Challenging Racism In Australia

Even though most studies would have discussed the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system, studies have actually found that in contrast with this, Indigenous Australians are not

The experience of racism will bring negative stress and emotion, and may have the risk to develop a range of psychological and physiological problems (Sherwood, 2013). Ferdinand (2013) reports the racism problems among Aboriginal Australian by using a survey. The outcome highlights that almost every Aboriginal who participated in this survey had experienced racism during daily activity, and they or their family members have all experienced a different level of stress when coping with racism. In spite of the anti-racist practice has improved the relationship between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people, but the ongoing forms of discrimination are still continuing and impacts on Indigenous mental health. Furthermore, Indigenous Australian has a higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol and drug intake. The psychological stress they experience may consequently lead to harmful alcohol and drug use, which also causes the mental health problem among Indigenous Australians. Bearing in mind the previous points, all those risk factors and issues for Aboriginal mental health have contributed the high rate of mental illness and also leads to suicide or self-harm behaviours among Aboriginal

Stan Grant’s speech ‘Racism and the Australian Dream’ (2015) effectively reminds the Australian population of the racism and harsh inequalities indigenous Australians have faced in the past and still face today. In reminding us of this reality, Grant engages us to discover issues of civic participation in Aboriginal people and in doing so perpetuates a need for social change. More?

It is without denial that aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people are treated differently in our society especially by the media. They are often represented as, trouble makers, violent and drunks. These remarks used by the media are giving bad impressions on Aboriginal people. Tonight, on Media Matters we will unmask the truth on the media’s treatment of the famous Sydney Swans footballer Adam Goodes. The media has heavily criticized this athlete making unfair statements causing them to break the journalist’s code of ethics, the very rule book they should be following. The code of ethics applies to all journalists and is designed to keep their reports fair, non-judgemental.

Racism in Australia is a big problem and needs to be stopped. Racism refers to anything that has the effect of disadvantaging someone from what their racial background is. It affects peoples well-being along with it not being a good look for our nation to have. Is it really okay for people outside of our country to look and us and think that there are still people that are being racist? Opportunities for people should not be judged on their race. This is not fair. Racism is definitely not okay and should be stopped.

Racism continues to be a concern for Aboriginal people—in relation to both the police and the judiciary. Witnesses spoke of establishing a requirement to screen judges and police for prejudices before hiring and of offering anti-racism and anti-oppression training, specifically related to Aboriginal women.

Racism in Australia has always been a controversial element of our country and still continues on in today’s society. Our nation is a bigot country, and the history of Australia shows it continuously has been. Racism majorly impacts the health of Indigenous Australians. The impacts reflect on the life expectancy and mental health of the Indigenous Australians who are then racially criticised in our health system. This paper will explore the impacts that racism in Australia has on Indigenous Australians within healthcare, the life expectancy and the mental health.

In Australia, we have a diverse society, consisting of many different groups. The people in these groups are all economically and socially different in terms of their backgrounds, as well as having different cultural traditions. The behaviours, attitudes and values of individuals affects the treatment of people in different groups.

There is a populace of 18 million in Australia with Indigenous Australians making up roughly one percent of the Australian population. Due to this, the closest that a non-Indigenous Australians will come to have contact with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is through representation in the Australian media. Most media stories are viewed as one sided or racist with even the Prime Minster Tony Abbott making comments that it is a ‘lifestyle choice’ for the Indigenous peoples to live the way that they do in small communities consisting of up to 8 people. These statements that he had made is seen as racist, leaving him open to criticism by members if his own party, friends and his opponents. The 2 articles

The over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system is a large problem in society and reasons as to why this may be occurring need to be examined (Walker & McDonald, 1995; AIC, 2013). Indigenous Australians make up less than three per cent of the overall Australian population, however Indigenous people are over-represented in Australian prison populations, with imprisonment rates that are around 12 times those of the rest of the Australian population (AIC, 2013). Rates of over-representation are even higher in juvenile detention, with a 10-17 year old Indigenous person being around 24 times more likely to be in detention than a non-Indigenous person of the same age (AIC, 2013; Cunneen & White, 2011). Indigenous Australians overrepresentation in the criminal justice system is usually due to offences pertaining to violence and public disorder (ABS, 2010; Hogg & Carrignton, 2006). This is endorsed by the fact that Indigenous Australians currently make up 40 per cent of those imprisoned for assault offences (AIC, 2013). The over representation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system may be attributed to a variety of reasons, known as risk factors (AIC, 2013).

After years of oppression and little change, internalized oppression is becoming detrimental to the growth of the next generation. Society leaves little room for change as these groups’ begin the cycle of self-hate and stereotypes that have been placed on them by society. The youth grow up surrounded by a world that is against them from the beginning. Racism, oppression, and discrimination have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing among these people. A study on how racism has affected the Aborigines in Australia, shows that this group experiences a substantial health disadvantage compared to the rest of the Australian population. Aboriginal youth who experience racism are at

Even though racism is highly illegal in Australia, it doesn’t stop people having racist thoughts or feelings. Over the past 30 years the Australian government, along with the state and territory governments, have introduced laws to protect people from racist discrimination. Despite Acts such as the Racial Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act of 1986, a study by an Australian organisation called ‘All Together Now’ shows that 1 in 5 Children endure racism every day. 1 in 5 sports people experience racism at sports events, and 33% of workers have had to face racism in the workplace.

This famous poem by Indigenous Australian Colleen Kickner (George, 2015) highlights the extreme racial discrimination against Aboriginal Australians from the point of view of an Indigenous individual, specifically in regards to the consumption of alcohol. The somewhat vulgar language as well as being slightly comical in a way, paints a very good picture of how strongly Kickner feels towards the prejudice shown and assumptions made by the (presumably) non-Indigenous first responders to an emergency situation. These assumptions and stereotypes that she draws the readers’ attention to are wide spread throughout the non-Indigenous community of Australia, reiterated by the media and sometimes even strengthened by government policies.

Racism online, or cyber racism is racism in the cyber or online world. Racism is discrimination other races believing that their race in superior. This is a form of cyberbullying and violates the Federal Racial Discrimination act 1975, which prohibits racial hatred. Over 40% of the racial hatred in Australia is related to cyber racism. If you see racism comments on any website, you can report it to the Australian Human Rights Commission, The Australian Communication and Media Authority or in extreme cases such as threatening violence, the police at 131444 (not 000). Keep 000 for emergencies. They will review the issue and make the necessary actions. On some websites, you can report it. You can report Youtube videos, report abuse on Facebook

Racism not only leads to social problems but it also causes mental illness and violence for example, self-harm, depression and the harming of others. In most cases the victim starts to feel helpless, isolated, depressed and irritated. Experiencing racism can change a victim’s life forever. Nearly half of all Australian residents from a diverse background have experienced racism at some time in their life. WHY? Only because they look different? On a Wednesday afternoon a well-dressed 54 year woman in a mustard jacket unleashed a lecture of abuse at other passengers on a Sydney to Newcastle train, it started because some young kids aged between four and ten didn’t automatically give up their seats