle accidents.

During 1994–1995 environmental health conditions of about 13 760 persons in 155 remote and rural Aboriginal communities in 20 local shires in Western Australia (WA) were surveyed. A semiquantitative questionnaire sought data about the communities and their services, including water supplies, power, sanitation and disposal of solid and liquid waste; a separate section dealt with conditions of individual dwellings. Data were recorded by experienced local workers. Thirty–five communities considered to have the worst conditions were evaluated on–site by a team of senior personnel in mid–1995. Environmental health problems were prevalent and often serious: over one–third of the communities had water supply or sanitation problems and 70 per cent had housing problems, with overcrowding and substandard housing being commonplace. Thirty–six per cent had difficulties with waste water disposal, 37 per cent had no rubbish disposal, and in others, the methods of disposal were often inadequate; pests were problems in 44 per cent of communities and the hygiene and maintenance of communal toilets was unacceptable in 25 per cent. Seventy–two per cent had no on–site environmental health worker and 44 per cent had no on–site or visiting medical, nursing or health worker personnel. An action plan was developed and the highest–priority communities were targeted in a program of major works (for example, housing, drainage and sewerage) and minor works, which have been commenced. The remote–area environmental health workers' program is being expanded. Increased intersectoral collaboration and enhanced community involvement in decision making have occurred as a result of this work. (Aust N Z J Public Health 1997; 21: 511–18)

Objective: Psychological distress is a serious concern for all young people, with an estimated one in four young Australians living with a mental disorder. In rural communities young adults may face greater challenges in addressing mental health concerns than their urban counterparts with factors such as social stigma, limited availability of services, problems recognising symptoms and confidentiality concerns being significant barriers. Addressing the determinants of young people’s mental health is crucial if they are to fulfil their potential and contribute fully in their communities. This presentation will describe risk and protective factors for psychological distress among young rural adults. Methods: Data from the Australian Rural Mental Health Study were analysed, with young adults aged 18-35 completing four surveys regarding mental health and wellbeing over a period of five years. Predictors of psychological distress for young rural adults were determined using generalised linear mixed models. Results: For respondents aged 18-35 years, the strongest predictor of psychological distress across the five years of data collection was unemployment, with findings suggesting that this was independent from its economic value. Unemployment increased the odds of distress by 12-fold even after controlling for key correlates including financial position, gender, and relationship status. Key protective factors included social support, sense of community and level of social involvement, while increased alcohol use was a risk factor for distress. Conclusion: Opportunities for rural young people to connect formally and informally with their community is crucial to mental health. Supporting improved mental health is not exclusively the domain of specialised clinical and community-based mental health services (although these services are important), but also that of the diverse sporting, social, cultural, educational, religious, and vocational groups that operates within rural communities. This highlights the importance of holistic and integrated approaches in promoting mental health.

Objective: To provide an overview of the evidence for health and wellbeing benefits associated with swimming pools in remote Aboriginal* communities in Australia. Methods: Peer-reviewed and grey literature from 1990 to 2014 was searched to identify studies set in remote Australia that evaluated health and wellbeing benefits that have been associated with swimming pools. Studies were categorised using an evidence classification scale. Results: Twelve studies met our search criteria. All prospective studies that collected data on skin infections found access to swimming pools to be associated with a drop of skin sore prevalence and -where measured- severity. Studies documenting ear and eye infections showed mixed outcomes. Many wider community and wellbeing benefits were documented in various studies, although many of these were primarily anecdotal in nature. Conclusions: Although a case can be made regarding skin infections and the broader wellbeing benefits that swimming pools may bring to remote Aboriginal communities, the benefit to ear and eye health remains unresolved. Implications: The decision to provide swimming pools to remote Aboriginal communities should not hinge on the demonstration of direct health benefits alone. Equity considerations and the potential broader benefits such amenities may entail are equally important.

Aim: To examine chronic disease (CD)-related clinical activity and outcomes associated with introduction of a more systematic approach to chronic disease care in a remote Aboriginal community, using data from Communicare patient record management system. Methods: We examined CD process measures, outcomes and clinical profiles in adults age 15+ years from Communicare data and compared results for two intervals. Process measures were clinic visits and proportions of eligible patients with recorded CD-related procedures or diagnostic tests. Outcome measures were results of CD care items and CD morbidities. Data in the interval 2007–2009 were compared with data from 2009 to 2011, in which an intensified CD program was conducted in the clinic by its own staff. Results: About one-third of adult visits were related to CD care; CD-cycle of care encounters increased significantly in the second interval, from 3.2% to 9.1%, and proportions of adults having CD-related procedures or tests were also higher. For already commonly performed items, like blood pressure, weight and lipids, proportions of adults tested were 30–50% higher in the second interval, while proportions tested for more recently emphasised items, like waist, HbA1C, urine ACR, rose by more than 200%. Levels of SBP, DBP, HbA1c and HDL-C significantly improved in the second interval. Proportions of adults with clinical values outside normal ranges decreased for at least half of observations. Conclusions: Parameters of CD care activities and outcomes have increased significantly over the last four years in this setting, accompanied by stabilisation of or improvement in outcomes.

