Reakeeta Louise Smallwood

Dr. Reakeeta Louise Smallwood


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 June 2020 in Journal of Transcultural Nursing
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
RSReakeeta Louise Smallwood
Reakeeta Louise Smallwood
CWCindy Woods
Cindy Woods
TPTamara Power
Tamara Power
KUKim Usher
Kim Usher
Introduction: Indigenous Peoples are experiencing the ongoing effects of colonization. This phenomenon, historical trauma (HT), helps to address the current ill-health disparity. Aim of this scoping review was to identify sources of evidence available to understand the impact of HT on Indigenous young peoples. Method: A scoping review was conducted on available evidence-based literature. Article quality was assessed using validated quality appraisal tools. Synthesis was conducted with predefined levels of impact. Results: Consistent with the literature, the themes and levels of impact were interrelated. Despite this, studies predominately reported a singular focus with limited discussion of protective factors. Discussion: HT continues to have a profound impact on Indigenous young peoples across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Protective factors for HT were evident within Indigenous research designs. Future research should ensure a multilevel focus to explore intergenerational strength and how this influences culturally congruent health care.

Roz WalkerRoz Walker
Roz Walker
KUKim Usher
Kim Usher
DJDebra Jackson
Debra Jackson
CRCorinne Reid
Corinne Reid
KHKatrina Hopkins
Katrina Hopkins
Rhonda MarriottRhonda Marriott
Rhonda Marriott
(1) Background: This article examines whether connection to digital technologies helps connect young Indigenous people in Australia to culture, community and country to support good mental health and well-being and protect against indirect and potentially long-term effects of COVID-19. (2) Method: We reviewed literature published between February and November 2020 and policy responses related to digital strategies. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, government policy websites and key Indigenous literature sources, identifying 3460 articles. Of these, 30 articles and 26 policy documents were included and analysed to identify existing and expected mental health outcomes among Indigenous young people associated with COVID-19 and more broadly. (3) Results: There are inequities in affordable access to digital technologies. Only 63% of Indigenous people have access to internet at home. Digital technologies and social media contribute to strong cultural identity, enhance connections to community and country and improve mental health and social and emotional well-being outcomes. (4) Discussion: Access to digital technologies can facilitate healing and cultural continuity, self-determination and empowerment for young people to thrive, not just survive, in the future. (5) Conclusion: More targeted policies and funding is urgently needed to promote digital technologies to enhance Indigenous young people’s access to mental health and well-being services, maintain cultural connections and evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives using Indigenous well-being indicators.

29 March 2022 in Journal of Clinical Nursing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
RSReakeeta Louise Smallwood
Reakeeta Louise Smallwood
KUKim Usher
Kim Usher
CWCindy Woods
Cindy Woods
NSNeville Sampson
Neville Sampson
DJDebra Jackson
Debra Jackson
Background: The continued use of a deficit discourse when researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia is problematic. Understanding and challenging the researchers position and the power of the words they use is important. It will ensure we do not persist in framing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as a problem to be solved.Design: Indigenist review of the evidence of Aboriginal young people's health and well‐being.Methods: This review was conducted using an Indigenist approach to identify texts which amplified the voices of Aboriginal young people of Australia and presents a narrative summary of their accounts. This review is reported in line with the PRISMA‐ScR reporting guidelines.Results: Culture and connection are critical components of Aboriginal young people's health and well‐being. Aboriginal young people describe feeling of powerlessness to influence health and well‐being of their community, and they understood the risks they and their communities faced. Young people identified the importance of connection to culture, community and Elders as crucial to their social and emotional well‐being.Conclusion: By harnessing an Indigenous analysis, we were able to reveal a strong counter narrative of strength and resilience within their historical, social, and political contexts through the storied accounts of Aboriginal young people.Relevance to clinical practice: Most of the currently available evidence about Aboriginal health and well‐being is immersed in deficit discourse. Literature reviews being the foundation of research and informing nursing practice, we call for a purposeful shift towards the adoption of an Indigenist strength‐based approach which emphasises the strength and resilience of Aboriginal young people.

