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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Putting urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander food insecurity on the agenda

Leigh Bramwell A D , Wendy Foley B C and Tanya Shaw A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Access and Capacity-Building Team, Metro South Health, PO Box 52, Inala, Qld 4077, Australia.

B Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, Metro South Health, Inala, Qld 4077, Australia.

C School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: leigh.bramwell@health.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(5) 415-419 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY17073
Submitted: 18 May 2017  Accepted: 8 August 2017   Published: 17 October 2017

Abstract

Food insecurity adversely affects diet quality, physical, mental and social wellbeing and the capacity to act on health advice recommended by primary healthcare providers. In this article, an overview of the neglected issue of food insecurity in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is provided. Policy and action on food security for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is reviewed, and it is argued that for primary health care to better address food insecurity, an evidence base is needed to understand the experiences of individuals and households and how to work effectively to support food insecure clients.


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