A Scoping Review of Australian Aboriginal Early Relational Health Knowledge Systems
Shannon McNeair1, Catherine Chamberlain2, Naomi Priest2,3,4
1School of Psychology, Deakin Institute for Lifespan Health and Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
|May 2, 2026
Summary
Australian Aboriginal early relational knowledge systems foster child wellbeing and development. This review highlights Indigenous approaches to relational health, emphasizing connection to family, community, and Country for holistic growth.
Area of Science:
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Australian Aboriginal peoples possess sophisticated, millennia-old relational knowledge systems for child-rearing.
- Existing literature is fragmented across disciplines and often framed within Eurocentric perspectives.
- There is a need to consolidate and understand Indigenous-led research on these relational systems.
Conclusions:
- Australian Aboriginal relational knowledge systems offer unique insights into holistic child development and wellbeing.
- Indigenous-led approaches emphasize interconnectedness with social and environmental systems.
- Culturally valid assessment tools are urgently needed to monitor relational health in Aboriginal children and youth.
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