The Wire

Australia’s Indigenous communities suffer from a disproportionate number of early diseases and illness, according to Dr Paul Burgess, a GP registrar from Darwin, who has just won an award for his pre-PhD research into Indigenous land management. Dr Burgess believes European colonialists have failed to understand the importance of country and land rights to Indigenous Australians. Many have left the vast land of northern Australia in favour of serviceable centralised townships. This dislocation has led to stressful, unhealthy places for Indigenous people, typified by high levels of poverty, unemployment, social disfunction and ill health. After much involvement in Indigenous health, Dr Burgess says there is growing recognition that positive health outcomes would be seen if Indigenous people return, or remain on country. Although the Indigenous community is one of the most heavily researched groups in Australia, not much has been done on finding solutions.