Australian Indigenous Young Peoples

Australian Aboriginal Youths 1
AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS YOUNG PEOPLES
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Australian Aboriginal Youths 2
Australian Indigenous Young Peoples
Health Status before Invasion
Before the invasion of Australia by the Europeans, the Australian indigenous young populations
were very healthy hunters and gatherers. This lifestyle of hunting wild animals and gathering
fruits promoted good health especially among the young people because they were the most
active in these activities. Studies about illnesses among the aboriginal people have not given a lot
of proof that the Australian indigenous young peoples suffered from illnesses such as diabetes,
hypertension, cancer, arthritis, or any other diseases that are common nowadays. Reports have
even suggested that before the invasion, the aboriginal young population were healthier than the
average person in other parts of Europe (Jackson and Ward, 2019). The coming of the
Europeans, however, decimated the Australian indigenous young people because they introduced
diseases that had not been heard of before in Australia.
Current Health Status
The health status of Australian Indigenous Young Peoples is poor when compared to the entire
Australian population. Reports indicate that the rate of death for the aboriginals is two times that
of the non-aboriginal Australians (Humanrights.gov.au, 2019). This is because they lack an equal
opportunity to quality health as their non-indigenous counterparts. This, however, is in contrast
to how the indigenous young Australians interpret health. They believe that health is not entirely
about the physical wellbeing of an individual but it is the social, cultural, and emotional wellness
of the community as a whole (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, 2019). Despite reports
indicating that Australian Indigenous Young People’s health status is poor, a study conducted

Australian Aboriginal Youths 3
between 2012 and 2013 indicated that 60% of indigenous youths believed that their health status
was excellent or very good (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
Assimilation Policy of 1961
The assimilation policy of 1961 was aimed at absorbing the indigenous Australians into the
white society. The main intent of this policy was to make the aborigines to abandon their culture
and traditional practices. The government was so intent on eliminating the aboriginal race and
this was done by introducing laws that governed their ways of life and cultural practices
(Kőrösiová, 2010). The measures that were put in place with this policy were discriminatory and
oppressive. This policy proposed that indigenous Australians be allowed to die out through
natural elimination. The impact of this policy I felt by the current Australian Indigenous Young
Peoples (Kőrösiová, 2010). Some of the policies included town curfews, lower wages, and
separate education for children of aboriginal Australians.
Identity and Racism
The assimilation policy of 1961 intended to rob the Australian indigenous young people of their
identity and absorb them into the white society. The policy intended to make them abandon the
cultural and traditional practices that they identified with. The impacts of this policy are still felt
in the modern world. The health disparity between Australian indigenous population and the
non-indigenous population is still very wide (Anne Van Herk et al., 2011, p. 60). The life
expectancy of Australian indigenous young people is shorter in comparison to their non-
indigenous counterparts. The desire to preserve cultural identity has led to discrimination at
hospitals and other healthcare facilities. This leads to poor health outcomes because the
indigenous population does not receive quality care like others.

Australian Aboriginal Youths 4
Identifying as an Australian indigenous young person is like a unifying factor that brings these
young indigenous Australians together. They, therefore, have expectations that they have to
conform with. They are always very reluctant to conform to anything that might be judged to
belittle their cultural identity (Anne Van Herk et al., 2011, p.64). This affects the health behavior
of the young indigenous Australians because they only promote practices that are considered to
be culturally appropriate while at the same time diminishing culturally inappropriate behaviors.
Racism
Racism is identified as a health determinant for the Australian Indigenous Young People in
modern society. The assimilation policy that was established in 1961 perpetuated racial
discrimination that has manifested itself in the modern world. The Australian Indigenous Young
Peoples have for a very long time experienced considerable disadvantage when compared to the
general population. It is important to note that racism negatively affects the health and wellbeing
of the aboriginal Australians (Priest et al., 2011, p. 568). This prejudice based on race has also
led to social exclusion where the young Australian aboriginals are not afforded the same
opportunity to access resources and participate in activities that improve their skills.
Health outcomes are thus poor because of the discrimination at care facilities. This leads to the
poor health status of the young Australian aboriginals and shorter life expectancy. The
continuing racial discrimination can have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of the
young Australian aboriginals (Kelaher et al., 2014, p. 45). Colonization that came with
oppression, as well as historical and contemporary racism, are some of the factors that have
contributed to the inequalities that are experienced in modern-day Australia. This discrimination
and inequality extend to the healthcare setting thus leading to poor health outcomes for the
Australian Indigenous Young People.