Abstract:

Most people of European background are not aware that they see the world through the lens of the Western tradition, but for Indigenous people, it can seem like a foreign language. Indigenous ways of thinking and working are grounded in many thousands of years of oral tradition and continue among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people today. The author shows that understanding traditional holistic approaches to social and emotional wellbeing is essential for practitioners working with Indigenous clients across the human services. Also the author explores core principles of traditional Indigenous knowledge in Australia, including relatedness, Country, circular learning, stories, and spirituality and shows how these principles represents a theory for Indigenous practice.