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Background: This article outlines issues of service provision for Indigenous families in Brisbane, Australia. It presents guidelines for the development of a socially and culturally appropriate occupational therapy service for urban Indigenous children. Methods: A mixed methodology was used in two independent components of the research. Part 1 comprised a survey of paediatric occupational therapists in Brisbane. Part 2 consisted of focus groups and interviews with recipients of a newly established occupational therapy service for Indigenous children. Results: Survey findings indicated that very few Indigenous families access mainstream occupational therapy services. Issues and strategies for developing culturally appropriate practice emerged around five main themes. These were the need to develop effective relationships, develop particular personal qualities, understand the background of both the client and the therapist, both gain and give knowledge, and address logistical issues of service delivery. Conclusions: Service providers need to understand the social and cultural context of both their Indigenous clients and themselves. Recommendations for future education and practice are provided.

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Using qualitative methodology, this study investigated values of urban Aboriginal parents, particularly with respect to parenting and child development. Data were collected from five urban‐dwelling Aboriginal parents aged between 25 and 55 years. Participants were parents of children aged between 18 months and 25 years. All participants were also employed in the fields of education or health where they had frequent involvement with other indigenous parents through welfare support or school or health programs. Each informant participated in either an individual interview or focus group. Supplemental data were also collected from participant observation in a kindergarten setting. Descriptions of Aboriginal parents’ values and parenting styles are reported. The main values included an emphasis on maintaining social relationships and cultural identity with an overriding need for survival and security. Implications for occupational therapy practice and further research with urban Aboriginal families are suggested.

This paper aims to present what is currently known about Indigenous Australians and their engagement in physical activity and to then challenge some of the 'taken-for-granted' ways of thinking about promoting or researching physical activity with Indigenous Australians. Major health, education and sport databases, as well as government websites were searched using the key terms of physical activity, sport, leisure, recreation, Indigenous and Aboriginal/Aborigine. A social-ecological model of health was adapted and used as an organizing framework to synthesize the literature. It is concluded that socioecological models can be valuable tools for understanding and promoting issues related to physical activity engagement for a range of populations but they may require complementary critical insights, including those from Indigenous perspectives. Productive theoretical spaces where Western and Indigenous knowledges come together can assist health educators to consider the complexity and diversity of Indigenous people's lived experiences when planning and implementing programs.