Identifying pathways towards Indigenous Australian flourishing: An interpretative phenomenological investigation

Despite a growing focus on Indigenous Australian health and wellbeing, this is often centred around deficit-based discourse. Yet despite the disproportionally high rates of disadvantage that they experience, many Indigenous Australians thrive. Using an interpretative phenomenology approach, this study explored how Indigenous Australians working within tertiary education institutions conceptualise wellbeing and flourishing; the characteristics, beliefs, and behaviours that enable them to function effectively; and the extent to which the practice of their Indigenous Australian culture impacts upon their wellbeing. Across 11 interviews, participants had a shared understanding of how Indigenous Australian wellbeing is conceptualised; they access a range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian personal characteristics, beliefs, and behaviours that enable them to thrive; and the practice of Indigenous Australian culture is central to their health and wellbeing. Findings suggest that there is benefit of and need for studies, practices, and discourse that honour Indigenous Australians' strengths, while simultaneously recognising the negative historical, legal, and political factors that have and will continue to impact upon Indigenous Australian health and wellbeing.