Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing programs: A literature review

This review summarises existing research on healing internationally and nationally, highlighting what constitutes an effective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing process. This evidence enables the identification of what constitutes an effective healing program and the gaps in our knowledge that can inform future evaluation and research priorities. The literature revealed that to be successful, a healing program needs to be created within the local context; respond to needs identified by local community members and be supported by the local community. Sustainability needs to be multi-level and include development and transfer of knowledge and resources. This includes strong evaluation frameworks that are consistent with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander world view.  The literature review has provided an inter-country context for healing that clearly demonstrates what constitutes an effective healing program; the interface between healing and health and the need for quality evaluations that incorporate Aboriginal knowledge systems. The depth of this material enables the Healing Foundation to identify a clear pathway to building and developing the evidence of healing into the future.