The benefits of on-Country activities for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal men

Our spirit and our land, they go together. Our land is our home. Our land is like our mum. They take care of us if we’re hungry, they clothe us, they look after us. Our land is very special, there’s always a deep connection. When we feel that ground on our feet, or we get that piece of dirt to put on a coffin to say goodbye to our loved ones, it’s a powerful emotion. It’s a very powerful emotion because it reminds us of a sense and a way of belonging… This land and certain places that keep our spirit strong were kept here for a reason. And part of that reason I believe is for the strength and growth of individuals, of each family member that lives and holds on to the land. - Uncle Sealin Garlett, in Collard, Adams^[1]

The spark for my research came from my employment as a Social Worker and Aboriginal Health Worker in an on-Country men’s health program called ‘Our Way on Country’. The Aboriginal concept of Country refers to the understanding and relationship held by Aboriginal people with the land and the natural environment^[4].

Karadi Aboriginal Corporation’s Aboriginal Men’s Group, in partnership with nature-based therapy service provider Adventure Works, delivered a six-month, on-Country health and wellbeing program. About 40 Aboriginal men living in Southern Tasmania participated in some part of ‘Our Way on Country’, which consisted of events such as Aboriginal cultural activities, spending time on Country, multiple days of camping, evening group events, and adventure activities.

There’s not much research exploring the effects of on-Country therapeutic programs for Aboriginal people, despite nature being a vital component of Aboriginal identity and culture. On-Country therapy is clearly relevant to current federal and state and territory government initiatives^[5] but there is minimal examination of its benefits.

For Aboriginal men, in addition to primary health care^[6], having holistic and innovative ways to enhance and maintain their health and wellbeing is important. These health and wellbeing initiatives should be conceptualised from an Aboriginal worldview and developed by Aboriginal men, like the ‘Our Way on Country’ program was. Solely Western approaches to Aboriginal health and wellbeing can overlook Aboriginal domains of health and wellbeing such as cultural and spiritual wellbeing.

My PhD research aimed to understand the therapeutic benefits of spending time on Country for Aboriginal men. I conducted 11 interviews to understand their experiences of being on Country. I found four key benefits for Aboriginal men when taking part in on-Country therapy programs⁴. These four key benefits are:

1. On-Country programs can provide holistic improvements to a participant’s health and wellbeing
2. On-Country programs assist Aboriginal men to spend time on Country and practise Aboriginal culture
3. On-Country programs contribute to the establishment, enhancement, and maintenance of healthy social connections
4. Being on Country provides space for Aboriginal men to freely express components of their masculinity without marginalisation from mainstream Australian society.

The encouraging benefits of connecting with Country for Aboriginal men’s health and wellbeing mean service providers should consider this for integration into service delivery. However, non-Indigenous delivery of on-Country therapeutic programs can be both disempowering for Aboriginal people and perpetuating of the ongoing process of colonisation over Indigenous knowledges. My research suggests that Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) are better positioned than mainstream providers to integrate Country into service delivery because Country is a unique concept connected with Aboriginal culture and identity4.