Page 22 - 10th Annual International Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival Magazine

June 2018 Charles Town Maroon International Conference Magazine

them bring their services to the broader community. She conducted
research and produced a report on Aboriginal traditional healing
practices. This explored how ngangkari healers work alongside
doctors and medical staff in community clinics, and often visit
Adelaide to attend to Indigenous hospital patients.

Dr Panzironi says that ngangkari accept the benefits of both Western
and traditional methods when a person is ill. After treating a person
spiritually and psychologically, the ngangkari might treat the person’s
physical problems as well, but will often recommend they also see a
Western doctor.

But the ngangkari aren’t recognised in the Australian health system. Dr Victoria
While other health professionals can expect to be paid, they cannot. Grieves is
There is no category for “ngungkari services” in government Warraimaay from
the midnorth coast
payments for health care as well as in the private health sector. And of NSW, Australia.
Australia’s drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration ARC Indigenous
(TGA), has not listed ngangkari medications as either safe or bene- Research Fellow at
ficial. the University of
Sydney, she works
What ngangkari seek is the right to practise in the same way as any in interdisciplinary
other paramedical service in the Australian system. While various ways to progress Indigenous knowledge
production in the academy. Her research
societies around the world recognise the value of healers who are interests also include the history of the
culturally rather than scientifically based, Australia is lagging behind. Aboriginal family, the impacts of race
thinking on identity and wellbeing and the
children born of war. She also edits the
Maroon Magazine.

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