Health Disadvantages Indigenous Australians

amendment of the discriminatory clauses regarding the Indigenous race within the Australian constitution. Although the 1967 referendum led to the increased awareness of the Indigenous disadvantage, the referendum only had a moderate impact on the advancement of Indigenous rights, due to the slow progression of legislation and implementation of changes that addressed Indigenous disadvantage. Leading up to the 1967 referendum, Indigenous Australians faced many political and social restrictions rendering

“The status of Indigenous health in contemporary Australia is a result of historic factors as well as contemporary socio-economic issues” (Hampton & Toombs, 2013, p. 1). The poor health position of Indigenous Australians is a contemporary reflection of their historical treatment as Australia’s traditional owners. This treatment has led to Indigenous Australians experiencing social disadvantages, significantly low socio-economic status, dispossession, poverty and powerlessness as a direct result

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience social disadvantages which significantly impacts their physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and social health. This essay analyses the impacts of the social determinants of health such as socioeconomic status, early life and psychological distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health which causes the wide gap in the social disadvantages experienced by the Indigenous community. According to the assessment of a Productivity Commission

Traditionally Indigenous Australians main form of learning was through practice, art and music using their native language and culture (Foley, 2010, p. 176). Indigenous Australians have been discriminated against, abused and forced to forgo their traditional way of life through assimilation policies. Furthermore, Indigenous Australians were neglected in obtaining any form of education, such as basic literacy and numeracy (Foley, 2010, pp. 180-182). Inequalities for Indigenous Australians continue, creating

Indigenous Australian’s are no doubt disadvantaged in the Australian community, you only have to look at the facts and this becomes remarkably apparent right away. There are many contributing factors to these worrying statistics and this paper serves to explore some of those factors. Between 2008-2012 the mortality rate for infant Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal children was almost double that of Non-Indigenous Australians with a staggering 6.2 infant deaths per 1,000 compared to 3.7 for

The Inequalities Surrounding Australian Indigenous Health Inequality in health is one of the most controversial topics within Australian Health Care. Inequality in relation to health is defined as being “differences in health status or in the distribution of health determinants between different population groups” (World Health Organization, 2012). Within Australia inequality affects a wide range of population groups; however Indigenous Australians are most widely affected therefore this paper

benefit from completing SCS130 because they would gain insight into the impact of British colonialism on Indigenous Australians and how the laws of control and protection forced them to become dependent, this, enables an understanding in terms of the present situation of disadvantage. Hollinsworth (2008) maintains that the historical impact of colonisation by Europeans on Indigenous Australians, is the basis for contemporary racism in Australia (pp. 35,67,77,79-80,83-84,97). This is supported by

There are several key reasons as to why this mental health crisis exists. The intersecting identities of members of the community subject them to different forms of oppression, including racism, heterosexism, or intergenerational trauma. 2.1 SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE Research has highlighted the significant extent to which socioeconomic status affects the wellbeing of the Indigenous LGBTQI+ community emotionally and psychologically (See Appendix one). As highlighted by a 2015 study, A Closer Look

leading cause of various health, and socio-economical inequalities amongst different racial/ethnic groups. Slide 20 In particular, racism can create systemic barriers that prevent individuals from benefiting from social and economical opportunities (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2017). Slide 21 Racism still exists globally within the 21st century however in the the context of Indigenous Australians, this factor has and still continues to negatively impact health and well-being as well as

boost exclusion and upturn poverty rates amongst certain groups, in this sense Indigenous Australians, who will suffer both physically and mentally from unequal access to goods and services. (Australian Government , 2011) (Australian Government, 2008). Being exposed to racist and derogatory terms on a semi-regular level can lead to negative mental and physical reactions that have the potential to adversely affect mental health, as well as cause a variety of systematic diseases that the poor have no money