Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in drinking water policy: a realist review

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures have a deep, enduring connection to water. However, since Australia's colonisation in 1788, water management has shifted, creating ongoing issues for these communities. Notwithstanding the universal recognition of safe drinking water as a human right, significant inequities persist, particularly affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Excluding Indigenous knowledge systems from drinking water policy design has exacerbated these issues. Contemporary discourse acknowledges the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into drinking water policy. Yet, the extent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander influence on current drinking water policy remains unclear. Our realist review addresses two questions: (1) What evidence supports engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in drinking water policy design at macro, meso and micro levels? (2) What contextual factors and mechanisms influence this engagement? We systematically searched electronic databases and grey literature, resulting in five peer-reviewed studies and 33 grey literature sources. Our findings suggest that addressing complex water issues requires significant and permanent investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance and self-determination in policy design, implementation and evaluation. We propose a roadmap highlighting enablers and barriers, noting that future research should explore capacity-building for Indigenous water operators and decision-makers.