Health Disparity in Aboriginal Communities

This assignment examines the significant health disparities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia compared to other Australians. It delves into various factors contributing to these inequities, including socioeconomic disadvantages, limited access to healthcare, cultural barriers, and historical injustices. The assignment requires an analysis of these factors and the development of potential solutions to bridge the health gap through government policies, individual actions, and community initiatives.

HEALTH ISSUES AMONGST
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
AND REST OF AUSTRALIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The reason behind presenting this report is to identify health issues in diverse communities.
In this particular discussion, we have taken Indigenous Australia as the diverse community
group and mental issues, depression and smoking as the health indicators affecting these
communities. We further discuss the reasons for health inequality amongst the Indigenous
community and the rest dominant non Indigenous Australians. The report discusses who
Indigenous Australians are, their cultural diversity, unemployment rates, and gender
composition. It also provides an insight on the definition of good health, factors affecting the
general health of individuals such as socio economic factors, health indicators and the causes
of health disparity such as unemployment, poverty, lack of education, poor housing and
health care infrastructure and non awareness of the impact of bad habits. It also provides with
the statistics of how Indigenous Australians are lacking in various fields than other
communities which in turn are adversely affecting their health.
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................4
DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................................................4
PROFILE OF THE COMMUNITY………………………………………………………………………………………………...5
DISCUSSION OF THE KEY ISSUE………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY-DEFINITION…………………………………………………………………………6
HEALTH INDICATORS………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Before European colonisation, there were individuals who moved out from the groups of
individuals who lived in Australia and the neighbouring islands; they are commonly known
as Indigenous Australians. However, they are not a single group but large number of people
with diverse culture, opinion and values. Torres Strait Islanders who originated from Torres
Strait Island, part of Queensland and Aboriginal people who originated from almost all of the
rest parts of Australia are the two separate groups who are referred as Indigenous Australians.
Some of over 700 languages spoken by Australian at the time of colonization are even now
spoken by these groups.
Owing to recurring climatic changes indigenous people lived a nomadic life before the
advent of Europeans and did not stay at a particular place for a long time. In order to have
regular supply of food, they administered frail surroundings cautiously. In today’s scenario
most of aboriginals resides in towns, cities and suburbs in vulnerable circumstances. Due to
pilfering of their land, lot of indigenous people are employed in livestock ranches. However,
several of them continue to hunt and reside on their terrain. Following incursion by the
Britishers, most of their land was taken over (Survival. 2016) which adversely affected them
physically and mentally and caused several diseases which in turn reduced their population.
In this discussion, we will take mental health issues, depression and smoking into
consideration and how they adversely affect Indigenous Australians more than non-
Indigenous people.
DISCUSSION
1) PROFILE OF THE COMMUNITY
Presently, Indigenous community accounts for around 3 percent of total Australian
inhabitants (Discover Stories. 2015). They not only reside in suburbs but also in main towns
and cities; almost 208,500 indigenous people are in New South Wales making it the largest
state with such people and maximum ratio which is 30 percent in North Territory. However,
744,956 of these inhabitants are projected to be residing in Australia as per data collected
from 2011 consensus. The Indigenous population comprises more of young people than old
ones as compared to non-indigenous people. It is anticipated that in the year 2006, age of
partial non –Indigenous inhabitants were 37 years or fewer which was 21years or fewer in
case of indigenous inhabitants (Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2010). Also, in the year 2011,
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90% of Aboriginals, 6% of Torres Strait Islander and 4% of both Aboriginals and Torres
Strait Islander together were recognized as Indigenous individuals.
Source: (http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/summary#population)
The above figure clearly shows percentage of population with respect to each age group.
Indigenous population more concentrated in lower age groups with the percentage of non-
indigenous population scattered through different age groups.
Moving forward, if we take into consideration births and deaths of these people as compared
to other Australians, there is a great disparity. Non Australians females had 1.8 births in their
lifespan which was around 2.3 births in the lifespan of indigenous females, as estimated in
the year 2015 with total births of approximately 18,537 and total deaths estimated to be
3,088. It is also projected that the male population born in the year 2010-2012 of such people
are possible to live around 69 years which is around 10 years younger than the other
Australian population and amongst the females the age expected is 74 years which is 83 for
other Australian females.
