Preventing Alcoholism Among Aboriginal Children in Australia

Child, Youth, and Family Health 1
CHILD, YOUTH, AND FAMILY HEALTH
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Child, Youth, and Family Health 2
Alcohol Consumption Age group 12 and 14
In the year 2005, statistics showed that 2.6% of Australian children between the age of 12
and 14 were into risky drinking. However, 21% of Australian teenagers between the age of 15
and 17 had dangerous drinking habits (Baines, and Rowe, 2013).
Health Policies
The first health policy intends to invest in the development of both the indigenous
children and the majority of Australian tribes. The COAG released the strategy in 2009 with a
vision to guarantee quality childhood to indigenous children by the year 2020 (Barnes, and
Rowe, 2013). Improving the early lives of individuals ensures a bright future for the Aboriginal
children and the country. Part of the investment will recruit health specialist who will train the
children about the dangers of alcohol consumption. 2005 Australian statistics indicate that more
than two percent of children below the age of fifteen were alcohol addicts.
The strategy intends to improve the cultural, emotional, and physical development of the
children. Cultural bias stresses the children are leading them to resort to alcoholism for
consolation. Therefore, the policy tends to ensure social equity regarding service delivery to curb
addiction. The strategy also intends to improve the relationship between the young ones and their
parents who in turn explain the dangers of addiction to teenagers (McMurray, and Clendon,
2015). Excessive consumption of alcohol can push the children to violent acts and even
accidents. The Australian government has also promised to assist parents in caring for the
children.
The second national policy aims to prevent children from engaging in habits that
deteriorate their health like excessive alcohol consumption. The strategy seeks to turn Australia
into the healthiest country by the year 2020 (Talbot, and Verrinder, 2013). The principle outlines

Child, Youth, and Family Health 3
various prevention strategies targeting alcoholism among teenagers. The first strategy involves
warning the alcohol outlets countrywide against selling alcoholic drinks to individuals below the
age of eighteen. The second strategy consists in introducing the topic of alcoholism in the school
curriculum. The teachers have the responsibility of explaining the dangers of alcoholism to the
children such as liver cirrhosis.
The national administration intends to partner with the territories and states to end
alcoholism among the young indigenous children. The government plans to fund the local
administrations to improve the lives of the teenagers. An example of a region that has
implemented the alcoholism prevention strategies is the Queensland state. The policy runs from
2010 to 2013 and intends to end alcoholism among the Aboriginal children (Croyden et al.,
2018). The strategic directions tend to create a healthy aboriginal community with healthy
children. The strategies target individuals below the age of eighteen. Apart from alcoholism, the
preventive mechanisms aim to address health concerns like obesity and tobacco use among the
young ones.
The third policy focuses on primary health care provision to all Australians regardless of
their race or origin. The national administration launched the strategy in the year 2009 to address
the health concerns of the indigenous communities (Smyth et al., 2016). Government agencies
went ahead to establish Medicare Locals to reach the Aboriginals and Torres Islanders
individuals. One of the functions of the local health facilities is to provide rehabilitation services
to young alcohol addicts. The facilities also offer educational programs to the youth and their
families including the severe effects of alcohol consumption.
Australian government value the input of the young individuals and their relatives when
developing any health policy. For example, legislation on alcoholism incorporates a study on the