Objective: To describe the trends in maternal smoking and smoking in the household for a cohort of Indigenous women followed from late pregnancy to 7 months postpartum. Design and setting: Prospective cohort study embedded within a randomised controlled trial (RCT) performed in the Northern Territory involving participants recruited between 30 June 2006 and 4 May 2010. Participants: 215 Indigenous women aged 17–39 years who had been recruited into the RCT, 162 of whom had completed their last study visit at 7 months postpartum by 1 June 2010. ain outcome measures: Smoking status of women, and smoking within their households, in their third trimester, and at 1 month, 2 months and 7 months postpartum. Rsults: There were complete data on women’s smoking status for 121 participants. Among these, the self-reported smoking rate was 45% (95% CI, 36%–55%) during pregnancy, increasing to 63% (95% CI, 54%–71%) at 7 months postpartum. Of the 66 women who were non-smokers at the antenatal visit, 23 (35%; 95% CI, 23%–47%) were smoking by the time their baby reached 7 months of age. Thirty-one per cent (95% CI, 23%–39%) of households included people who smoked inside during the antepartum period, whereas 16% (95% CI, 10%–23%) included people who smoked inside at 7 months postpartum. Cnclusions: While an apparent reduction in indoor exposure to tobacco smoke during the postpartum period is encouraging, this is offset by an increase in the proportion of antenatal non-smokers who subsequently reported smoking after the birth of their child. More health care service delivery and research attention needs to be directed to smoking during pregnancy and to postpartum relapse in this population.

Objective: To examine the impact of efforts to improve nutrition on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands from 1986, especially in Mai Wiru (good food) stores. Methods: Multiple methods were employed. Literature was searched systematically. In 2012, the store-turnover method quantified dietary intake of the five APY communities that have a Mai Wiru store. The price of a standard market basket of basic foods, implementation of store nutrition policy requirements and healthy food checklists were also assessed in all seven APY community stores at intervals from 2012. Results were compared with available data from 1986. Results: Despite concerted efforts and marked achievements, including decreased intake of sugar, increased availability and affordability of healthy foods (particularly fruit and vegetables) and consequent improvement in some nutrient intakes, the overall effect has been a decrease in total diet quality since 1986. This is characterised by increased supply and intake of discretionary foods high in saturated fat, added sugar and salt, particularly sugar sweetened beverages, convenience meals and take-away foods. Conclusions: The documented improvements confirm that residing in these communities can help Aboriginal residents exert control over key aspects of their food supply. However, the overall findings reflect broader changes to the general Australian food supply, and reinforce the notion that, in the absence of supportive regulation and market intervention, adequate and sustained resources are required to improve nutrition and prevent diet-related chronic disease on the APY Lands. Implications: This study also provides insights into food supply/security issues affecting other remote communities and wider Australia.

Objective: To review the literature to determine the attributes of culturally appropriate healthcare to inform the design of chronic disease management (CDM) models for Aboriginal patients in urban general practice. Methods: A comprehensive conceptual framework, drawing on the Access to Care, Pathway to Care, Chronic Care, Level of Connectedness, and Cultural Security, Cultural Competency and Cultural Respect models, was developed to define the search strategy, inclusion criteria and appraisal methods for the literature review. Selected papers were reviewed in detail if they examined a chronic disease intervention for an Aboriginal population and reported on its evaluation, impacts or outcomes. Results: In the 173 papers examined, only 11 programs met the inclusion criteria. All were programs conducted in rural and remote Aboriginal community-controlled health services. Successful chronic disease care and interventions require adequate Aboriginal community engagement, utilising local knowledge, strong leadership, shared responsibilities, sustainable resources and integrated data and systems. These success factors fitted within the conceptual framework developed. Conclusions: Research and development of culturally appropriate CDM models concurrently in both urban and rural settings will enable more rigorous evaluation, leading to stronger evidence for best practice. A partnership of mainstream and Aboriginal-controlled health services is essential to successfully ‘close the gap’. Implications: Findings will inform and guide the development, implementation and evaluation of culturally appropriate CDM in mainstream general practice and primary care.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using electronic visual recording in combination with food records to evaluate dietary intake in Aboriginal infants and children. Methods: All foods and drinks consumed by the child over four consecutive days were recorded in daily food records and pictures or videos. Feasibility was assessed by determining i) proportion of meals reported to be consumed; ii) cost of data collection; iii) day-to-day variation in energy intake and; iv) acceptability of the method. Results: Dietary intake data was collected from three girls and five boys aged 11 months to eight years, five over four days and three during one day, at a cost of $3,300 per child. One-third of the 89 meals reported to be consumed through the food records were electronically recorded. Most photographs were taken in the first two days with the number of meals electronically recorded decreasing each day over the four-day period. There was a large day-to-day variation in energy intake. Conclusions: Use of electronic recording to aid individual usual dietary intake data collection was feasible. Collection periods spread over 1–2 weeks may be more appropriate due to the large variance in day-to-day dietary intake.

