Tharawal Aboriginal

Abstract In this paper we demonstrate how a concentrated mound of 8622 stone artefacts excavated at Walanjiwurru 1 rockshelter in Marra Country, northern Australia, reflects the emotional and spiritual dimensions of sweeping, and moral obligations to maintain Country. While archaeological studies have previously documented sweeping as part of site formation, and the social significance of stone in Australia is well established, few studies have examined how these practices intersect with Indigenous understandings of maintaining Country. Through analysis of stone artefacts combined with Marra knowledge, we demonstrate how sweeping activities 2500–300 cal. bp created a unique expression of ongoing relationships between people, materials and Country, maintained through the practice of sweeping. The mound’s composition shows distinctive patterns in both size distribution and stone type representation, most notably in the concentration of yellow quartzite—a stone type with particular cultural power due to its ancestral connections. These findings contribute to broader discussions about the integration of Indigenous and archaeological knowledge systems, while demonstrating how stone artefacts and sweeping practices remain active participants in maintaining relationships between Country, people and ancestors.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging tool for wildlife biologists and citizen scientists to build local knowledge about biodiversity and detect invasive species. While single-species eDNA assays are widely used to detect cryptic species, metabarcoding approaches can simultaneously detect a wide range of taxa depending on the chosen genetic target. In a partnership pilot study between Traditional Owners, scientists, and Government, we used a 12S metabarcoding approach to identify the vertebrate prey consumed by predators in the Burragorang Valley on Gundungurra Country (NSW, Australia). Here, we report an incidental but important detection of an invasive fish species, Oriental Weatherloach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, in multiple Red Fox Vulpes vulpes scats within the high conservation value landscape of the Burragorang Valley (encompassing the WaterNSW Warragamba Special Areas). Our eDNA identification of Oriental Weatherloach was later validated by a physical capture of the species. We reviewed public databases to better understand the distribution of this invasive species in the region and discovered that Oriental Weatherloach had been detected upstream of the Warragamba Special Area on the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Rivers, expanding its range since the 1990s. However, this was the first detection within the strictly controlled inner conservation zone for Lake Burragorang, Sydney’s drinking water supply. The recent invasion of this exotic fish species was not widely known by Traditional Owners, local community, Government departments or conservation groups and is significant as it is within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Our preliminary study highlights the value of using eDNA metabarcoding on predator scats as a biomonitoring tool for the incidental detection of invasive species and shows that freshwater fish may play a more significant role in the diet of foxes than previously understood.

Context Conservation managers often have little information on distribution ranges and ecological characteristics of rare species, thereby hindering effective decision-making. This challenge is evident for arboreal mammals of northern Australia where species vary widely in abundance, are nocturnal and cryptic, and exhibit regionally divergent patterns of rarity and decline. Aims We compare (1) trapping niche, (2) denning and foraging niche and (3) vegetation habitat preferences to test for links between niche and rarity among arboreal species. Methods Survey data obtained using a variety of terrestrial and arboreal methods are used to define trapping niche, vegetation habitat preferences and abundance/distribution of arboreal mammal species in Western Australia’s northern Kimberley. Denning and foraging niche is defined based on available literature. Key results Based on combined niche observations, we suggest that arboreal denning species with a preference for open forest vegetation are the most prone to rarity, restricted distributions and decline in the Kimberley. Very restricted extent of suitable open forest vegetation in the Kimberley may locally exacerbate threats to forest specialists. Generalist, terrestrial denning species preferring savanna woodlands/shrublands and rugged rocky habitats were more abundant and less restricted in their distributions than forest specialists. Conclusions These results highlight the local importance of small areas of open forest for threatened arboreal mammals in the Kimberley. Implications We suggest that targeted adaptive management interventions to preserve and enhance open forest vegetation and arboreal habitat including den hollows, through application of low intensity prescribed burning for protection from damaging wildfires, would benefit specialist arboreal species.

one year after the Voice referendum, a group of 10 Indigenous researchers gathered on Kabi Kabi Country at Marcoola, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, for a research writing workshop where they responded to a series of objects focused on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Australian Voice referendum; the objects were curated within the writing space.This offered the focus for their thoughts, feelings, discussions, and collaboration on a written research output.They collectively wrote a poem

Globally, hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is a priority for marginalised communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Innovative and equity focused models of care are required to achieve elimination. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate prevalence of, and factors associated with, HCV infection among Aboriginal peoples engaged during implementation of a point-of-care testing and treatment intervention at Aboriginal primary health care services. The SCALE-C prospective cohort study implemented a decentralised, on-site community-based "test and treat" intervention through four regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (primary care services) in New South Wales and South Australia between May 2019 and July 2022. Following a screening questionnaire (history of HCV infection, injecting drug use, incarceration, opioid agonist therapy use), participants underwent fingerstick point-of-care HCV testing (antibody [no risk] and/or RNA [history of HCV, ever at risk]); those at risk or with current HCV infection were also offered point-of-care HIV and HBV testing, education, and longitudinal follow-up. Participants with current HCV infection were offered DAA treatment. The primary endpoint was current HCV infection, with secondary endpoints including DAA uptake and outcome. Factors associated with current HCV infection were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Of 536 individuals enrolled (median age 39 years, 49% women, 37% injecting drug use ever, 32% incarceration ever), 79% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The proportion with current HCV infection was 9%, ranging from 0.5% among people reporting no lifetime risk to 20% among those reporting risk within the past 12 months. Current HCV infection was associated with recent injecting drug use (adjusted OR: 10.43; 95% CI: 1.34-81.01). Among participants with HCV infection, 62% (28/45) received DAA treatment (median time from enrolment to treatment initiation, nine days [range 2, 22]) and 57% (16/28) of those treated had confirmed sustained virological response (SVR); SVR was 100% (16/16) among those retained in follow up. A community-based decentralised on-site "test and treat" intervention integrated within existing Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations was feasible and effective in HCV case detection. While it holds potential for future elimination efforts, health system enhancement will be required (including dedicated staffing and infrastructure) to support broader implementation and improve linkage to care and treatment. This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03776760) on December 12, 2018.

ABSTRACT This original sociolinguistic ethnographic study examines social practices and (ING) variation in Aboriginal English, an indigenized variety of English spoken by First Nations people in Australia. Based on 42 hours of audio recordings and ethnographic data with 31 girls at a predominantly First Nations boarding school in the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia, we find higher rates but similar linguistic conditioning of [ɪn] compared to other Englishes in Australia. Additionally, a third variant [ɪŋk] emerges as an iconic affective resource. We also explore the indexicalities of (ING) variants. Our analysis reveals that (ING) use reflects group orientation towards or against school norms and is mediated by access to other languages as identity markers. [ɪŋk] serves an independent function as an iconic resource for emphasis or to signal high emotion.