Indigenous operational age people engaged in labour power accounted for 56% as per census
date 9th August 2011; still 17.2% which was one out of every six of them were out of work
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(Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2013). These particular figures were adverse as compared to
non Indigenous ones. Unemployment rate amongst them is over three times greater than rest
of the Australians. More of young age groups accounts for the working population amongst
them. Also, there is a disparity amongst their men and women as far as unemployment is
concerned.
Globally, Indigenous culture is considered as the ancient existing culture. Their culture is
diversified with people communicating in several dissimilar languages. They have distinctive
artistic capabilities and their work particularly modern art is well known worldwide.
However, due to ecological changes, its culture has changed and evolved through these years.
However, the overall health of Indigenous people depends on the environment in which they
reside which comprises of factors such as pollution control, water supply, healthy food,
sufficient infrastructure etc. Huge discrimination is faced by Indigenous people as far as these
factors and their health is concerned. Poor infrastructure and disparate admittance to hospitals
are the main reasons for heath disparity between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians
(Australian Human Rights Commission, 2007).
2) DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES
 HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY-DEFINITION
The main issue of the discussion is the health disparity and causes of the same between
Indigenous and the other communities in Australia. Health of the said community is the
communal, psychological and literary safety rather than only the corporal wellbeing of
individuals. It is the safety, honesty and synchronization of a person as well as the society.
The difference between the health condition of Indigenous and rest of community also
depends on factors that affect social structure such as education, basis of earnings, the amount
of earnings etc. Indigenous people are not provided equivalent prospect to be healthy as
compared to others. As far as continuing proceedings like life expectation is concerned, no
development on such issue has been taken. Thus, being secluded from conventional services
and lesser admission to health services and pitiable infrastructure are the major reasons of
disparities between the communities.
 HEALTH INDICATORS
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In this particular discussion, we will consider mental health , depression and smoking as the
health indicators affecting the Indigenous community and how these indicators more
adversely affects them as compared to the other communities. Indigenous are more likely to
suffer from mental agony owing to social and monetary inequitable conditions. Mental illness
is defined as a substantial emotional disorder which affects a person and causes major pain.
According to a survey conducted on youngsters mental health is amongst top three problems
faced in the country in past 15 years wherein cultural inequity is faced by one out of five
teenage Indigenous people and prejudice is faced by one out of seven teenage females
(Knaus. 2016).
As per report issued in the year 2014, there has been a striking rise in mental ailment, anxiety
and depression amongst young Indigenous criminals and perinatal psychological issues in
females (Korff. 2017). Indigenous Australians were expected to be suffering and hospitalized
two times more from psychological and behavioural ailment than others in the year 2003-04.
Depression mainly affects individuals suffering from psychological strain. It is estimated in
the past 15years around 33% of the said population experienced huge level of mental stress
and affected more females than males. Reports also show that young Indigenous people
which are approximately 26% are more prone to be affected by dementia as compared to rest
of the community. Another mental issue wherein an individual fails to differentiate between
actual and imaginary, suffers from hallucinations is categorized as Schizophrenia. Indigenous
community is more likely to suffer from the said mental ailment.
Smoking is the major reason of persistent diseases amongst Indigenous Australia. Not only
men but over half of females are addicted to smoking in the said community. While there has
been decrease in the overall smoking rates in Australia, Indigenous people smoking rates are
still higher ranging between 43% to 54% (Kroff. 2016). There are several causes of the
widespread extent of mental illness, depression and smoking amongst the said community.
Because of the disownment of land at the time of the incursion and diverse cultural
differences, Indigenous community majorly suffers from extreme sorrow and failure unlike
the rest of the community. There has been a measure taken by the government for the
continual taking away of children which increases psychological pressure amongst them.