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of fiscal measures applied in remote community food stores for Aboriginal Australians. Methods: Six price discount strategies on fruit, vegetables, diet drinks and water were modelled. Baseline diet was measured as 12 months’ actual food sales data in three remote Aboriginal communities. Discount-induced changes in food purchases were based on published price elasticity data while the weight of the daily diet was assumed constant. Dietary change was converted to change in sodium and energy intake, and body mass index (BMI) over a 12-month period. Improved lifetime health outcomes, modelled for the remote population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, were converted to disability adjusted life years (DALYs) saved using a proportional multistate lifetable model populated with diet-related disease risks and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rates of disease. Results: While dietary change was small, five of the six price discount strategies were estimated as cost-effective, below a $50,000/DALY threshold. Conclusion: Stakeholders are committed to finding ways to reduce important inequalities in health status between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous Australians. Price discounts offer potential to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Verification of these results by trial-based research coupled with consideration of factors important to all stakeholders is needed.

Background: Diabetes in pregnancy carries an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and foetus, but it also provides an excellent early opportunity for intervention in the life course for both mother and baby. In the context of the escalating epidemic of chronic diseases among Indigenous Australians, it is vital that this risk is reduced as early as possible in the life course of the individual. The aims of the PANDORA Study are to: (i) accurately assess rates of diabetes in pregnancy in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, where 38% of babies are born to Indigenous mothers; (ii) assess demographic, clinical, biochemical, anthropometric, socioeconomic and early life development factors that may contribute to key maternal and neonatal birth outcomes associated with diabetes in pregnancy; and (iii) monitor relevant post-partum clinical outcomes for both the mothers and their babies. Methods/Design: Eligible participants are all NT women with diabetes in pregnancy aged 16 years and over. Information collected includes: standard antenatal clinical information, diagnosis and management of diabetes in pregnancy, socio-economic status, standard clinical birth information (delivery, gestational age, birth weight, adverse antenatal and birth outcomes). Cord blood is collected at the time of delivery and detailed neonatal anthropometric measurements performed within 72 hours of birth. Information will also be collected regarding maternal post-partum glucose tolerance and cardio-metabolic risk factor status, breastfeeding and growth of the baby up to 2 years post-partum in the first instance. Discussion: This study will accurately document rates and outcomes of diabetes in pregnancy in the NT of Australia, including the high-risk Indigenous Australian population. The results of this study should contribute to policy and clinical guidelines with the goal of reducing the future risk of obesity and diabetes in both mothers and their offspring.

Objectives: To determine if point-of-care (POC) glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is sufficiently accurate in real-world remote settings to predict or exclude the diagnosis of diabetes based on laboratory HbA1c measurements. Design: Cross-sectional study comparing POC capillary HbA1c results with corresponding venous HbA1c levels measured in a reference laboratory. Participants: Aboriginal patients ≥15 years old who were due for diabetes screening at the participating clinics were invited to participate. Two hundred and fifty-five Aboriginal participants were enrolled and 241 were included in the analysis. Setting: 6 primary healthcare sites in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia from September 2011 to November 2013. Main outcome measures: Concordance and mean differences between POC capillary blood HbA1c measurement and laboratory measurement of venous blood HbA1c level; POC capillary blood HbA1c equivalence value for screening for diabetes or a high risk of developing diabetes; sensitivity, specificity and positive-predictive value for diagnosing and screening for diabetes; barriers to conducting POC testing. Results: Concordance between POC and laboratory results was good (ρ=0.88, p<0.001). The mean difference was −0.15% (95% limits of agreement, −0.67% to 0.36%). POC HbA1c measurements ≥6.5%, 48 mmol/mol had a specificity of 98.2% and sensitivity of 73.7% for laboratory measurements ≥6.5%. The POC equivalence value for screening for diabetes or a high risk of developing diabetes was ≥5.7%, 39 mmol/mol (sensitivity, 91%; specificity, 76.7% for laboratory measurements ≥6.0%, 42 mmol/mol). Staff trained by other clinic staff ‘on the job’ performed as well as people with formal accredited training. Staff reported difficulty in maintaining formal accreditation. Conclusions: POC HbA1c testing is sufficiently accurate to be a useful component in screening for, and diagnosing, diabetes in remote communities. Limited local training is adequate to produce results comparable to laboratory results and accreditation processes need to reflect this.

