Hostname: page-component-89b8bd64d-shngb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-07T16:45:12.439Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Is Aboriginal nutrition a priority for local government? A policy analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2017

Catherine Helson
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
Ruth Walker
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
Claire Palermo*
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
Kim Rounsefell
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
Yudit Aron
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Level 1, 264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
Catherine MacDonald
Affiliation:
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
Petah Atkinson
Affiliation:
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
Jennifer Browne
Affiliation:
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
*
* Corresponding author: Email claire.palermo@monash.edu
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

The present study aimed to explore how Australian local governments prioritise the health and well-being of Aboriginal populations and the extent to which nutrition is addressed by local government health policy.

Design

In the state of Victoria, Australia, all seventy-nine local governments’ public health policy documents were retrieved. Inclusion of Aboriginal health and nutrition in policy documents was analysed using quantitative content analysis. Representation of Aboriginal nutrition ‘problems’ and ‘solutions’ was examined using qualitative framing analysis. The socio-ecological framework was used to classify the types of Aboriginal nutrition issues and strategies within policy documents.

Setting

Victoria, Australia.

Subjects

Local governments’ public health policy documents (n 79).

Results

A small proportion (14 %, n 11) of local governments addressed Aboriginal health and well-being in terms of nutrition. Where strategies aimed at nutrition existed, they mostly focused on individual factors rather than the broader macroenvironment.

Conclusions

A limited number of Victorian local governments address nutrition as a health issue for their Aboriginal populations in policy documents. Nutrition needs to be addressed as a community and social responsibility rather than merely an individual ‘behaviour’. Partnerships are required to ensure Aboriginal people lead government policy development.

Information

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2017 
Figure 0

Table 1 Median frequency of ‘Aboriginal’ and ‘nutrition’ keywords in Victorian local government public health policies

Figure 1

Table 2 Context of ‘Aboriginal’ and ‘nutrition’ keywords appearing together in Victorian local government public health policies

Figure 2

Table 3 Frames identified in in Victorian local government public health policy documents