Stephane Shepherd on Assessing the Needs of Indigenous People in Custody

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise 27% of the prison population but represent only 3 % of the Australian population. Justice health professionals often grapple with providing culturally competent care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody. However these clinical challenges cannot be viewed in isolation without interrogating broader organisational, societal and political structures and attitudes. Efforts to reduce Indigenous prison numbers and provide meaningful correctional health care require a multi-levelled approach across a variety of sectors with an accompanying honest socio-political discourse. This presentation by Dr Stephane Shepherd, Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar in Cultural Competence will canvas some of the broader societal influences underpinning Indigenous imprisonment and consider potential medico-legal and community responses to address these issues. More info: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2016/NCCC_stephane_shepherd.shtml