3 September 2021 in Contemporary Nurse
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Tamara PowerTamara Power
Tamara Power
DWDenise Wilson
Denise Wilson
LGLynore Geia
Lynore Geia
RWRoianne West
Roianne West
TBTeresa Brockie
Teresa Brockie
OBOdette Best
Odette Best
We begin by acknowledging the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples across the Earth as the traditional custodians of Country, and their timeless and embodied relationships with cultures, communities, ...
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5 February 2026 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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DJDebra Maria Jones
Debra Maria Jones
AHAnnemarie Hennessy
Annemarie Hennessy
MGMariah Goldsworthy
Mariah Goldsworthy
Xiang-Yu HouXiang-Yu Hou
Xiang-Yu Hou
STSandra Thompson
Sandra Thompson
DWDanielle White
Danielle White
Background/Objective: The quality of care afforded to rural, remote, and First Nations Peoples is dependent on access to a health workforce with the capacity to contextualize healthcare and practice to the needs and expectations of these populations. In Australia, the lack of representation of rural health in undergraduate and post graduate health professional education undermines this preparedness and consideration of rural practice uptake and longevity, compounding the inequities confronted by 7 million Australians residing in these locations. Urgent educational reforms are required to address this omission, the deficit discourses used to characterize rural healthcare, and the persistent health workforce shortages experienced. This paper presents the Anabranch Framework for the Ruralization of Health Professional Education, a high-level strategy to transform rural healthcare provision, professional practice, and health workforce outcomes. Methods: The framework was developed through an iterative process involving a series of systematic steps. The process included the following: individual and group critical dialogues with internal academic educators, external health service leaders, metropolitan academic allies, and leaders of other rural health academic departments; an internal review of empirical studies of relevance to the ruralization of health professional education and practice; the visualization of a place-based framework; the academic conceptualization of the framework; and further critical dialogues to test the framework’s face validity. Results: The Anabranch Framework comprises four inter-related rural domains: theories, pedagogies, practices, and connectivity; four constructs: knowledge acquisition and generation, immersion in rural curriculum, knowledge translation and sharing, and relational practice; and two structural elements: spiraled and scaffolded curriculum and duration and the quality of rural placement and practice. Conclusions: The Anabranch Framework is a high-level strategy to ruralize health professional worldviews, advance rural person-centered practice, enable a deeper understanding of rural places and the development of an equity-orientated, sustainable and rural-literate health workforce.

22 September 2021 in BMJ Open
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KUKim Usher
Kim Usher
NBNavjot Bhullar
Navjot Bhullar
DSDavid Sibbritt
David Sibbritt
SASuruchi Sue Anubha Amarasena
Suruchi Sue Anubha Amarasena
WPWenbo Peng
Wenbo Peng
DJDebra Jackson
Debra Jackson
Introduction Chronic conditions impact Indigenous Peoples of Australia at a much higher rate than non-Indigenous Australians. Attendance at the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) supported Indigenous health checks are crucial to improve prevention and management of chronic health conditions. However, in conjunction with lifestyle and environmental factors, attendance rates at primary healthcare services for screening and treatment have fallen in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on preventive health behaviours of Indigenous Australians and the associated barriers to, and enablers of, engagement with health services to formulate a targeted intervention strategy. Methods and analysis A concurrent mixed-methods study (comprising quantitative and qualitative data collection methods) will be employed. Descriptive analysis of MBS data about the characteristics of Indigenous Peoples of Australia claiming health assessment services will be performed. Generalised estimating equation regression models will be used to examine the use of health assessment services over time. Qualitative interviews informed by Indigenous research methods will be conducted. Interviews will investigate barriers to, and enablers of, engagement with health services. Thematic approach guided by the principles of indigenist praxis, storytelling and collaborative research will be used to analyse the interview data. The project commenced in July 2020 and will be completed by July 2022. Ethics and dissemination The project received ethics approval from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales and the University of New England Human Research Ethics Committee. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journal articles, conferences, government and relevant stakeholder reports, and infographics.