Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concept of health

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander understanding of health is holistic:

Aboriginal health does not mean the physical wellbeing of an individual, but refers to the social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing of the whole community. For Aboriginal people this is seen in terms of the whole-life-view. Health care services should strive to achieve the state where every individual is able to achieve their full potential as human beings, and must bring about the total wellbeing of their communities. ([28917], p. 56)

This holistic understanding of health and wellbeing involves the whole community throughout the entire life-course. It includes broad issues like social justice, equity, and rights, as well as traditional knowledge, traditional healing, and connection to country [25558][8606]. Thus, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concept of health “encompass[es] mental health and physical, cultural and spiritual health. Land is central to well being” ([8606], p. 15).