A First Nations-led community survey of early COVID-19 pandemic experiences in Victoria, Australia

First Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.fnhli.2025.100060

Katarzyna Wojcik , Jane Goller , Joanne Luke , Lina Gubhaju , Richard Chenhall , Graham Gee , Ngaree Blow , Lisa Thorpe , Paul Stewart , Alister Thorpe

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Abstract

Purpose

During 2020, state and federal government-mandated restrictions and extended lockdowns were implemented in Australia because of the increasing presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In response to COVID-19 and restrictions, First Nations communities and organisations across Australia developed resources and strategies for support. The state of Victoria experienced the lengthiest lockdowns in Australia. This study aimed to describe the health and sociocultural experiences of First Nations peoples in the Australian state of Victoria during these restrictions.

Methods

The Measuring Indigenous Communities’ Response, Resilience and Recovery online survey was developed and implemented by an Indigenous leadership group. This cross-sectional study focused on First Nations communities’ experiences of the pandemic. Descriptive and thematic qualitative analyses were conducted to explore outcomes related to health and social experiences, and cultural and community connectedness.

Main findings

A total of 67 people responded between November 2020 and January 2021; 49 (73.1%) were female, with a median age of 47 years, and 54 (81.8%) resided in metropolitan Melbourne. Many respondents (47.5%) reported difficulty accessing general healthcare, mental health and education. First Nations organisations and family members were the primary source of additional support during 2020. Changes in health behaviours – such as alcohol consumption, tobacco use and physical activity – after restrictions were variable. For community connection, respondents reported decreases in seeing family and attending cultural events; however, they reported an increase in the use of technology to connect with community.

Principal conclusions

This study provides insights into the experiences of First Nations peoples in Victoria during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic response, and the types of support and resources accessed. The importance of community connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and First Nations-led responses to support community to promote better health outcomes was highlighted in this study.

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在澳大利亚维多利亚州，原住民主导的一项关于COVID-19早期大流行经历的社区调查

2020年期间，由于2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的增加，澳大利亚实施了州和联邦政府规定的限制和延长的封锁。为了应对COVID-19和限制措施，澳大利亚各地的原住民社区和组织制定了支持资源和战略。维多利亚州经历了澳大利亚最长的封锁。本研究旨在描述澳大利亚维多利亚州第一民族在这些限制期间的健康和社会文化经历。方法测量土著社区的反应，弹性和恢复在线调查由土著领导小组开发和实施。这项横断面研究侧重于第一民族社区对大流行的经历。进行了描述性和专题定性分析，以探索与健康和社会经验以及文化和社区联系有关的结果。在2020年11月至2021年1月期间，共有67人回应；49人（73.1%）为女性，中位年龄为47岁，54人（81.8%）居住在墨尔本大都会区。许多答复者（47.5%）报告难以获得一般保健、心理健康和教育。原住民组织和家庭成员是2020年期间额外支持的主要来源。健康行为的变化——如饮酒、吸烟和体育活动——在限制之后是可变的。在社区联系方面，受访者表示见家人和参加文化活动的次数减少了；然而，他们报告说，使用技术与社区联系的情况有所增加。本研究深入了解了2020年COVID-19大流行应对期间维多利亚州第一民族的经历，以及获得的支持和资源类型。本研究强调了在2019冠状病毒病大流行期间社区联系的重要性，以及原住民主导的支持社区促进更好健康结果的应对措施。

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First Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal

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