Risk and resilience: Crime and violence prevention in Aboriginal communities

Developmental prevention involves the manipulation of multiple risk and pro tective factors early in developmental pathways that lead to offending. oft en at transition points between life phases. The emphasis is not just on in dividuals but also their social contexts, Risk and protective factors for c rime and violence in Aboriginal communities include such standard factors a s child abuse, school failure and supportive family environments, but addit ional factors arise from unique aspects of Aboriginal history, culture and social structure. This paper draws on existing literature, interviews with urban Aboriginal community workers, and data from the Sibling Study to deli neate those interrelated risk factors (forced removals, dependence, institu tionalised racism, cultural features and substance use) and the equally int errelated protective factors (cultural resilience, personal controls and fa mily control measures). These are 'meta factors' that provide a lens throug h which the standard lists can be interpreted, and are a starting point for the understanding of indigenous developmental pathways.