Generating sustainable collective action: Models of community control and governance of alcohol supply in Indigenous minority populations

Abstract

Restrictions on the supply of alcohol are amongst the most effective and cost effective interventions to address harmful use. However, despite international human rights bodies recognising that self determination must be pre-eminent in efforts to improve Indigenous health, little is known about the role of Indigenous communities in designing and implementing alcohol controls as well as the degree to which government resourcing and/or regulation is utilised. This commentary explores Australian examples of the governance models used to ensure Indigenous participation and leadership when developing regulatory interventions for alcohol control within communities. We identify four models of Indigenous governance: alcohol control interventions that were community conceived and implemented, government-facilitated community-led, community coalitions backed by government intervention and government initiated community partnerships. Each model is underpinned by specific governance arrangements which incorporate rules and processes that determine authority, accountability and Indigenous participation in decision-making. The aim of this paper is to benchmark these models of governance along a spectrum of community engagement beginning with forms of non-participation and ending with full citizen control. In addition, we put forward recommendations for governments at all levels to facilitate culturally acceptable and robust models of Indigenous governance that have the potential to improve health and social outcomes.