Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learnings and Crisis Principles from Aboriginal Elders, Aboriginal Organisations and Aboriginal Communities.

Strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic also raised issues relating to equity, equality, and ethical decision-making, indicating the need for Aboriginal community-based research to gain a better understanding of the pandemic’s impact. Using Aboriginal Participatory Action Research (APAR) and yarning circles, a team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers conducted six workshops with 44 participants explored the experiences and perspectives of urban and rural Aboriginal Elders, community members and organisations in Western Australia. We aimed to learn about relevant cultural principles which were or weren’t applied to crisis management protocols during the pandemic, and their impact on community resilience. A thematic analysis of yarning discussions revealed the complexity of ethical decision-making occurring at individual, community, and organisational levels, recognising the need for crisis management to be evaluative, versatile, and to incorporate diverse voices, knowledges, and practices. The interaction of diverse factors and processes led to many participants experiencing fear as the pandemic amplified disruptions to various services and basic needs. At the same time, participants shared stories of resilience and adaptation grounded in protecting one another and sharing ways for circumventing negative and inequitable experiences. The findings demonstrate that the complexities of historical and contemporary Australia’s colonial practices share similar characteristics with COVID-19 restrictions that brought up memories from the past. There is a need for greater collaboration with communities and community-based organisations in crisis planning and response to mitigate foreseen risks and empower communities to have self-determination during public health emergencies. We offer practical suggestions and principles to be used to inform Government and other stakeholders working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during future emergencies.