Rural-urban differences in the prevalence of a number of chronic conditions have been identified, with rural residents more likely to have higher morbidity than their urban counterparts. However, differences are not always consistent and variations may exist in particular diseases. One possible reason is that many studies rely on a simple rural-urban dichotomy that may conceal variations in health across rural areas. This study aimed to compare differences in selected chronic conditions in urban, inner regional, outer regional and remote dwelling mid-aged Australian women, and to consider the impact of known socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Data for this paper were drawn from surveys 1 to 6 (1996–2010) of the 1946–1951 cohort (n=13,715) of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. This is a prospective study of factors affecting the health and well-being of three cohorts of women, aged 18–23 years (‘1973–1978 cohort’), 45–50 years (‘1946–1951 cohort’) and 70–75 years (‘1921–1926 cohort’) at the time of Survey 1 in 1996. The method of recruitment and response rates have been described elsewhere4 and details of the study can be found at http://www.alswh.org.au. Participants were asked at each survey if they had ever been diagnosed (yes/no) by a doctor with heart disease, diabetes or hypertension. Area of residence was classified according to the Australian Standard Geographic Classification (ASGC) as urban, inner regional, outer regional, remote and very remote. BMI was calculated from height and weight (kg/m2) and categorised as ‘underweight’ (<18.5), ‘normal’ (18.5 to <25), ‘overweight’ (25 to <30), ‘obese’ (30+). Smoking status was categorised as ‘non-smoker’, ‘ex-smoker’ and ‘current smoker.’ An estimate of total physical activity in MET minutes per week (METs) was obtained and categorised as ‘nil/sedentary’ (0-<40 METs), ‘low’ (40-<600 METs), ‘moderate’ (600-<1200 METs) or ‘high’ (1200+ METs). Alcohol consumption was categorised as ‘non-drinker’, ‘rarely drinks alcohol’, ‘low risk drinker’ (≤14 drinks/week), ‘risky drinker’ (≤28 drinks/week). Demographics included age, country of birth, marital status, and highest educational qualification completed. Ability to manage on income was categorised on a five-point scale ranging from ‘it is easy’ to ‘it is impossible’. Table 1 presents odds ratios for incidence of conditions by area of residence. Women living in inner regional (OR 1.24, 95%CI 1.05–1.47) and remote/very remote (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.24–2.44) areas were more likely to report heart disease than women in urban areas, after adjusting for survey and age. These differences remained for women in remote/very remote areas after further adjusting for demographic factors alone (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.23–2.44), demographics and BMI (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.17–2.34) and demographics, BMI, smoking, alcohol and exercise (OR 1.63, 95%CI 1.16–2.31).

This is an abridged report of the analysis of plants from the three case study sites of the Plants for People project: Titjikala, Ceduna and Leonora.

The report identifies food safety issues that the native plant food industry needs to be aware of and address, including biological issues, legislative requirements and buyers' requirements. It provides practical advice on meeting these requirements, including food safety guidelines and a model food safety program that can be used to manage food safety risks in individual businesses. The legislative requirements for labelling and the opportunity to use labelling to promote the value of products are discussed.

The aim of the study was to (1) improve shelf-life, quality and safety of existing native foods and to identify and develop novel products from native foods and (2) to develop applications across the food industry leading to significant increase in demand for the raw material with subsequent growth of the native food industry. This report covers the following research findings: • Expanded range of traditional foods containing native food ingredients • Novel flavours, fragrances and extracts from native foods for use as conventional flavours, flavour enhancers and food ingredients • Improved raw material quality and microbiological assessment of native foods • Potential application of natural antioxidants and preservatives to improve food products

This publication profiles 27 emerging animal and plant industries, and for the first time gives us a picture of their overall worth to the Australian economy. – conservatively estimated at $673 million. These industries make significant contributions to the regions in which they operate by bringing diversity and resilience to the sector. They also contribute to the increasingly important niche and specialty food markets. The importance of this report is that it provides basic statistical information for new and emerging industries. As well as indicating the high aggregate value of the ‘new and emerging sector’, the report provides detailed statistical information for each new industry. It will be a useful basis for those contemplating investment or formulating policy and will help to inform RIRDC as it plans its research and development priorities into the future.