Since the said community has been suffering from mental trauma, depression and other
mental disorders are more likely to develop and be passed on to the future generation which
is unlikely in case of other communities. There has been huge incidence of cultural
discrimination against the said community which adversely affects their emotional wellbeing.
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With very less employment opportunities, they are constantly stressed about their monetary
stability. Out of all Indigenous Australians, 23 % are believed to be suffering from both
mental as well as physical illness. Thus, pitiable physical health automatically increases the
stress an individual face which is not the case of rest of the community. Unawareness of the
possible impact of smoking and lack of education accounts for increased smoking rates. Also,
huge number of Indigenous people are in prison and faces violence there as well as on
domestic front accounting for increase in depression and other mental diseases.
CONCLUSION
At the end, we conclude that there is a vast inequality amongst Indigenous Australians and
the rest of the community as far as health is concerned. In this discussion we particularly took
mental illness, depression and smoking to explain such disparity. However, not only these but
there are great disparities faced by the said community as far as other major health issues
such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases etc are concerned. It is clear
from the above discussion that Indigenous Australians are treated differently from other
Australians. The infant mortality rate is also higher in case of Indigenous population in
Australia. Deterioration of their health started with the colonization which caused several
diseases like typhoid, influenza etc. There were more adverse affects in terms of destitution
and racial discrimination which triggered more deterioration.
Racism is considered as one of the major cause of depression. Loss of their own property and
neglect has further aggravated their health issues. Moving forward, as discussed above with
an increased unemployment rates amongst young Indigenous people it in turn increased
mental unrest amongst them. There are a number of socio economic inequalities in factors
that affects their health. The affect of such factors are comparatively lasting. These factors
not only cause mental disorders but have an adverse impact on their circulatory, immunity
and hormonal functions. Lack of education reduces their potential to use health care services.
Also, with low earnings they cannot afford proper health services. Indigenous Australians
also has poor and congested housing infrastructure which causes contagious diseases. These
problems are not faced by non-Indigenous ones.
It is estimated that the main cause of major diseases amongst Indigenous people is smoking
in the year 2011(Australian Indigenous HealthInfo Net. 2016). Ignorance amongst people
about impact of smoking on their health is the major reason of increased rates. Getting
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earnings in tobacco instead of cash aggravates the problem. With people living in congested
houses, smoking affects children inertly. Increased smoking rates are majorly liable for
increased inequity which is around 23% in health amongst the communities. Hence to
summarize the above points, numerous factors are responsible for health disparity between
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and rest of Australia and proper measures should
be undertaken by individuals as well as the government to remove such gap. By providing
proper health care services, proper employment opportunities and education, improving
household as well as health care infrastructure, making people more aware of adverse affects
of tobacco and drugs, removing racial discrimination and by giving ownership of land and
proper guidance related to health can definitely reduce the gap between health disparity
amongst the communities.
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REFERENCES:
Survival (2016). Aboriginal people. Retrieved from
https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/aboriginals
Discover Stories. (2015). Who are Indigenous Australians?. Retrieved from
http://www.australianstogether.org.au/stories/detail/who-are-indigenous-australians-4
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010). 4713.0- Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006. Retrieved form
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4713.0Explanatory
%20Notes12006?OpenDocument.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2013). 4102.0- Australian Social Trends, Nov 2013.
Retrieved form
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features20Nov+2013
#PARTICIPATIONANDUNEMPLOYMENT
Australian Human Rights Commission (2007). Social determinants and the health of
Indigenous peoples in Australia- a human rights based approach. Retrieved from
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/social-determinants-and-health-
indigenous-peoples-australia-human-rights-based
Korff (2017). Mental health and Aboriginal people. Retrieved from http
https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/health/mental-health-and-
aboriginal-people
Korff (2016). Aboriginal smoking: a serious health problem. Retrieved from
https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/health/aboriginal-smoking-a-
serious-health-problem
Australian Indigenous Healthinfo Net (2016). Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander health. Retrieved from
http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/summary#population
Knaus (2016). Mental health is one of main issues facing Australia, says youth survey.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/05/mental-
health-is-one-of-main-problems-facing-australia-says-youth-survey
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