This standard regulates plants and fungi. It lists the species of plants and fungi that must not be added to food or offered for sale as food. It also lists the species of plants and fungi that may not be used in food except as a source of a flavouring substance.

The indigenous people of Australia have a long and well documented history of using native plants as an essential component of their customary economy. However, few have engaged successfully in commerce based on native plant use. Recently there has been an increasing interest in exploring options for use of native plants for food, food additives, botanical medicines, and related purposes. In this paper, we determine the issues important to Aboriginal people in enterprise development utilizing plant products, and we define some of the factors affecting progress in realizing opportunities. The Aboriginal people with whom we have worked appear to prefer small-scale enterprises where they have community ownership of ideas and control of the rate and direction of development. Government could play a larger and more active role through supporting additional research and marketing information, providing training, and better matching policy and legislation to support indigenous development and reduce dependence of welfare.

Australian native food has come to be called bushfood. However, this term has several different connotations depending on the context. Firstly, while it is often used to denote both flora and fauna, it has been widely adopted by many people as a synonym for products obtained only from plants. Secondly, the term would mean slightly different things to an Aboriginal Australian and a European Australian. Before 1788, the Aboriginal people of Australia ate bushfood within a holistic philosophy that encompassed social structures, belief systems and survival strategies as well as nutrition. When Europeans came along new foods and cooking styles were introduced and to speak about bushfood now is to conjure up a very different image of the way in which the food is prepared and regarded. Many of the products that come under the title of (plant) bushfood are, in fact, fruits. This paper gives an overview of a number of aspects of tropical and subtropical indigenous Australian fruits including their history of use, their place in the more general Bushfood Industry and a discussion of some of the key species within both the traditional Aboriginal and commercial European context.

This report details a project that critically examined existing botanical, chemical and toxicological information on the current major commercial bushfoods as well as their history of use in traditional Aboriginal cultures. Information is also included on several additional species which have considerable commercial potential. Based on this assessment, chemical analyses were carried out on a range of bushfood samples provided by the industry, to determine the presence/absence and/or concentration of some of classes of compound or individual compounds with some toxic properties.

The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide a framework for conduct and decision-making for workers involved in the many complex activities associated with Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) and Natural Resource Management (NRM) in the Northern Territory. These Guidelines have been developed to help ensure that Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights are recognised and managed in accordance with key ethical principles. These include respect, free prior and informed consent and basic fairness towards those who hold knowledge. There are four parts to these Guidelines, including this Introduction. Part 2 outlines definitions and provides the context for use of the Guidelines. Part 3, which can be detached and used separately, comprises the Guidelines themselves. In the Guidelines a range of principles and practical steps have been outlined to better understand and work with IEK. The Stages of IEK Management outlined in Part 3 of this report (p16-25) offer a step-by-step approach to the (1) Collection; (2) Storage and Access; (3) Acknowledgement and Due Credit; and (4) Repatriation of IEK. The Guidelines are intended to enable, but not override, Aboriginal community-level decision-making and governance processes and the local protocols that are already in place for some Aboriginal communities, NRM organisations and regional representative bodies. The development of local protocols and research agreements are encouraged and the principles and practices within these Guidelines are intended to provide a guiding framework; an architecture for compliance for all researchers regardless of experience.

This paper examines an alternative economy in the Anmatyerr region of central Australia, with reference to the ‘hybrid economy’ concept. We argue that this concept has application in recognising emerging Aboriginal economies surrounding the utilisation and management of natural resources. In particular, we examine the ‘bush harvest’ of one species – where Aboriginal people sell Desert raisin (Katyerr or Bush tomato) to traders who then on-sell to manufacturers and retailers. This seasonal economy intermittently injects relatively significant amounts of cash into households (but unaccounted for in census figures). Although some groups have been selling bush harvest produce for up to 30 years, it is increasingly gaining momentum with a larger market developing. Yet, there is a risk that this burgeoning market and the mainstream interest in horticulture will fail to recognise the value of local Aboriginal motivations that drive the customary harvest activity. Nevertheless, there is increased federal government recognition, via the Central Land Council, of the value of Aboriginal people as local land managers; as rangers. This in turn has provided resources to promote and encourage this harvest through the recognition of Aboriginal land management practices, such as seasonal burning to encourage the crop’s growth.